B’S Get Dose Of R & R Republic Grabs Boys Title

The team of destiny had one surprise too many for the team of history.

Republic walked its final tightrope at the 55th boys State B basketball tournament Saturday, throwing aside a paltry first half to beat seemingly invincible Reardan 38-36 in the championship game at the Arena.

Republic entered the game with three narrow wins at state, including a last-second win in their opener against Tacoma Baptist and Friday’s thrilling semifinal with Darrington. Reardan had strolled to three wins by an average of 24.7 points.

The schools’ state tourney histories were also lopsided: Reardan, six titles in 32 appearances; Republic, one fifth-place trophy in three trips.

Everything seemed to favor Reardan, especially the first 16 minutes of play.

The Tigers (27-4) made three field goals in the first half while shooting 11 percent. Yet defense, emotion and - dare anyone say? - destiny pulled them through.

Tigers senior Mark Rickard, hounded for nearly 30 minutes by Reardan’s Peter Eastman, made his first basket with 2:29 left in the game. It may have been the game’s biggest hoop, as it pulled Republic into a 36-all tie.

Matters became even stranger for Rickard, an 86 percent free-throw shooter, as he missed 3 of 5 attempts in the last 1:15. The two that went through, however, provided the winning points.

“I’m numb,” Rickard said after Republic’s victory dance on center court. “It’s the greatest feeling in my life.

“It took me a little while to get going, but I pulled through in the end.”

Republic appeared in greater trouble in the third quarter when Reardan’s usual 3-point terror, Travis Titchenal, hit back-to-back 3s for a 26-17 lead. Those baskets, Titchenal’s last two of the game, increased his tourney record for 3-pointers to 18.

Enter Jason Baldwin, who finally hit a 3, and unusual suspects Lonnie Grimm and Chad Dinkins, who also connected from outside, and the Tigers strung together a 12-3 run.

“Baldwin kept us in the game the whole game,” said Republic coach Rory Rickard.

The Tigers pulled even at 36 when Rickard shook free for a jumper in the key at 2:29 left in the fourth.

“A lot of emotions were getting to me,” Rickard said. “Plus it was a little cold out there.”

At 1:15, Rickard was fouled after snaring an offensive rebound. He missed the first free throw and hit the second.

Titchenal missed a field goal with 41 seconds left. Kris Kuchenmeister grabbed the ball for Republic.

Reardan, with just four team fouls, had to waste time to put Republic in the bonus.. The seventh foul, with 22.3 left, put Rickard at the line. Rickard missed the one-and-one but chased down the rebound and drew another foul. Rickard hit the first free throw and missed the second.

The Indians, missing Soliday because he had just fouled out, failed to set up a decent final shot. Eastman’s wild heave didn’t come close.

“Cinderella is what they’ve been calling us,” Baldwin said. “I guess we have the slippers on now.”

, DataTimes MEMO: See related story with same headline.