Sheaffer, North Beach Pull Escape

Day session

Nothing but net and Ben Sheaffer knew it.

The North Beach senior swished a 3-pointer with 4 seconds to play to give the Hyaks a dramatic 54-53 victory Summit at the Arena Wednesday afternoon.

That capped a wildly entertaining and surprising first session of the 54th boys State B high school basketball tournament.

The day started with the biggest win and biggest upset as Clallam Bay knocked off Toutle Lake, last year’s runnerup, 60-50. Then, Kittitas held off Waitsburgh 61-58 and St. George’s narrowly avoided an upset, tripping Orcas 49-47.

Just as the winning margins were declining - 10, 3, 2, 1 - the clock was ticking away on North Beach.

Summitt led 53-51 when Justin Paul made 1 of 2 free throws with 17.3 seconds left.

Jeremy Richards of North Beach raced down the right side and heaved a 3-pointer toward the basket. The air-ball bounced past the baseline, but Jon Johnson leaped out of bounds and swatted the ball back into play. Somehow, the ball made it through the crowded key and into Sheaffer’s hands at the top of the key.

“We haven’t given up all year,” Sheaffer said. “I knew something good would happen. We worked so hard all year. I didn’t know what would happen, but the ball came right to me and I knew the clock was running out. I elevated above the defense and shot.

“I knew it. As soon as my wrist went like that,” he added, showing his follow-through, “I knew. It’s the easiest 3-pointer, the top of the key.”

Brett Smith, coach of Summit, which had the biggest upset in the opening round last year by whipping Northwest Christian 73-52, wasn’t surprised.

“The whole game they out-hustled us,” he said. “That was the epitome right there. They had two guys hustle. They just wouldn’t give up. That was just the finish for us.”

North Beach coach Larry Moore couldn’t have agreed more.

“These kids never seem to die,” he said. “They just keep working and working, they just won’t go away. We don’t do anything tricky. They earn it.”

St. George’s also had to work hard, battling the taller Vikings.

“The first couple of times I tried to block them out, they’re so big and strong, it was pretty intimidating the first half,” Dragons forward Dylan Averett said. “Plus, this is a huge, huge place to play. It was pretty nerve-wracking.”

Kittitas wasn’t taking any chances after a two-game stay a year ago.

“After coming out and getting whupped and going out in two games last year, we knew we had to come out hard,” senior guard Jim Hill said of the Coyotes’ 32-21 halftime lead.

Still, Waitsburg had a 25-9 edge in the third quarter, building a lead up to eight before Kittitas rallied.

“All year we let teams have big runs, but we always come back on them,” Hill said. “This team has big hearts.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo