Auburn refuses repeat of last year’s first-round upset, survives Olympia’s rally
Olympia stormed back from a 16-point deficit to cut No. 2 Auburn’s lead to four points in the fourth quarter of an opening round Class 4A state tournament basketball game on Wednesday.
Auburn coach Ryan Hansen could be forgiven for having flashbacks to last year’s opening round game against Lincoln, in which the top-seeded Trojans squandered a 13-point lead to the Abes in the fourth quarter.
“I was trying not to think of that moment from last year,” Hansen said, laughing.
Auburn remembered the feeling from last year. This year’s group of players, led by guards Daniel Johnson and Carter Hansen, weren’t going to let it happen again. Not on their watch.
“Not happening,” Johnson said. “I just needed to turn up. I didn’t want to feel that hurt again. I had last year’s game replaying in my head.”
Auburn held off No. 10 Olympia, pulling away late in a 56-45 win.
“We’ve got some guys on this team that were a part of that last year and have that Dome experience,” Hansen said. “They were talking about just finishing.”
Johnson, who was a solid player last year before transforming into a legitimate difference maker this year, was lights out. He scored a game-high 23 points and made four of his five 3-point attempts.
“I felt like I needed to do it for my team,” he said.
When 2024 TNT All-Area player of the year Jaylen Petty transferred to Rainier Beach in the offseason, Johnson and Hansen challenged themselves to take on bigger roles.
“It was an opportunity for them to (step up),” Hansen said. “Obviously, Jaylen is a great player and gets some shots up, so it was an opportunity for them to step forward.
“Those guys embraced it, they’re grinders, they’re workers, they’re always in the gym, so it’s no surprise to see them have the success they’ve had this year.”
The win sets up a showdown with No. 1 Gonzaga Prep in the tournament quarterfinals at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM.
