YAKIMA – It all went to plan for 12th-seeded Wapato.

Almost.

The Wolves, who returned to state at the Yakima Valley SunDome for the first time in 10 years, ran their offense well, got the looks they wanted, and were in position to take down No. 4 Bear Creek in a round-of-12 game in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Except the shots wouldn’t fall, and instead of a quarterfinal berth and at least two more games, Wapato’s season is over.

“We did a great job pushing the tempo, we did a great job getting our shots, and they were within our offense, and they just didn’t go down today,” Wolves coach Adolfo Garza said. “They’ve been going down all year and today they didn’t.”

Wapato shot just 29% from the field, and 50% from the free-throw line. The Wolves also committed 19 turnovers.

Still, in the final moments, Wapato nearly pulled out a victory.

Down 43-38 with less than a minute to go, senior AJ Garza sank a pair of free throws to pull the Wolves to within three points.

The Grizzlies looked like they would ice it on a break away with less than 24 seconds remaining, but T Fiander swooped in for a swat. Bear Creek would get a free throw for a 44-42 edge with six seconds remaining.

After the Grizzlies gave up a foul, Wapato reset with 1.8 seconds left.

Jacob Bobb got off a 3-pointer, but it hit the backboard at the buzzer.

Bobb led the Wolves, who finished the season 16-12, with 12 points, Daunte Van Pelt had eight, and Garza seven.

A late-January swoon in which Wapato dropped to fifth place in the SCAC, before turning it around by winning four of five heading into Wednesday.

Those road victories included loser-out wins at Cashmere and Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls.

“It’s a tribute to these guys, pushing themselves in practice to get better,” Coach Garza said. “They got themselves out of a funk, and from there on it was fun to coach and fun to watch them play.”