NC boys silence doubters by storming into semifinals

SEATTLE – The North Central Indians had been dismissed before they took the floor of the State 3A boys basketball tournament at the Bank of America Arena.

Just one look at the 8-17 record they brought into state was all it took. Two days later, they’re the talk of the tournament after advancing to the semifinals by beating the Mount Vernon Bulldogs 58-44 Thursday.

“I’m a little stunned, too, now that we’re in the semis,” NC coach Jay Webber said. “If you had asked me three or four weeks ago, I would have said no way. These kids have just hung in there and they finally developed some confidence in themselves. They’re not going to be denied at this point.”

The two wins guaranteed the Indians a state trophy (at least sixth place) for the second straight year following a 51-year absence from state.

“It’s becoming a brotherhood, pretty much,” NC guard Boone Plager said. “People want it so bad they’re taking a back seat to other people.”

Nick Rijon didn’t take a back seat to anybody. The guard led NC with a tournament-high 28 points, on 10-of-16 shooting from the field – 5 of 9 on 3-pointers.

Plager said the team is using George Mason, the college basketball team that made a surprise run to the Final Four last season, as an inspiration.

“Who cares about the record now?” he said. “It’s playoffs. It doesn’t matter.”

But their Cinderella run might hit midnight tonight. Lurking in today’s 9 p.m. semifinal are the top-ranked Bainbridge Spartans (24-3), who are led by Gonzaga-bound guard Steven Gray.

Bainbridge entered the tournament as one of the favorites and has done nothing to change anybody’s mind after dispatching a tough Bellevue team 64-54.

The small crowd that followed the team from Spokane chanted, “We want Bainbridge,” in the closing minutes of the game.

“The pressure’s not on us, the pressure’s going to be on the other team,” Webber said. “We’re going to be coming out loose and ready to play.”

“That’s a team that has nothing to lose,” Mount Vernon coach Torey Swanson said of NC. “Everything to gain, and nothing to lose.”

NC took control in the second quarter, holding the Bulldogs (18-7) to five points. The Bulldogs struggled from the field, hitting 25 percent in the first half.

The Indians (10-17) shot well. NC hit 55 percent in the first half, led by the 19 points of Rijon.

Rijon hit 7 for 10 from the floor, including a buzzer-beater to end the half.

Mount Vernon, a Skagit County town with a proud basketball tradition, cut into the lead in the third quarter with an 8-2 run. But in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs again struggled from the field and the Indians used an 11-0 run – all but two from the free-throw line – to wrap up the win.

“We just started playing like a team,” Plager said. “We found our roles and it just kind of all came together.”