Lynden Topples Cheney

State AA boys

When it came to offering his players a scouting report on Cheney, Lynden coach Rod Turnbull left out one big detail.

“We only knew it when we went out on the court and saw him (in a wheelchair),” Lynden junior post Martin DeLange said of Cheney senior post Rick DeMulling, sidelined Wednesday by a dislocated left ankle.

“But we still knew they’d be a tough team.”

Tough? Well, if not tough, the Blackhawks were certainly resilient.

Missing top scorer DeMulling and trailing by 14 points midway through the second quarter, Cheney (14-12) put a scare into the Lions before falling 49-39 during a boys State AA high school basketball tournament opener at the Tacoma Dome.

Cheney cut the Lynden lead to 38-35 with 5 minutes 45 seconds left before three consecutive baskets off turnovers helped send the Lions into today’s quarterfinals.

Lynden (18-6), two years removed from Class A, plays imposing Blanchet (20-4) at 6:30 tonight. The Blackhawks hope to avoid elimination against Selah (18-7), which fell to Blanchet 75-47.

“I didn’t want to tell (the players) about DeMulling because that can be a dangerous thing,” Turnbull said.

“But I’d hate to play them with him in the lineup.”

During the first 11 minutes, the 6-foot-6 DeLange and sophomore guard Treven VanderPloeg punished the patchwork Cheney lineup for 13 points to build a 27-13 edge. The Blackhawks rallied slightly, but a pair of VanderPloeg baskets pushed the halftime lead back into double digits.

“It wasn’t the same without (DeMulling) in there,” said Cheney coach Denny Humphrey. “He was the guy who got us here.

“We tried to get (the other players) ‘up’ as best we could and play the game for him.”

Cheney started the third quarter with its third scoreless streak of longer than 3 minutes, but the Lions had lost some roar. Behind 6-4 junior forward August Parker, who had played a miserable first half, Cheney uncorked a 14-4 run to put the outcome in doubt at 38-35.

“We had a couple of mental lapses in the third quarter,” Turnbull said. “You do that at this time of year, and someone will make you pay.”

“We got tense,” DeLange said. “We played not to lose rather than finishing them off.”

The Blackhawks’ opportunity to creep within one point went awry when Parker was whistled for charging. Adam Enfield scored on an offensive putback, and another Parker turnover set up VanderPloeg’s first basket in more than 11 minutes.

Chad Randall’s ensuing turnover led to DeLange’s first basket in more than 9 minutes - and a comfy 44-35 bulge.

“That’s what did it,” Humphrey said of the three turnovers. “We didn’t take care of the ball in tough situations.”

Enfield’s nine rebounds guided a 40-30 Lions advantage. Cheney guard Tucker Urdahl, who scored a team-high 10, tied forwards Paul Malisani and Bart Olson with six rebounds apiece.

Randall had seven assists, but his 2-for-10 shooting effort underscored Cheney’s cold touch (14 of 47).

Lynden 49, Cheney 39

Lynden 17 14 7 11 - 49

Cheney 10 11 9 9 - 39

LYNDEN VanderYacht 0, Hilt 4, Wall 0, VanDyk 3, Heeringa 0, VanderPloeg 14, An.Enfield 0, Heppner 8, Benson 0, Ad.Enfield 9, Nyhoff 0, DeLange 11.

CHENEY Randall 7, Stiffler 0, Battien 0, Urdahl 10, Sobotta 0, Stewart 0, Parker 6, Malisani 8, Reiman 7, Olson 1.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Today’s AA schedule Girls Cheney vs. Chief Sealth, 9 a.m.* Boys Cheney vs. Selah, 10:30 a.m.* *-Games to be played at Tacoma Dome