West Valley, Clarkston fall in opening round

TACOMA – Don’t expect former West Valley boys basketball assistant Rob Gray to harbor any guilt over his Mt. Baker team’s win over the Eagles on Wednesday.

Gray admitted he would’ve liked the 44-36 victory to come in the championship game instead of the first round of the State 2A boys high-school basketball tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

But whenever the time any win felt right, he said.

“It was one of those nights where it was a tough night shooting for them and we were able to take advantage of that,” Gray said.

Parker Flynn scored a game-high 14 points and Bryan Peterson chipped in 10 to lead the Eagles, who, after shooting 45 percent in the first half, succumbed to a stifling 3-2 zone in the second half that limited them to 6-for-22 shooting in the final 16 minutes.

Despite of the miscues, West Valley managed to hold the lead after the first three quarters.

But the final 8 minutes proved its undoing with the Mountaineers taking control midway through the quarter, then icing it late with a 3-pointer by Brandon Welch and hitting 6 for 6 from the foul line.

“We had so many facets of our game that weren’t clicking,” said West Valley coach Jamie Nilles. “Defensively, offensively … you hope that never happens in the first game at state.”

Whereas the Eagles were able to open up their potent fastbreak in the first half, against a 3-2 zone by Mt. Baker, West Valley was limited to pushing the ball around the perimeter.

“We did a good job of taking the three away,” Nilles said. “But, yeah, our interior defense is suspect with our size and stuff.”

Ehen Welch drained a key 3-pointer late, nailing the shot for the 38-34 lead and 2:22 to play, the end was near.

West Valley (19-4) will try to rebound today facing Grandview (21-4) in a loser-out game at 2 p.m.

Mark Morris 67, Clarkston 55: The top-ranked Monarchs of Longview kept their hopes of a first perfect season intact with a win over the stubborn Bantams in the 10:30 a.m. game.

Drew Hansen tallied 17 points, eight coming off putbacks, to lead the Bantams (12-13) who face Fife (9-17) in a loser-out game today at 9 a.m.

Don Perconti added 15 points and Cary Conklin scored nine for the Bantams.