High school boys basketball regional roundup: Olympia punches ticket to Tacoma Dome behind Engholm’s 22
FEB. 26 (SATURDAY)
BOYS BASKETBALL
4A
NO. 11 OLYMPIA 64, NO. 14 JACKSON 51
The Olympia Bears are headed to the Tacoma Dome.
In an elimination game, Andreas Engholm dropped 22 points and led the Bears over 14th-seed Jackson in the 4A regional round, 64-51.
“They’re excited,” coach John Kiley said. “We made it a couple years ago and had a good run. And last year, disappointingly, I think was one of our stronger teams (and) nobody could go. And so this group was focused I think over the offseason to improve and get stronger.
“And we’ve had a few missteps along the way. But, today was an exciting and fun locker room after the game.”
Olympia’s defense showed out early, allowing just 16 points to Jackson in the opening half. Down 11 at the break, the Timberwolves upped their production in the final quarters, primarily behind 21 points from Sylas Williams and 17 from Drilon Veliu.
But as Jackson improved, so did Olympia; the Bears outpaced their opponents by a point in each of the third and fourth quarters. In the final minutes, the contest transformed into a half-court game, prompted by full-court presses and subsequent open looks.
“(That) opened up the court a little bit,” Kiley said. “Teams were trading baskets more than earlier in the game.”
Up next for Olympia is a Mar. 2 meeting with Mariner in the first round of the WIAA’s Hardwood Classic.
Aside from Engholm’s game-high 22, Parker Gerrits and Caden Roth logged 15 apiece for the Bears. Drew Carlson added seven.
BOX SCORE
J: 6-10-12-23–51
O: 14-13-13-24–64
Scoring: (O) Andreas Engholm 22, Parker Gerrits 15, Caden Roth 15; (J) Sylas Williams 21, Drilon Veliu 17
NO. 9 FEDERAL WAY 71, NO. 16 EASTMONT 57
The Eagles’ smothering defense help them soar past the Wildcats as the continuous pressure wore down Eastmont. Pair that with an unflinching dedication to sharing the ball, and Federal Way has their ticket punched to the Tacoma Dome.
Starting the game off a little tight, the Eagles eventually broke the game open in the two middle quarters where they outscored the Wildcats 42-29. On offense, Federal Way made it their main goal to distribute the ball among themselves to find the best shot they could take.
The win puts the Eagles up against Gonzaga Prep in the opening round of the WIAA 4A state tournament. It will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 2 at the Tacoma Dome.
BOX SCORE
FW: 17-21-21-12--71
E: 16-15-14-12--57
3A
NO. 1 GARFIELD 90, NO. 8 TIMBERLINE 58
The Blazers came into their match up against the Bulldogs with the confidence that they could take down the number one seed in the WIAA 3A state tournament.
Instead, they were handed their first back-to-back loss of the season and pushed into a first-round game at the Tacoma Dome.
Garfield was led by senior Koren Johsnon, who was all over the place for the Bulldogs and helped in forcing Timberline to turn the ball over. In coach Allen Thomas’ eyes, Johnson is one of four guys that Garfield has that can score 20 a night.
“Garfield came out and got out in transition really quickly,” he said. “Our mindset was that if we could limit their possessions, we would be in good shape. The best thing about tonight is that we had opportunities to play against Garfield and Auburn. What more can you ask for? You want to see where you’re at, and it won’t be a culture shock to play them later down the line. If we make a run, it’s something we can build off of.”
The Blazers weren’t without a few strong performances from some of their own. Juniors Miles Gurske and Brooklyn Hicks dropped 14 points each tonight. Gurske got the double-double by adding in 11 rebounds and four assists, while Hicks had seven rebounds as well.
Timberline’s next match up will be against Mountlake Terrace at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 2 at the Tacoma Dome.
BOX SCORE
G: 16-20-30-24--90
T: 8-8-25-17--58
Scoring: (T) Miles Gurske 14 points (11 rebounds, 4 assists), Brooklyn Hicks 14 points (7 rebounds)
2A
No. 12 GRANDVIEW 68, NO. 13 ENUMCLAW 46
One win away from the Yakima Valley SunDome, Enumclaw’s season ended on Saturday with a loss to Grandview.
Hornets coach Terry Johnson thinks they’ll be back.
Their season featured a run to the state tournament’s Round of 16, but Enumclaw (14-9, 10-4 2A SPSL) fell to Grandview, 68-46, at Davis High School. A big first quarter by the Greyhounds – and just three Hornet points in the second – were mostly to blame.
But Enumclaw’s roster includes six juniors and five sophomores that played significant minutes.
“We had a really, really young team this year,” Johnson told The News Tribune. “And so I’m really proud of our ability to compete, and (get) through some of those growing pains, and get some experience in it.
“Just for us to even be in that Round of 16. … Maybe we didn’t have the talents of some of these other top teams, but we were really, really closely connected. Our kids played hard, and hopefully the experiences are going to lead to some bigger things in the next couple of years.”
Julian Garza led all scorers with 17 points, and helped Grandview earn their trip to the Yakima Valley SunDome. The WIAA’s 2A Hardwood Classic tips off on Mar. 2.
The Greyhounds knocked down six threes in the first quarter, and forced the Hornets to play from behind early on. Johnson said his group clawed back and improved on defense, and it showed; Grandview never replicated their offensive totals from the opening quarter. But Enumclaw couldn’t make up the ground, logging just three points in the second quarter. They’d enter halftime down 17.
Hornets senior John Carnino led the team with 16 points, and Karson Holt added 8. Levi Dorsett scored 14 for Grandview.
“(Grandview) came out, played really well, and shot it really well in the first half,” Johnson said.
BOX SCORE
E: 15-3-17-11–46
G: 22-13-16-17–68
Scoring: (G) Julian Garza 17, Levi Dorsett 14; (E) John Carnino 16, Karson Holt 8
NO. 10 FRANKLIN PIERCE 90, NO. 15 W.F. WEST 69
For three quarters, W.F. West kept it close.
But Franklin Pierce, with their season on the line, wouldn’t be denied.
The Cardinals exploded for 29 points in the fourth quarter, and outlasted the Bearcats in Saturday’s regional round, 90-69. Franklin Pierce is state-bound.
“We’re so happy,” Cardinals coach John Barbee said. “What we talk about is just being happy, but not satisfied. And there’s some some basketball still left to be played... we’re excited to get over the (SunDome).
“And this is why you play, right? This is what they’ve dreamed of. ... We’ve been to state the last couple years, but we haven’t won an actual state game. So we’re going to look to change history and make a legacy for these kids, and I’m really proud of them.”
W.F. West trailed by nine at the intermission at Mount Tahoma High School, and later trailed by 13 in the third quarter, Alec Dietz of The Chronicle reported. That’s when a 10-0 Bearcat run ensued, which cut Franklin Pierce’s lead to three.
In the fourth, Franklin Pierce jump started a 12-2 run of their own. The Cardinals wound up with 29 points in the final period, and when the Bearcats entered foul trouble, their offense could only muster 13 in response.
“Using our speed and athleticism against their size,” Barbee said. “They were really a big team. I think that’s what eventually wore them down a little bit.”
Mason Thomas led the Cardinals with 31 points. John John Barbee added 30, and the pair accounted for over two-thirds of Franklin Pierce’s offensive production.
W.F. West’s season ended with the loss, though the Cardinals are off to the Yakima Valley SunDome for the 2A WIAA Hardwood Classic. They’ll meet No. 7 Port Angeles in the opening round of the state bracket on Mar. 2.
On Feb. 16, Franklin Pierce lost to Port Angeles in the 2A District 2/3 tournament, 68-51. Barbee’s team trailed 25-9 after one quarter, and the Cardinals couldn’t crawl out of an early deficit.
“Take away that first quarter, and it’s a different ballgame,” Barbee said of the district-tournament loss. “So I think we’ve got to do a good job of coming out early. This game (against W.F. West) will help us against Port Angeles, because they’re big. I think this was a really good prep, a really good tune up, and gave us some things to think about.”
BOX SCORE
WFW: 15-17-24-13–69
FP: 20-21-20-29–90
Scoring: (FP) Mason Thomas 31, John John Barbee 30
NO. 4 PULLMAN 61, NO. 5 TUMWATER 50
Pullman trailed at the half, but used a big third quarter to grab a 61-50 win over the Thunderbirds and secure a first-round bye at the WIAA Hardwood Classic.
With Saturday’s win at University High School in Spokane Valley, Pullman bypassed the state tournament’s opening round. They’ll get an extra day of rest for a 2A quarterfinal contest on Mar. 3.
Tumwater, still in title contention, needs a win over No. 12 Grandview on Mar. 2 for a spot in the state quarterfinals.
BOX SCORE
T: 11-18-9-12–50
P: 11-16-18-16–61
NO. 3 R.A. LONG 72, NO. 6 WHITE RIVER 58
At the half, the Hornets and Lumberjacks were tied up at 28. Both teams were playing physical down in the key and trying to make offense happen while in transition.
However, in the third quarter, R.A. Long started to pull away as they outscored White River 26-10 in the frame. Essentially, the Lumberjacks began to make big shots while the Hornets couldn’t get their rhythm going.
“We knew we couldn’t do any jump and catch threes, and they didn’t miss any,” said coach Zach Johnson. “We just kept losing shooters. We got out in transition and we were composed out there. I believe we still have the pieces to make a run for the championship, we just have to trust each other in times of adversity.”
The Hornet’s leading scorer in the game was senior Dane Goudy, who scored 18.Pro
R.A. Long’s win means they get a bye in the next round of the WIAA 2A state playoffs, but White River does not.
Prosser will be the next team the Hornets play against and that will be at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 2 at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
BOX SCORE
WR: 12-16-10-20--58
RAL: 15-13-26-18--72
Scoring: (WR) Dane Goudy 18
MORE SCORES
1A
No. 2 Lynden Christian 66, No. 7 Annie Wright 54
This story was originally published February 26, 2022 at 5:09 PM.