Lincoln boys rally past Kamiakin in 51-45 victory

Lincoln High School is a mere five miles away from the Tacoma Dome.

To make that its basketball-playing home next week for the Class 3A state tournaments, the Abes had to travel much longer this weekend.

Try 215 miles to Richland.

And it was a happy long trek back.

The 3A Narrows League champions overcame a sluggish start to edge Kamiakin, 51-45, in the regional round of the state tournament Saturday afternoon at Richland High School.

Trevante Anderson led the Abes (22-4) with 17 points. Trevion Brown added 12, and it was his 3-pointer with under three minutes to go that gave Lincoln the lead for good.

Lincoln will play in the Tacoma Dome for the first time since 2013 starting Thursday in the 3A quarterfinals.

“A big-time effort by our guys to stay focused,” Lincoln coach Aubrey Shelton said.

It was an inauspicious start by the Abes.

Kamiakin’s Garrett Paxton, a sophomore, drilled three 3-pointers in the first four minutes to give the Braves a 14-2 lead.

But the Abes worked their way back into it, led by Anderson, who attacked the basket.

Kamiakin held a 44-43 lead when Brown connected on a deep 3-pointer at the 2:43 mark.

“He has hit so many timely buckets,” Shelton said.

Then Willie Thomas took over in the final 90 seconds. He scored on a short baseline jumper, then made a steal on the other end and took it back for a dunk with 27 seconds remaining.

The Braves’ last possession ended on Thomas blocking a 3-pointer. He finished with 10 points and seven blocked shots.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 8:23 PM with the headline "Lincoln boys rally past Kamiakin in 51-45 victory."