For second consecutive year

Bremerton wins at UPS Fieldhouse

and advances to state quarterfinals

Redhawks didn't know who to guard as Davis (34 pts),

McWhorter (16), and Taylor (13) all scored in double-digits

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

TACOMA – They had a relentless defense. They played physically. They could score at will,

When the Bremerton Knights played the Renton Redhawks in their Class 2A regional playoff at the University of Puget Sound’s Memorial Fieldhouse, it was like looking in a mirror.

For the first couple of minutes, the reflection was winning.

But the Knights showed there is only one team like them, and that was Bremerton themselves.

They broke the Redhawks’ defensive pressure and exploded offensively in the second quarter, effectively shattering the mirror image of Renton, who were bent on upsetting the Knights with a style that was like their own.

Instead, it was Bremerton who dominated the game, as they decisively defeated Renton 75-57 in the Class 2A regional at UPS.

With the win, the Knights (23-2) will open the 2A state tournament at the Yakima Sun Dome on Thursday to defend their state title.

“I looked at the bracket,” said coach Miah Davis, “I’ve been watching too much film, so I told them ‘the 28^th, 8 p.m.’ that’s all I’m worried about. Everything else, I got to control, just keep my head in the books, and focus on defense. Defense is all we talk about in practice. Everyone knows defense wins championships.”

Defense came alive late in the first quarter, coming back from a 10-4 deficit early on, as the Knights took a 21-17 lead after one.

Rashad Powell, who played with Miah Davis at the University of the Pacific, has built a program in Renton that’s just like the Knights. But on the court, like a Highland warrior from Scotland, there can be only one.

The defensive pressure that Renton tried to impose on Bremerton, was now turned on them.

“We’re like the original Knights,” coach Davis said. “We have our mindset, our own vision, we have our own staple. Bremerton is not like any other city. We’re blue collar workers. I’ve been working since I was twelve years old, and I’m still working today. I try to install those values in everyone.”

Jalen Davis was hounded by Renton defenders early on, and had his thumb on his shooting hand taped up, after he hurt it in practice. But after a while, Davis took the tape off, then took off the defenders in the second quarter. He scored 22 points in the quarter as Bremerton took a 48-37 lead at halftime.

“I told him to take it off,” coach Davis said about the thumb.

Jalen finished with 34 points, going 11 of 20 from the field. He also had nine rebounds, and six assists.

“Tonight, we felt pretty good,” said Jalen Davis. “It was a pretty good team win, especially on defense, and sharing the ball around.”

Jalen got his teammates involved, as Junior Davis-McWhorter had 16 points with four 3-pointers, and Enoch Taylor added 13 points, as Renton was left to scramble on defense in trying to figure out who to guard the most.

“We play our game,” Jalen said. “We didn’t want to play their game, we want to play our style.”

Now, the Knights will pack their bags for a trip across the mountains back to Yakima.

“It’s one day at a time,” coach Davis said. “We’ll celebrate tonight, take (Sunday) off, but once that whistle blows, it’s go time. Nothing changes.”

Bremerton - 21 27 15 12 - 75

Renton - 17 20 12 8 - 57

J. Davis - 34 pts 9 reb 6 ast 3 stl 6 to

J. McWhorter - 16 pts 1 reb 1 stl 1 to

E. Taylor - 13 pts 5 reb 4 ast 1 to

A. Matthews - 8 pts 2 reb 8 ast 6 stl 2 blk 3 to

J. Beahan - 2 pts 6 reb 4 blk 1 to

M. Lomuda - 2 pts 5 reb

George Edgar

(Sports Writer)

edgar7892@yahoo.com