Evanston guard Wacey Lym controls the ball on the perimeter against Daveon Gibson during the Devils’ 68-65 victory last Friday in the Regional semifinals. HERALD PHOTO/Kurt Ritzman

Before last weekend’s Regional tournament, Evanston coach Bubba O’Neill said he wasn’t concerned with whether the Red Devils won the Regional title. He just wanted the team to be playing their best basketball.

Evanston lost in the title game to Natrona County to grab the second seed at the state tournament this weekend.

“I thought we played extremely well (over the weekend). I’m really proud of how our guys played. We did a good job of getting more than one person involved offensively. Our defense has been great all year,” O’Neill said. “We have some kids stepping up. I think we’re playing our best basketball at this time. I’m feeling that way. I hope the kids are feeling that way too.”

Natrona earned its third win of the season over Evanston — in a matchup of the two teams who proved they were the best in conference all season — 55-52 in the Regional championship Saturday.

“They were hot in the first half. They hit six or seven 3s. The night before they were 0-for the game, but for some reason teams seem to get hot against us. We hung in and battled. I thought our kids did a nice job of keeping it close,” O’Neill said. “We did a good job with defensive pressure. We got some layups to make it close.”

The Red Devils committed two turnovers and an offensive foul down the stretch, which did not allow them to attempt shots that could have tied the game.

Evanston has shot 48 percent, 50 percent and 52 percent from the free throw line in its three losses to Natrona. The Red Devils shot 77 percent from the line during their semifinal victory over Rock Springs.

“It’s just their size that gives up trouble. They’re extremely big and give us some trouble in paint,” O’Neill said. “I thought we handled it better than we did the first two games.”

The Red Devils beat Rock Springs 68-65 in the semifinals to advance to the championship game.

“It wasn’t that close until there was 1:27 left in the game. They hit six 3s in a row. I don’t think I’ve seen that before. That made it seem a lot closer than it really was,” O’Neill said. “Our kids were out getting a hand in their face. They were just really hot. There’s not much you can do when a team is that hot.”

O’Neill said there was come concern when Rock Springs was cutting into the lead, but he was pleased with his team’s play.

“We played well all game long,” O’Neill said. “We stepped up and made free throws when we had to. I thought we finished very well.”