Knights repeat as WIAA
2A District 3 champions

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

For the second year in a row, the Bremerton Knights won the Class 2A West Central District tournament title.

The only difference from last year, was this time, the Knights did it at home.

In front of a packed Eathorne Gymnasium, the Knights defeated the Bainbridge Spartans 71-52, claiming the district title in front of their home fans. It was the third win over Bainbridge this season, but with a lot more on the line.

After the final buzzer, the Knights celebrated with their fans, as a big flag with the letter B was waved from the stands.

Jalen Davis

“It was a really exciting game,” said Jalen Davis, “seeing everyone from the community coming out.”

Three district games were scheduled for Bremerton High School, and the gym was full after the second game ended. Everyone from former alums of both East and West High, as well as casual fans from around Kitsap County, filled the seats. The fans were not disappointed.

“It’s beyond words,” said coach Miah Davis, though he tried to find the words.

“Sacrifice, commitment, discipline, understanding, love, peace, happiness, joy,” he said. “A picture is worth a thousand words, but this is worth ten thousand words.”

In the first quarter, the Knights led 10-8, but broke the game open in the second quarter, leading 35-17 at halftime. Like in the previous playoff win over Franklin Pierce on Thursday, there was back to back steals in the back court by Jalen Davis and Aaron Matthews that led to baskets that energized the crowd.

“It was coming out defensively,” said junior guard Jalen Davis. “One thing that stood out was getting them off the three point line. Eventually. once we got the defensive stops, the rebounds and the fastbreak, that’s when our momentum was going.”

Three-point shooting from the Spartans (17-6) kept the game from becoming a rout. Ryan Rohrbacher led Bainbridge with 20 points, with six 3-pointers. As for Bremerton, they only made two 3-pointers in the game.

“We make half those shots, and it’s a forty-point game,” coach Davis said. “So, we’ll go back to the lab and see what we can do better.”

Jalen Davis led Bremerton (22-2) with 29 points, including going 12 of 12 from the foul line. The Knights were perfect from the foul line, going 15 of 15, while shooting 48 percent (27 of 56) from the floor.

Junior Davis-McWhorter added 12 points, and Enoch Taylor had all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter.

“It feels great, but to do it at home, it feels better,” Taylor said of the win. “This place was packed out, it was amazing.”

After the game, the Knights players and coaching staff took turns cutting down the nets and took pictures with their friends and families.

Next step for the Knights is the Class 2A regional playoff next weekend. Coach Davis said the team will be going in cool, calm, and collected.

“It’s like I tell them,” he said, “have fun with this. It’s something that lasts for a short time, you got to embrace it.”

Bainbridge - 8 9 19 16 - 52

Bremerton - 10 25 20 16 - 71

J. Davis - 29 pts 5 reb 4 ast 6 stl 2 blk 2 chg

J. McWhorter - 12 pts 1 st 1 to

E. Taylor - 10 pts 2 reb 1 ast 1 stl 2 to

A. Matthews - 8 pts 9 reb 7 ast 7 stl 1 blk 3 to

J. Beahan - 8 pts 9 reb 2 blk 1 to

D. McKay - 2 pts 2 reb 1 ast

T. Medina - 2 pts 1 reb 1 stl

M. Lomuda - 2 pts

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

edgar7892@yahoo.com