Desperation.

Grandview's Adrian Reyes, center, is surrounded by Wapato defenders Gabe Arambul, left, and Clifton Smiscon during Friday's game at Nicholson Pavilion at Central Washington University.   GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic View all photos for this story.

It wasn't in the hand of Daniel Nielsen, it wasn't in the mind of Christian Schrank and it wasn't -- despite all signs that full-scale panic should ensue -- anywhere to be seen in these Greyhounds.

Never mind that the 21-0 start had been followed by two straight losses in which a previously potent offense couldn't crack 50 points, and never mind that the 0-2 slip put Grandview in a precarious loser-out game against rival Wapato, which had knocked off the Hounds in the CWAC district title game.

And, most of all, never mind that a 17-point lead against the Wolves had been carved down to 39-38 with just over four minutes left in Friday's Class 2A state opener.

"We just had to keep believing in our game," Nielsen said. "We'd been struggling but we stuck together and kept our cool."

Nielsen's cool was especially crucial as the senior marksman buried back-to-back 3-pointers after Wapato had pulled within a point, sending the Greyhounds to a hard-fought 53-51 victory at Central Washington University's Nicholson Pavilion.

After Nielsen's clutch shots, which came from opposite sides of the arc, Schrank nailed another 3-pointer to spark the offense with nine quick points on three trips down the court.

"Typical Grandview-Wapato game -- 32 minutes all out," said a tired and relieved Grandview coach Roy Garcia. "Our core five seniors were determined. They got the lead and didn't let it go."

The sharp-shooting Greyhounds charged out of the gate, hitting five triples in the first quarter and building a 29-12 lead in the second period. But then Grandview couldn't buy a basket, missing 11 straight shots from their favorite 3-point distance and allowing Wapato back in the game.

The Wolves gave Grandview a dose of its own medicine, canning five of their nine 3-pointers in the fourth quarter -- two each by Efrain Reynoso and Shawn Craig.

Even when the big shots by Nielsen and Schrank put Grandview back up 48-38 with 2:20 to go, Wapato wouldn't concede. An 11-2 late rush, fueled by Craig's two treys, got the Wolves back within 50-49 with 23 seconds left.

Nielsen then stepped up again, coolly making two free throws with 20.3 seconds left.

Schrank, Nielsen and Tony Vela scored 14, 13 and 12 points, respectively, and never left the floor, playing all 32 minutes. It was an effort much like last year at state when Grandview clinched a trophy by eliminating Wapato 64-63.

"It always seems to come down to us and Wapato," said Schrank, who also grabbed 10 rebounds. "They are so tough, and this was a huge game for both of us.

"It was our goal to go undefeated, but you can't have everything go your way," he added. "We had to come back together as a team after those losses. Now we just have to keep winning."

Grandview (22-2) will return to CWU today for another loser-out game -- tipoff at 3 p.m. -- against Clarkston. A win would send the Greyhounds to the state quarterfinals in Yakima next week.

"It's been a roller-coaster for us the last couple weeks," Nielsen said. "The first quarter was big for us, hitting shots and finally getting some offense. Then we struggled a little but got it back. We hung in there and got it done."

CWAC player of the year Jacoby Howe led Wapato with 17 points followed by Craig (13) and Reynoso (12). Clifton Smiscon hauled down 10 rebounds for the Wolves, who finished the season at 19-6 with three of the losses to Grandview.