KENNEWICK — Hermiston and Southridge battled for a trip to the 3A District 8 Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 8, and while the Bulldogs led most of the game, it was the Suns who shined brightest in the end.

Senior Jesse Tijerina scored a career-high 34 points to rally Southridge to a 59-54 victory, and the Suns earned a trip to district for the first time in five years.

“We were missing shots and a few things didn’t go our way,” first-year Hermiston coach Bryan Edwards said. “Southridge is a really good team this year, but I was confident in my guys. Confident that the guys coming back next year won’t let this happen again.”

Southridge will open District 8 play at 6 p.m. Saturday at North Central.

The Bulldogs took a 39-35 lead into the fourth quarter, and led 43-37 one minute into play after a pair of baskets by Isaac Corey.

The Suns tied the score at 45-45 after two free throws by Tijerina, and a basket by Tijerina 40 seconds later knotted the score at 47-47.

Tijerina, who scored 16 of his points in the fourth quarter, hit a 3-pointer with 2:37 left in the game to give the Suns their first lead since 16-15 early in the second quarter.

Southridge went on a 10-point run, which ended with a deep 3-pointer by Tijerina that banked in off the glass as the shot clock buzzer sounded to give the Suns a 55-47 lead.

Hermiston’s Grant Olsen scored to make it 55-49, but Tijerina would hit four free throws down the stretch to keep the game out of Hermistion’s reach.

“This is a big accomplishment,” Tijerina said. “The last time Southridge went to district, I was in the eighth grade. I knew when I hit that 3 for the lead that we were going to win.”

The Suns led 14-13 after the first quarter, but Hermiston went on a 15-8 run in the second quarter to take a 28-22 lead at the half. Drake Devin hit a pair of 3-pointers in the quarter to lead the charge.

Olsen scored six of his 15 points in the third quarter as the Bulldogs were able to stay one step ahead of the Suns heading into the final quarter.

Corey led the Bulldogs with 17 points and 10 rebounds, with Devin and Bradley Hottman each scoring eight points. Olsen also had nine rebounds.

Sophomore Nick Williamson added 11 points for the Suns.

Hermiston, which had its four-game win streak snapped with the loss, finished its season 9-12 overall and 8-8 in Mid-Columbia Conference play.

“It was a great first year,” Edwards said. “The season didn’t end the way we wanted, sometimes that happens. We set a foundation of playing hard and competing — I don’t think that had been a standard the last four years. The young kids coming up know what to expect.”