It is February. Not surprisingly, the Cascade Christian boys are playing their best basketball of the season.
In a Nisqually League tiebreaker to decide not only the No. 2 seed, but also a much-appreciated bye in next week’s Class 1A tri-district tournament, the Cougars led the entire way en route to a 52-39 win over Eatonville at Orting High School on Friday night.
• GALLERY: Photos from the game
Shawn Spencer registered a triple double the hard way, with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks shots. Cascade Christian has now won eight in a row since losing at Eatonville, 68-65, in overtime on Jan. 12.
“The guys knew exactly where we were sitting. I never try to hide the facts of where we are at (in the playoff seeding),” Cascade Christian coach Jerry Williams said. “As a competitor, you are better off knowing what the game means – and they went out and played like they knew what was at stake.”
Spencer, the 6-foot-10 senior, tallied nine points in the first quarter, and Jordan Tveter hit three first-half 3-pointers as Cascade Christian grabbed a 31-16 halftime lead.
The Cougars, who were in the 1A state semifinals last season, will be off until Saturday. Meanwhile the Cruisers, who were led by Eric Mead’s 13 points, got into the tri-district tournament as the No. 3 seed, and will play University Prep at Lynnwood High School.
CLASS 3A
Lakes 67, Enumclaw 39: For the second time this week, the Lancers will play for a No. 1 seed – this time from the West Central subdistrict boys basketball tournament at Auburn Mountainview High School.
Jordan Johnson led Lakes with 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Nine of his points came in the first half as the Lancers opened up a 30-20 lead.
Lakes, which won an SPSL 2A mini-tiebreaker tournament Tuesday to grab the league’s top seed, will play Kennedy Catholic tonight at 6:15 for the subdistrict title. Kennedy Catholic beat the host Lions, 46-40, in the other semifinal.
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