Knights battle Devils in 1B boys title game

After two excruciatingly close semifinal games, the Sunnyside Christian Knights and Neah Bay Red Devils will square off for the State 1B championship. Sunnyside Christian escaped with a win against ACH after giving up a double-digit lead to the Warriors. On the other side of the coin, Neah Bay came back from a second-half deficit to beat Colton 63-60.

Drexler Doherty has all 10 points for the Red Devils at this point in the game helping them to an early 10-5 lead. Ryker Van Belle has the first five for SSC. Doherty’s steal of an inbound and subsequent layup result in a five-point cushion for NB and a timeout by the Knights.

Neah Bay 18, Sunnyside Christian 14 through one quarter

Doherty still has all but two of the Devils’ 18 points. The only other player who has scored to this point for NB is Izaak Manual. Trevor Wagenaar scores at the buzzer to cut the Neah Bay lead to four at the end of one.

Quick whistles continue to be the theme in the title games. With 7:49 to go in the second quarter, SSC is already in the bonus. Brandon Broersma converts both tries to bring the Knights to within two.

The initial onslaught by the Devils appears to have worn aff as SSC takes its first lead at 24-22. Doherty quicly counters for the Devils, though, hitting a 3-pointer to give the lead back to Neah Bay. Doherty now has 19 points.

Sunnyside Christian 31, Neah Bay 25 halftime

The Knights close the half on a 7-0 run, getting five from Steven Broersma in that span. Neah Bay had led for most of the first half, but the Knights took their first lead halfway through the second before closing out the half with seven straight points.

Sunnyside Christian halftime leaders

Steven Broersma 10 points 6 reobounds

Ryker Van Belle 7 points

Neah Bay halftime leaders

Drexler Doherty 19 points 7/17 fgs

Zeke Greene 4 points

Doherty banks home a two to make the lead three and Wagenaar commits the offensive foul to give Neah Bay the ball back with 3:42 remaining. 36-33 SSC.

Doherty overcommit on defense, leaving Alex Brouwer open for three. He makes up for it on the next possession, hitting yet another 3-pointer to bring the score to 39-38 SSC.

Sunnyside Christian 39, Neah Bay 38 through three quarters

The final minute of the quarter goes without incident, although the Knights are now dangerously close to putting Neah Bay in the bonus with six fouls. Three different players for SSC have three fouls with one quarter remaining.

Neah Bay has been knocking on the door all quarter, but Broersma converts a three-point play with 2:50 remaining to give SSC a five-point lead.

Doherty answers on the other end with his third 3-pointer of the game He has all but 14 of his team’s 47 points with 29 at this point. 47-45 SSC with 2:30 remaining.

Broesrsma and Drexler trade baskets with the Knights going up by four with 1:39 left. Timeout Devils.

Drexler airballs a three and turns the ball over on back-to-back possessions and the Knights now hold a six-point advantage with 48 seconds left on the clock with the ball.

Ball glances off Van Belle’s foot and on Neah Bay’s next possession Tony DeBari is fouled and hits one of two at the line. 53-50 Knights.

Van Belle goes to the line shooting one-and-one. He misses the front end but Broersma gets teh rebound and is fouled, going to the line.

Broersma hits both to put SSC up by five with nine seconds on the clock.

Drexler’s shot goes hard off the glass and the Knights are the State 1B champions.

Sunnyside Christian 55, Neah Bay 50 final

1st place: Sunnyside Christian

2nd place: Neah Bay

Sunnyside Christian leaders

Steven Broersma 24 points 10 rebounds

Steven Bosma 8 points 2 assists 2 steals

Neah Bay leaders

Drexler Doherty 31 points 6 rebounds 3 steals

Jimmy Jimmicum 6 points 7 rebounds