Christian Davis scores 27 as Yelm advances, eliminates Puyallup

For the South Sound’s leading scorer in points-per-game average during the regular season — at more than 28 ppg — Yelm’s Christian Davis was about as quiet as can be Monday.

He put up five points in the first half against Puyallup in a Class 4A West Central District 3 elimination game.

A free throw here, a free throw there — but no field goals.

“A little nervous, a little chills,” Davis said. “But once I got in the game, it got easier.”

He scored Yelm’s first points out of the locker room on a contested layup from the left side. And its last, in the form of four game-sealing free throws.

Davis rallied to tie for a game-high 27 points as the Tornados ground out a 72-62 win at Stadium High School to knock Puyallup out of the playoffs.

“Christian’s one of those kids, if he’s not feeling it, he can get the ball over to those other guys,” Yelm coach Jordan Barnes said. “I think that once he started feeling it and getting some rotations, he started getting comfortable.

“I’m glad he did it when he did.”

Davis hit three layups in two minutes as Yelm went on a 20-11 run to open the fourth quarter. He scored 18 of his 27 points in the final period.

“Fourth quarter, I’ve got to go,” Davis said. “I don’t want to lose, so I just took over and started scoring.”

Kentridge 68, Emerald Ridge 49: Ethan Walker scored 19 points and Elijah Ticeson scored eight of his 16 in the second quarter as the Chargers pulled away and knocked off the Jaguars in the Class 4A West Central District tournament.

It was a tie game after the first quarter, but Kentridge (14-10) jumped ahead in the second quarter behind Ticeson, outscoring Emerald Ridge 18-7. Joran Ticeson also scored 16 points.

Donald Bango led the Jaguars, which took second in the 4A SPSL South, with 11 points. They end their season at 11-13.

Olympia 63, Spanaway Lake 56 (OT): The Bears survived a late surge to knock off the Sentinels to advance in the Class 4A West Central District tournament.

Spanaway Lake’s Divante Moffitt banked in a short jumper with 36.5 seconds to play to send the game into overtime tied at 54-54.

But Olympia took over from there. Eddie Beusch netted the game-winning 3-pointer from the left corner with 2:17 left.

The Bears tacked on six more points from there to end it.

Hunter Sipe’s 21 points led all scorers with 21 points for Olympia, while Liam Murphy added 13.

Olympia (19-4) plays 4A Narrows League rival Timberline (14-8) in an elimination game with the winner earning a state berth at loser-out, winner-to-state game at 7:456 p.m. Wednesday at Stadium High School. Olympia won both of the regular season meetings.

Timberline 76, South Kitsap 58: If it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season, the Blazers made it look pretty easy.

Timberline cruised by the Wolves in a Class 4A West Central District tournament elimination game to advance to a winner-to-state game against Olympia on Wednesday.

The Blazers finished 30 of 64 (46.9 percent) shooting, and had five players in double-figures.

Jarryn Bush scored a team-high 19.

3A WEST CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST

Foss 99, Mt. Tahoma 70: The Thunderbirds never did figure out how to slow down Roberto Gittens this season. And it eventually led to the end of their season.

Gittens scored a game-high 30 points at Rogers High as the Falcons moved to within one win of a state berth and beat Mt. Tahoma (8-14) for the third time this season.

Gittens scored 36 points the first meeting against Mt. Tahoma (8-14) this season, then 24 in the second meeting. He averaged 30 points per game in the three meetings against the Tacoma rival.

Donald Scott added 27 points and Tre Sterling had 16 for the Falcons (15-8), which advance to face Kennedy Catholic in an elimination game at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Clover Park. The winner earns an automatic berth to the state regionals.

Auburn Riverside 58, Sumner 57: Quintin Bethea dunked with five seconds remaining to put the Ravens ahead by four points and seal the win.

Bethea scored a game-high 20 points for Auburn Riverside (14-9), which advances to face sixth-ranked Lincoln in a winner-to-state, loser-out game at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at Clover Park.

Austin Avey hit a 3-pointer at the final horn for the Spartans, whose season ends in the second round of consolation. He led Sumner (14-9) with 15 points, Seth Carnahan had 11 and Kristian Lewis added 11.

No. 6 Lincoln 52, Prairie 48: The Abes built a 20-8 lead in the first quarter but had to hold off the Falcons the rest of the way and got some key defensive stops to avoid elimination at Rogers High.

Prairie was no slouch, entering the district tournament having won seven of its final eight games before losing 42-40 against Foss in the first round. And its young team build around just three seniors gave 3A Narrows champion Lincoln (19-4) plenty of fits. But not enough to keep its season alive.

Brandon Cotton led the Abes (19-4) with 14 points, Willie Thomas had 12 and Trevion Brown added 11. Lincoln advances to another winner-to-state game, this one against Auburn Riverside after losing Friday to seventh-ranked Peninsula.

Kennedy Catholic 71, North Thurston 58: That’s it for the Rams. The Lancers posted a 22-point fourth quarter to knock North Thurston out of the Class 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament at Rogers High School.

North Thurston’s shooting effort went dry late, and the Lancers shot 11 of 19 from beyond the perimeter to put the game away.

Emilio Mancol madepopped off five of those on his way to a game-high 27 points. Wes Reynolds had 26 for North Thurston.

2A SEAKING/WEST CENTRAL

Washington 61, Clover Park 58: The Patriots stormed back in the fourth quarter behind Donovan Thomas’ game-high 16 points and Jaomani Scott’s 11 to end the Warriors’ season and keep their state tournament hopes alive in an elimination game at Foss High.

Washington (10-13) trailed 48-43 entering the final quarter before beating Clover Park (14-9) for the second time this season. It advances to play Renton in another loser-out game at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bellarmine Prep with a chance to clinch a spot in the regional round of the state tournament — which would be its first state appearance since 2000.

Jeremiah Morris led Clover Park with 23 points. Senior Semaj Booker added 14 points in his final game with Clover Park after transferring from Curtis.

White River 58, Olympic 49: Make that four teams from the 2A South Puget Sound League that are still alive.

Ryan Larson scored 18 points, Alex Wallen had 16 and the Hornets jumped on Olympic early and survived elimination in the Class 2A bidistrict elimination game at Foss High to advance to within a game of clinching a berth in the state regionals.

White River (15-8) plays Lindbergh at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at Bellarmine Prep in another elimination game. Win that, and it clinches at least the district’s No. 6 seed to state.

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Christian Davis scores 27 as Yelm advances, eliminates Puyallup."