Short-handed Rogers learns lesson, ousts Capital

TACOMA – The state basketball tournament isn’t always about basketball.

That was the case Thursday when Rogers survived a loser-out game with Capital, 68-59 in the State 3A boys basketball tournament, despite missing a starter and two top reserves.

“We talk about being a complete team,” Rogers coach Tim Wood said. “Those guys we called on stepped up. A couple of kids broke a team rule (earlier in the day) and were disciplined for a game.”

The reserves who did not play in the Pirates’ opening loss combined to play 36 minutes, score 15 points, grab six rebounds, get three steals and two assists.

“They’re capable players,” Wood said of sophomore Therone Tillett, juniors Derek Foote and Myka Brown and senior Tyler Weeks. “It’s a life lesson. There’s more to life than basketball. Everybody makes poor choices in life. I’m just so happy for the guys that stepped up.”

Seniors Jesse Vaughan (22 points 12 rebounds), Pat McCabe (13 points) and Dillon Franklin (12 points, four assists) made sure their season didn’t end.

“We just had to get going,” Franklin said. “We had complete confidence in (the reserves).”

Starter Zach Nelson and reserves Cody Peterson and Deavon Daniels will get to play at 12:30 p.m. today against Foster (17-8) instead of cheering on teammates to keep their season alive.

Meanwhile, Shadle Park’s season ended with Washington State-bound Anthony Brown going out in style – some of it in fashion, some out.

Brown scored 29 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, but along the way he picked up a technical foul for taunting, had a couple of critical late turnovers and fouled out in overtime. Lakes eliminated the Highlanders 72-64.

“I just wasn’t tough enough at the end,” said Brown, who fouled out with 1:13 remaining after an unnecessary backcourt hack following his turnover. “I missed two easy shots, stupid fouls and fouled out. I wanted to be there the whole game, but I made too many mistakes.”

Rogers 68, Capital 59: The Pirates led 31-24 at halftime despite 13 turnovers and 5-of-12 free-throw shooting because Capital couldn’t shoot (26 percent). The only reason the Cougars (20-8) were in the game was because they made 10 of 13 free throws.

That lead evaporated in 75 seconds because of turnovers by the Pirates (13-14), but Rogers quickly recovered and built a 10-point lead late in the quarter. The Pirates could have put the game away early if they had hit foul shots, missing 4 of 6 in the first 3 minutes of the fourth quarter, which allowed the Cougars to stay in the game. But once they started knocking them down, the game was over.

Lakes 72, Shadle Park 64 (OT): The Highlanders had 23 turnovers, which the Lancers turned into 24 points. Lakes (17-8) amped up the pressure late when it stole the game.

“We gave it away,” Shadle coach Tim Gaebe said. “Too many turnovers. The kids played hard, we just didn’t play smart. We just needed to take care of the basketball.”

When Matt Barnes scored on a putback with 2:25 to play, Shadle (20-7) was up 58-54. But the next two possessions were turnovers, which the Lancers turned into a basket and two free throws, tying the game with 1:52 to play.

Then came a 5-second call against Brown with 1:32 to go. Lakes, which lost in the championship game last year, played for a last shot and never got an attempt.

Overtime started with a Brown floater in the lane, but Shadle’s next four possessions were three misses and a turnover. Brown fed Barnes to tie the game at 62, but then the roof caved again.

“We had good looks,” Gaebe said. “It came down to making plays and we didn’t make them. The bottom line is we needed to play better.”

Robbie Douglas finished with 13 points for Shadle. Danny Martinez led Lakes with 19. Andre’ Winston, who had 30 in the Lancers’ opener, had 16 and fouled out early in the fourth quarter.