Bremerton defeats District 1 champions

to move on to State Quarterfinals

in Yakima

Four Knights score in double-figures - Davis (19),

Allen (13), McWhorter (11), & Turner (10) - in win

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

TACOMA – At the Class 2A regional playoffs, the Bremerton Knights faced a giant killer in Lakewood. The Cougars from the Northwest Conference knocked off the number one team in the state, Lynden, in the Northwest District title game, and had plans to do the same against the Knights.

It wasn't going to happen.

The Knights came out and took care of business, taking down the upset minded Cougars 62-44 at the University of Puget Sound’s Memorial Fieldhouse, in front of a ton of Knights fans who made the trip down Highway 16 to cheer their team on.

Bremerton (19-6) established the tone early, jumping out to a 12-2 lead on Lakewood. They led 34-19 at halftime, and didn’t let up until the game was well in hand.

With the win, the Knights will head to Yakima for the Class 2A state tournament. They will get a bye in the first round on Wednesday and play the winner between Franklin Pierce of Parkland, and West Valley of Spokane on Thursday.

“I told the boys I was proud of them,” said Bremerton coach Miah Davis. “In the locker room, they weren’t crazy and jumping around. For me, I love it. That means they’re not satisfied. Seeing that, I got goose bumps. They’re like hungry. Last year, we were the hunters. We still have a target on our back, and we have so much to prove, so why can’t we be the hunters again?”

Jalen Davis led the Knights with 19 points and 12 rebounds, along with a pair of shots he blocked that wound up in Commencement Bay. The Cougars defense did their best to contain him, but to no avail.

“That’s all him. Probably the only player who get a box and one, a diamond and one. For him, it was an adjustment. Every game is an adjustment for him. He still keeps his cool and collected. The team waits for him to see how he reacts to it, and he does it well. So they settle in it really well, until we get out early and get the lead.”

Jalen Davis passed the ball around to his teammates when Lakewood tried to close the box on him, and his teammates responded with timely baskets that the Cougars couldn’t stop.

Frank Allen had 13 points, including a rip roaring dunk to start the third quarter that brought the Knights student section to their feet, and pulled down seven rebounds. Junior Davis-McWhorter added 11 points and Jaydon Turner 10.

“It’s our togetherness,” said coach Davis, “showing our mental toughness, that as coaches, we embed that spiritual connection with them, and that belief. What do you believe in? we got to inspire them. Having this community out tonight gave them a better belief, and a better understanding, of why they’re doing it.”

Lakewood had no answer on offense against the Knights’ defense. Though they did sink seven 3-pointers, baskets were few and far between for the Cougars.

“We had to contain their three pointers they like to screen and cut through,” said Jalen Davis, “so this whole week we’ve been practicing on defense.”

Now the Knights will head back over Snoqualmie Pass to Yakima for the Class 2A state tournament, with hopes of bringing back another trophy, preferably the biggest one of all.

Lakewood Cougars - 19 15 22 6 - 62
Bremerton Knights - 7 12 17 8 - 44
 

J. Davis - 19 pts 12 reb 5 ast 4 stl 2 blk 2 to

F. Allen - 13 pts 5 reb 3 ast 2 stl 1 blk 3 to

J. McWhorter - 11 2 reb 1 ast 1 stl 2 to

J. Turner - 10 pts 3 reb 1 to

D. Anderson - 4 pts 3 reb 3 ast 2 stl 2 bl 1 to

A. Matthews - 4 pts 1 reb 3 ast 5 stl 2 to

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

edgar7892@yahoo.com