Lindbergh’s James Keum knew what was on the line. Beat Port Angeles and his team was in the state tournament. Lose, and the Eagles season was over.

Despite a heroic effort and 49 points from Keum, Lindbergh didn’t have quite enough to make state. The Eagles lost to the Riders 77-75 in double overtime Monday night.

It was clear from the start that Keum was going to be essential for Lindbergh (8-13). He averaged 20.6 points per game this season, second in the Seamount, and he scored 19 of Lindbergh’s 34 first-half points.

“I’m just trying to carry my team to victory,” Keum said. “It was hard out there because they’re pretty good defensively, but if I have to score 50 for us to win then that’s what I’m going to try to do.”

In a game of runs, Port Angels built an eight-point lead after a 6-0 run in the third quarter. Lindbergh came back with an 8-0 run spanning into the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The Riders ran out again and looked to have the game in hand, leading 55-47 with just over three minutes left. They knew Keum was the Eagles’ only hope and double-teamed him constantly trying to deny him the ball, but it wasn’t enough.

Keum scored 12 points in the final three minutes, including a long three-pointer with 10 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime.

“That doesn’t surprise me at all with him,” said Lindbergh coach Matt Leamer. “If he wants it, he can’t be stopped.”

The Riders’ attention to Keum opened holes for other Lindbergh players to step up and it was Dewayne Brown who made a three-pointer with 10 seconds left in overtime to tie the game.

Port Angeles led by four late in the second overtime. As Keum drove down the court, his three-point attempt was blocked and the Rider bench stormed the court as the clock appeared to run out. Officials gave the team a technical foul and Keum made two free throws to pull Lindbergh to within two points with less than a second left. The Eagles last, slim chance evaporated as Port Angeles intercepted the inbounds pass.

“They changed what people see when they look at Lindbergh basketball,” Leamer said. “We started out really rough this year, figuring each other out. They’ll look back and be really happy with what they accomplished.”