Hicks scores 23 on way to his 1,000th point as Timberline hands Gig Harbor its first loss
Gig Harbor was more than three quarters of the way to its 12th win without a loss this season Friday night when host Timberline finally began succeeding with its signature plays.
After the Tides’ Luke Browne swished an extra-long 3-pointer from out top to give his team its biggest lead of the second half, 55-47, with 4:18 to play, Timberline closed out the game on a 13-2 run.
The Blazers won, 60-57, behind 23 points from Brooklyn Hicks and 22 from Miles Gurske, who both contributed to Timberline’s heroics down the stretch.
The game reversed the outcome of Timberline’s narrow season-opening loss to the Tides and left the teams tied for first in the 3A South Sound Conference.
“Every time we play these guys, it’s back-and-forth, back-and-forth,” said Timberline coach Allen Thomas. “They’re well prepared, they’re well coached.”
Hicks agreed, but claimed SSC supremacy for the Blazers.
“We love playing against Gig Harbor, they’re a great team, probably the second best team in our league,” he said.
Despite needing a comeback, Hicks said the Blazers weren’t worried.
“We were there the whole time. They were getting some good shots, some good looks. We knew exactly where we were and when we were going to make that final push,” he said.
With a minute and a half to play, Gurkse hit a long 3-pointer to cut Gig Harbor’s lead to 57-56.
With 48 seconds left, Hicks gave Timberline its first lead since the opening three minutes, snatching a rebound and going coast-to-coast for a floater down the lane.
“Once Brooklyn gets going, he’s hard to stop going downhill,” said Thomas.
With 29 seconds left, the Blazers 6-foot-5 post Darell Gipson snatched a steal in the back court and went coast-to-coast himself, finishing with his left hand as Thomas held his breath.
“Darrell had my heart racing the entire time when I saw he was going to his left. He’s not a lefty. An unbelievable performance for him as a sophomore,” Thomas said.
Hicks had no such worries.
“I was running and smiling right behind him. I knew he was going to finish it. It was a great feeling. I love it.”
Gig Harbor got a 3-point attempt and a 2-point try before Hicks grabbed a rebound and was fouled. He missed the front end of a one-and-one but Timberline’s Jackson Brown snagged the rebound and time ran out.
“We were down the whole game. We needed to work for it,” Thomas said. “Then we finally got the lead and got not one, but two stops in a row. Tonight was the first time we had to win the game on defense.
“Miles Gurske came over to the bench and said ‘let’s win it on defense, let’s get stops.’”
Early on, it appeared the only thing Timberline would get to celebrate would be Hicks’ 1000th point, scored on a follow shot six minutes into the game. The Blazer student section waved cards with “1000” on them and, afterward, Hicks took home a golden basketball celebrating his achievement.
But at the time, Gig Harbor, was having its way. Thomas had given the Blazers a goal of holding the Tides to three 3-pointers all game. With Asher Raquiza hitting that many all by himself before halftime and Browne and Will Landram contributing, Gig Harbor had six treys by the break.
After Timberline had a momentary 6-5 lead, the Tides put together a 19-8 run that gave them a 10-point lead, the largest by either team, early in the second quarter. The Blazers responded to pull within three, 34-31, at the half but their offense was clearly slowed by Gig Harbor’s active zone defense.
“All we’ve seen all year are zones,” Thomas said. “It’s made us a better team, it’s forced us to play together.
“We have another level we can get to. We’re still figuring things out. I don’t want to be good now, I want to be good come February.”
Will Landram led Gig Harbor, which finished the game with nine treys, with 18 points while Raquiza had 14 and Browne 9.
The Blazers (8-3) host Yelm on Wednesday while the Tides (12-1) travel to Central Kitsap.
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 10:49 PM.