Moscow Bears Defeat Lewiston in Buzzer-Beater

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The Moscow Bears girls' basketball team defeated the Lewiston Bengals 41-40 on a buzzer-beating layup by Jessa Skinner in the 5-A Inland Empire League playoffs. Paytland Schnell and Darta Serdane led Lewiston with 7 points each, but Moscow's late heroics allowed them to advance to the next round against Sandpoint.

Why it matters

The thrilling finish in the high-stakes playoff matchup between the two local rivals showcases the intensity and drama of small-town high school basketball, which is a major part of the cultural fabric in many Idaho communities.

The details

With the game tied at 40-40 and time winding down, Moscow's Jessa Skinner drove to the hoop and converted a layup just as the final buzzer sounded, giving the Bears a narrow 41-40 victory over Lewiston. The Bengals were led in scoring by Paytland Schnell and Darta Serdane, who each had 7 points, but their season came to an end with a 7-15 record. Moscow now advances to face Sandpoint in the next round of the playoffs as they look to keep their season alive.

• The game was played last (Tuesday) night.
• Moscow will play Sandpoint on the road tomorrow (Thursday) night.

What’s next

Moscow will play Sandpoint on the road tomorrow (Thursday) night in hopes of keeping their season alive.