Prep roundup: Clover Park streaking at the right time; Foss secures undefeated title; Gig Harbor, Tacoma Baptist are league champs

Boys Basketball

Top Performer: Davion Gaines, Stadium

Scored 30 points in win over Mt. Tahoma

CLASS 2A

Clover Park 57, Steilacoom 43: The Warriors won their sixth game in a row and are starting to catch fire at the right time. At least in coach Mel Ninnis’ eyes.

“They are starting to believe in themselves, teammates and the system,” he said. “It’s their responsibility to win games for our school, city, family, peers of Clover Park.”

And with Davien Harris-Williams dropping 19, it’s hard not to lose. Harris-Williams was the high scorer for the game, but the big surprise was Jonathon Sealey dropping 15 as Clover Park (13-7; 11-3 2A SPSL Sound) secured the No. 2 seed from the division.

That sets up a 2A SPSL crossover game on Friday against Fife for the No. 3 or 4 seed to the 2A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament.

“Jonathon has really woken up and played well, this is his third game that has gone really well for him,” Ninnis said. “He's coming together at the right time, he's learning to move his body at the right time.”

And this comes about two weeks after Clover Park had lost for the fifth time in six games, including on Jan. 5 against Steilacoom, 46-44.

Tre McDaniel also found himself in double-digit scoring at 10 points thanks to two threes he scored on wide open looks.

Leading the Sentinels was Giovanni Vasquez, scoring 11.

No. 2 Foss 76, Lindbergh 63: Demetrius Crosby went off for 28 points and the Falcons limited Lindbergh’s Jalen Green to secure Foss’ undefeated run through the 2A SPSL Mountain division for the second consecutive season.

Crosby was four points shy of his season high, when he scored 32 points against Washington. It was the fourth time he’s scored at least 28 points this season, pushing his scoring average to 21.3 points per game for the defending state champs, which finished off the regular season at 16-3, with a 14-0 record in the 2A SPSL.

Lindbergh’s Jalen Green, whose brother, Dom Green, plays for the University of Washington was held to 16 points after he went off for 51 points in a win over Evergreen last week.

Micah Pollard added 17 points for Foss, which pulled away in the fourth quarter after entering the period leading 50-44.

Foss will play Renton for the 2A SPSL title at 7 p.m. Friday at Foss.

No. 5 Fife 84, Foster 51: Brian Mitchell scored 18 points, Eli Graham had 15 and Alex Nitz added 13 as the Trojans used a big first quarter to cruise past the Bulldogs.

Fife (17-3; 12-2 2A SPSL Mountain) will play Clover Park on Friday for seeding to the 2A West Central District tournament.

CLASS 3A

Peninsula 63, Central Kitsap 60 (OT): The Seahawks outlasted the Cougars in a game that featured high-powered offenses clashing.

Early in the game, the two teams were keeping it close. However, the fourth quarter saw an uptick in offense as Peninsula outscored Central Kitsap 20-16 to tie the game and force overtime. There, the Seahawks outlasted the Cougars 8-5 to win.

The Seahawks were led by Sam Miller’s 17 points and Seth Kasteler’s 16 points. The Cougars’ leading scorers were Zion Archer with 20, Dylan McConnell with 17 and Colby White with 13.

Stadium 79, Mount Tahoma 61: The Tigers poured on the scoring in their win over the T-Birds as Davion Gaines went off to lead all scorers with 30 points.

The Tigers would score no less than 14 points in a quarter, as they ran away with the game in the second half.

Behind Gaines was Jaeden Call scoring 13 as Stadium (9-9; 6-7 3A Pierce County League) remains tied with Lakes for the PCL’s No. 4 seed to the 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict playoffs.

Leading the T-Birds (1-18; 0-13) was Tyler Williford, scoring 15.

Lakes 49, Bonney Lake 44: Daeshawn Wayne scored 12 points as the Lancers rallied in the second half.

Lakes (8-11; 6-7 3A Pierce County League) is guaranteed a spot in the 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament next week as one of six PCL teams that will be playing playoff basketball.

No. 2 Lincoln, Bethel: The game was postponed because the officials didn’t show up.

CLASS 4A

Auburn Mountainview 48, Decatur 31: It was gritty, and the Lions will most certainly take it.

Zevion Trapp scored 13 points and Zach Richardson had 11 as the Lions used a big first quarter, shutting out Decatur, 12-0, in the period, to clinch the 4A NPSL Olympic’s No. 4 seed to the sub-district playoffs.

Les Sessoms scored a game-high 16 points for Decatur (8-13; 5-9 4A NPSL Olympic).

This means Auburn Mountainview (6-15; 5-9) will play Mount Rainier for either the No. 7 or 8 seed to the 4A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament at 6 p.m. Friday at Tahoma.

Decatur will play Kentlake on Thursday in a winner-to-districts, loser-out playoff game at 7:30 p.m. at Tahoma. That will be right after another winner-in, loser-out game between Tahoma and Todd Beamer at 6 p.m. at Tahoma.

The NPSL title game will come down to Kentwood vs. Federal Way at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Tahoma.

CLASS 1B

Tacoma Baptist 47, Mount Rainier Lutheran 38: The Crusaders’ big three came up huge again as Joey Pascua, Bradley Swillie and PJ Talen carried the team to the 1B SeaTac West division title.

Together, the three combined to score 45 of the Crusaders’ 47 points.

“It’s important to have all three since not all of them will be on,” said coach Rich Hamlin. “Pascua didn't shoot well tonight, but the other two did they really well.”

They even held off the Hawks’ biggest threat in Adam Bailey by squeezing him at the high post where he does most of his scoring.

“Our defense was very mindful of him,” Hamlin said. “I was happy with our zone. We knew where the shooters were and I was really pleased.”

Bailey was the Hawks leading scorer with 10 points.

And it avenged Tacoma Baptist’s (17-2; 11-2 1B SeaTac) lone West division loss, when Mount Rainier Lutheran won 57-45 on Dec. 21. Tacoma Baptist’s other loss was against Muckleschoot Tribal, 114-55, on Jan. 10.

The Crusaders will play the winner of Quilcene-Rainier Christian in the second round of the SeaTac playoffs on Saturday, earning a bye past the first round for owning the top seed. Mount Rainier Lutheran will play Northwest Yeshiva on Saturday.

Girls Basketball

Top Performer: Brynna Maxwell, Gig Harbor

Scored 26 points in the Tides’ win over Yelm

CLASS 3A

No. 8 Gig Harbor 55, Yelm 24: Adjustments were key for the Tides and they picked up their ninth straight win to officially clinch the 3A South Sound Conference title with one game to play.

Gig Harbor (15-4; 12-1 3A SSC) was led by Brynna Maxwell, who finished the game with 26 points. Maddie Willett provided 16 points.

The Tornados were led in scoring by Maddie Plevyak with 10 points.

Gig Harbor gained separation early in the third quarter, and it outscored Yelm 21-3.

In order for the Tides to make that run, it was critical for them to come out in the second half with a number of defensive adjustments.

“We picked up our defense in the second half,” Gig Harbor coach Megan Murray said. “We did that while picking up their zone on the other end and just got good, quality shots. The girls just came out ready to go in the second half, taking away their main scorer.”

Gig Harbor gets a tune-up game against Capital on Thursday before preparing for the 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament, where it will play the No. 4 team from the 3A GSHL on Wednesday.

Timberline 53, Shelton 42: The Blazers took advantage of the atmosphere created on senior night. They used the emotional setting and beat the Highclimbers for their third win in their past four games.

Timberline was forced to come from behind as it began the second quarter down nine points, but junior guard Rachel Huynh led the way with 15 points. Huynh didn’t do it alone, though. Keshara Romain led her fellow seniors with 13 points, while Rayanna Dyas had 11.

Kayla Gairns led Shelton with 15 points.

The Blazers seized the lead in the second quarter after outscoring the Highclimbers 21-10.

"It was senior night, so it was emotional,” Timberline coach Tim Borchardt said. “In the second quarter, we really strengthened the defense. We've been preaching patience and it was executed well tonight. We got a ‘W’ on senior night.

An win on Thursday against Central Kitsap for Timberline (13-6; 10-3 3A SSC) would secure the No. 2 seed from the league to the district playoffs.

CLASS 2A

Franklin Pierce 44, Washington 39: The Cardinals ended their regular season on a high note with the win over the Patriots. They won three of their final five games.

Franklin Pierce was led by Ashleigh Maynard and Bailee Disney. Both the senior and freshman guard each had nine points.

Washington was led in scoring by Sierra Hartfield with 12 points. It finished the season losing three of its last five games.

CLASS 4A

Emerald Ridge 65, Graham-Kapowsin 40: The Jaguars put an end to their five-game losing streak with the win over the Eagles.

Emerald Ridge secured the win with strong efforts in the first and third quarters. It had three players score in double figures. Jill Harris led all scorers with 15 points, while Hailey Wilson had 12 and Sammie McGinty had 11.

Michaela Coates led Graham-Kapowsin with 14 points. With the loss to the Jaguars, the Eagles’ losing streak extends to 10 games with one regular season game left to play.

CLASS 1A

Seattle Christian 76, Charles Wright Academy 43: The Tarriers have hit a bit of a rough patch with the loss to the Warriors. They have lost three of their last five games, and they have not given up more than 59 points in a loss this season.

Seattle Christian’s Seri Anderson led all scorers with 26 points, while her teammate Alex Ellis finished with 23. RubyJoy Pikes led the Tarrier in the loss with 19 points.

This story was originally published January 31, 2018 at 6:26 AM with the headline "Prep roundup: Clover Park streaking at the right time; Foss secures undefeated title; Gig Harbor, Tacoma Baptist are league champs."