Chris Sarbaugh and Gary Bell will both play basketball at Gonzaga University next year. But the two standout guards hardly know each other. And that’s just how Sarbaugh, a senior at Gonzaga Prep, likes it.
“We don’t really know each other, which I’m kind of happy about,” Sarbaugh said. “Gives us a little more edge in this game.”
Sarbaugh’s sixth-ranked Bullpups outlasted Bell’s ninth-ranked Chargers, 72-60, in the Class 4A boys basketball state quarterfinals Thursday in the Tacoma Dome.
The two played against each other a couple of times in AAU games and Sarbaugh saw Bell once on the Spokane university’s campus. On Thursday, they each scored 22 points. Sarbaugh, a 6-foot-3 guard, made 10 of 18 shots and also totaled eight rebounds and five steals, earning praise from his coach.
“Sarbaugh is just incredible, the kid’s a warrior,” Matty McIntyre said. “He does whatever we ask. He’ll play defense, he’ll rebound, he’ll score in a variety of ways. Today his true colors came through.”
Sarbaugh said he didn’t speak to Bell before the game – “All business today,” he said – but is looking forward to playing with him in college.
“It will be fun to play with him next year,” he said.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Two sets of twins stood out in the Class 4A girls quarterfinals.
Mount Rainier freshmen Jordan and Brittany McPhee are making their first state appearance.
Britanny finished as the SPSL co-MVP as a freshman, averaging 20.6 points a game. The McPhee twins’ father, Bryce McPhee, was a standout basketball player at Bellarmine Prep who went on to play at Gonzaga.
Sophomores Brooke and Brittany Pahukoa also have some family lineage to lean on.
The father of the sophomore twins from Lake Stevens is Jeff Pahukoa, a versatile offensive lineman for the University of Washington.
As a senior, Pahukoa played on Huskies team that beat Iowa, 46-34, in the 1991 Rose Bowl.
WRUBBING IT IN
Tony Wroten provided an exclamation point in top-ranked Garfield’s 90-80 win over No. 8 Puyallup.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Wroten was alone near the basket. He tossed the ball off the backboard, plucked it out of the air and dunked it.
Wroten immediately felt remorse for the show-stopping jam.
“I should never have done it,” the UW recruit said. “I should have shown more class and I apologize.”
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Davis High School junior guard David Trimble Jr. knows what it’s like to have a famous father. His dad, David Trimble Sr., played football at Washington in the mid-1980s. He was part of the Huskies team that defeated Oklahoma, 28-17, in the 1985 Orange Bowl.
Trimble said he grew up with people telling him how great of an athlete his father was. He sees him differently, though he acknowledges his dad still has skills.
“I just see him as my dad, some old guy I talk to every day,” Trimble said. “He can still hoop, he’s pretty good.”
So is Trimble.
Trimble’s triple-double led No. 10 Davis to an 88-76 win over No. 4 Jackson. He totaled 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He’s also a standout football player.
Which sport is his favorite?
“I like both equal,” he said. “It flip-flops during the season.”
LACY A TEAM PLAYER
Curtis coach Tim Kelly said he never has to worry about his all-league guard Davonte Lacy turning into a one-man team.
Lacy, who has accepted a basketball scholarship to Washington State, doesn’t come into the game feeling he has to prove anything.
“Some guys are big on stats. They have to have the ball in their hands,” Kelly said. “Davonte doesn’t force a whole lot. He plays within himself.”
Lacy scored a game-high 17 points on 6-for-14 shooting in Curtis’ 64-49 opening-round win against Olympia. He’s averaging 19.6 points for the season.
“He’s smart enough to know that it’s tough to stop the four other guys out there,” Kelly said.
FREE THROW CLANKS
Olympia coach Luke Salme doesn’t like bringing it up, but the Bears’ season-long free-throw shooting woes were on display Thursday.
The Bears went 6-for-19 from the foul line. They’re shooting around 60 percent from the line for the season.
“It’s not something we talk a lot about because it can just make it worse,” said Ryan Gerrits, Olympia assistant coach.
The Bears went 3-for-11 from the foul line in the fourth quarter Thursday.
Olympia wasn’t the only team that struggled to make free throws. Top-ranked Garfield was 11-for-27 in its 90-80 win over No. 8 Puyallup.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.