Bethel edges Kentwood for 4A title

TACOMA – Alex Tiefenthaler and Mike Yusko combined for 24 points, and Jordan Sutton hit 3 of 4 free throws in the final 42 seconds as Bethel of Spanaway held off Kentwood 33-29 in the championship game of the State 4A boys basketball tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

The Braves (28-2) led 17-6 early in the second quarter and carried a 29-17 lead into the final 10 minutes. The defending-champion Conquerors (24-6), of Covington, went on a 12-1 run and trailed 30-29 after Aaron Boyce’s field goal with 1:49 left.

Sutton hit one free throw with 42 seconds left and two with 10 seconds left to give the Braves their first title since 1970.

The result was the lowest combined total for a Washington big-school championship since 1941.

Other games

Mountlake Terrace 64, South Kitsap 43: Christiaan Hammond and Adrian Blake scored 15 points apiece, and the Hawks (22-6) jumped ahead 13-0 and cruised past the Wolves (26-3) in the game for third and sixth places.

Mountlake Terrace shot 55 percent from the floor to place at state for the third time in school history. South Kitsap, last year’s second-place team, finished 15 of 44 from the field.

Eisenhower 65, Snohomish 62: Jack Loofburrow scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures, and the Cadets (26-4) of Yakima earned their best placing at state by defeating the Panthers (20-8) in the game for fourth and seventh places.

Ike made its first state appearance since 1993. Jon Brockman, a 6-foot-8 forward bound for the University of Washington, scored 27 points for Snohomish and finished the tournament with 103 points.

Inglemoor 51, Prairie 48: Skyler Riley hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points as the Vikings (24-3) earned their first trophy by edging the Falcons (24-8) in the game for fifth and eighth places.

Inglemoor’s other appearance at state was in 1992. Orlandor Westrbrooks led Prairie with 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals.