With a state title in sight, the Bear Creek boys’ basketball team gave it their all but came up short in a 53-39 loss to Napavine in the 2B semifinals on Friday night at Spokane’s Veteran Memorial Arena.

The Tigers led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, but the Grizzlies fought back late.

Trimming the deficit to just eight points at 35-43 with four minutes left in the game, 6-foot-6 senior forward Ryan Strandin fouled out and the Grizzlies were unable to close the gap further.

With Bear Creek in foul trouble, the Tigers hit key free throws down the stretch to keep the lead.

For the game, the Grizzlies shot just 7 of 35 from beyond the arc and 15 of 56 (26.8 percent) from the field.

Lucas Peterson led the team with 11 points, while Tigers’ wings David Lorton and Colton Brown scored 20 points apiece.

The Grizzlies (22-5) will face off in the 3rd/5th place final against Colfax (21-5) today at 11:15 a.m.