North Central, West Valley keep kicking

TACOMA – Their seasons were on the brink Thursday, but each team’s go-to player was at his best when North Central and West Valley survived to play another day at the boys State 3A basketball tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

NC’s Indians, spurred on by Eric Beal’s 21 points, beat Squalicum 61-42 in a game that included defense so suffocating that only one Storm player had a field goal in the first 19 minutes.

WV’s Eagles held off Lynnwood 64-54, thanks to deadeye stretch free-throw shooting by Tyler Hobbs, who hauled down rebound after rebound in the final 3 minutes, 28 seconds, then made 10 of his final 11 attempts to finish with 28 points and thwart a Royals comeback.

NC (21-6) plays today at 11 a.m. against Mount Rainier (19-9), followed by WV (20-5) against Ellensburg (18-9) at 12:30 p.m. Winners are assured a trophy and will play in the game for fifth and eighth places on Saturday.

At the girls tournament, Seattle Prep eliminated Clarkston 57-42.

NC 61, Squalicum 42: Similar to Wednesday’s one-point loss to O’Dea, NC started slowly and trailed 7-2 midway through the first quarter.

But when foul-troubled Damal Neil took a seat for the bulk of the first half, Beal took his cue. Beal scored seven of NC’s successive 10 points for a 12-7 lead that the team built on from there.

“Damal went out so I just started looking for more shots,” Beal said. “A lot came on the fast break. When we pushed up, I just tried to get set and I got a lot of shots that way.”

He finished 6 for 9 from the field, including a 3-pointer during the early run, and made 7 of 8 free throws.

Squalicum helped, sending the Indians to the line 16 times in the first half. NC finished 24 for 28.

It didn’t hurt that sweet-shooting junior Royal Prendergast was the only Storm player to have a field goal until 5:05 remained in the third quarter. By then, NC was ahead 36-22.

Neil picked up two first-quarter fouls and sat. When he re-entered midway through the second quarter, he was whistled immediately and went to the bench again, missing about 13 of the game’s first 16 minutes.

In his absence, Andrew Johnson provided solid minutes underneath, while Nick Rijon provided scoring power. Brett Richardson came off the bench for a game-tying 3-pointer during the early rally.

“You always worry about these games if our kids are ready to play,” said NC coach Jay Webber. “But I was pleased with how they bounced back after yesterday’s loss.”

WV 64, Lynnwood 54: Twenty years ago these two teams met, the Royals eventually finishing fourth, the Eagles fifth. This one was loser-out and a high-energy contest from the outset.

Greg Bradley provided the early adrenalin with a lob pass dunk and 3-pointer. He finished the first half with a dozen points and Hobbs added 11.

“It was the first loser-out game I’ve faced and didn’t feel like going home yet,” Bradley said.

But Lynnwood answered every thrust until the Eagles, trailing 19-17, reeled off 15 successive second-quarter points to lead by nine at half.

The second half was a team effort, with six different players divvying up nine field goals. Ryan Town and Cameron Wieber made huge contributions with points, rebounds and assists, and the lead stretched to 45-32 with 1:14 left in the third. Then the Royals turned WV mistakes into points and were down by just six with 3:28 remaining in the game.

Hobbs scored 12 of the Eagles’ final 14 points, beginning with a three-point play and ending with 9 of 10 from the line.

“He’s the man down the stretch,” said WV coach Jamie Nilles. “He’s done that so many times in his career to keep teams away from us and to win games for us.”

Girls

Seattle Prep 57, Clarkston 42: A 3-minute span midway through the third quarter ended the Bantams’ season.

Patsy Dodge-Auer’s second 3-pointer of the game put Clarkston ahead 32-23 with 5:25 remaining in the third.

But a dormant Panthers offense came alive and outscored the Bantams 17-1 en route to the win. Four Seattle Prep (16-14) players finished in double figures and another was a point away.

Misty Atkinson led the Bantams (13-12) with 19 points, giving her 36 for the tournament.