Standout Postseason Scorers
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These guys have posted some incredible games this postseason, whether their backs were against the wall or they were competing for higher seeds, they’ve put in some important buckets and performances for their squads as they continue to fight on…
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Continue ReadingThese guys have posted some incredible games this postseason, whether their backs were against the wall or they were competing for higher seeds, they’ve put in some important buckets and performances for their squads as they continue to fight on the road to State.
Johnson showed up big in another rematch against league foe Sammamish last Friday night. After splitting the season series, Renton was able to edge Sammamish in the KingCo tournament finale and their junior guard had a big game scoring the ball. He got hot from 3PT early on, drilling his first shot from behind the arc and continuing to make it rain throughout the game. He hit off the catch, created space off the bounce, and even splashed one in after a loose ball rolled his way. He was more than just a shooter though and made his mark at the rim by getting out on breaks, anticipating breakout opportunities and getting ahead of the defense for easy two’s. Look for Johnson to continue lighting it up as Renton has clinched a state berth after beating Franklin Pierce Tuesday night.
Showki is one of the most dynamic players in the 2A and came to play in a close contest against Renton Friday night. They came up just short, but Showki put on an incredible display of shot-making from every level. He’s got great touch from outside, has the handle and quickness to create a lot of space around the perimeter, but he’s also got a bag of moves to use at the rim in different scenarios. He pulled out a same foot, left-handed layup that went high off the glass to evade incoming shot blockers. He did another twisting layup where he took off into the defender’s body while pulled the ball back and creating space, then flicked the ball up over the contest. He’s a really electric player who can also make plays and defend at a high level on the other end. Sammamish has since clinched a spot at the SunDome and will play North Kitsap Thursday for a chance at the bi-district championship.
Highlights
In a crucial second-round game, Draculan came through with consistent scoring throughout all four quarters to lead the Greyhounds to the bi-district championship game. He was really effective catching in the midrange and taking his man off the dribble to the hoop. He assesses driving lanes, has a quick first step, and showed he can finish in various ways in the paint – hitting tough runners, using either hand and side of the hoop, and drawing trips to the free throw line. He was constantly drawing multiple defenders, hit some nice midrange jumpers with a high release over the top of defenders, and was active attacking the offensive glass to keep possessions alive. Grandview needs just one more victory to clinch a trip to the 2A state tournament.
Highlights
Yore put on an awesome scoring display, accounting for 40 of Kelso’s 60 points in an opening round win over Timberline on Saturday. He’s a strong kid and did a great job working in close to the rim, getting the angle on defenders and keeping contact until the last moment to get his shots off. In the first half, he made a living from the free throw line and in and had consistently poised attacks. After dropping 19 in the first half, he came back with another 21 in the second and incorporated more outside shots once the defense started sinking back and going under screens to stop his penetration. He paced Kelso all night long and managed to score 40 points without really forcing anything. He set up his drives well, was able to attack either way, had the strength to go all the way to the hoop and has a nice midrange shot to pullup and hit. With the win, Yore helped Kelso punch their ticket to State but will matchup with North Thurston Thursday to see who moves on to the bi-district championship game.
Luz clutched up in a loser-out game against Graham Kapowsin, taking the Eagles into overtime and owning the extra period. He started the game out showing his tough shot-making ability, hanging in the air to outlast defenders and convert in the paint. Then he started creating more space with shot fakes, pivots, and began to space the floor more as he found a rhythm from outside. The 3s continued to rain down in the second half when Luz really took off. He was hitting contested jumpers and needed very little space to get catch and shoot shots off, hitting multiple big shots in the waning minutes to force overtime. In extra time, he controlled the pace of play, getting to the line for eight attempts and drilling all eight of them. Mount Rainier now faces off with Puyallup in another loser-out game today. They need just two more wins to advance to the 4A state tournament.
Highlights
Darius Gilstrap Darius Gilstrap 6'2" | SG Mount Baker | 2025 WA
Darius Gilstrap Darius Gilstrap 6'2" | SG Mount Baker | 2025 WA
Mount Baker took a tough loss against Nooksack Valley to end their season, but they didn’t go down without a fight. Junior Darius Gilstrap Darius Gilstrap 6’2″ | SG Mount Baker | 2025 WA was one of the Mountaineers who put forth a great effort in their final game of the year. He started out coming off of screens to bury midrange and long-distance shots. Then had a couple of drives where he showed good blow-by speed and some craftiness with a left hand-right side finish to avoid the shot contest. He continued to push the pace later in the game and fight and claw to get his team back into it. He turned up the aggressiveness with a lot of downhill drives in that second half and pushed the pace whenever there was space in transition, and also did a good job working to the foul line. It was a great overall effort from the junior in a loser-out contest.
Although the Lyncs won by 13, it was a tight game most of the way and a big factor in holding off the Trojans was Wright’s work inside. The vast majority of his buckets came around the rim or from the foul line. He did step out to hit a couple of midrange shots but he was able to consistently get deep position and work through multiple defenders to have a big game in the paint. He stayed on balance, held onto the ball tight and powered up through the interior defense, drawing a ton of fouls throughout the game. Wright also did his part in transition, running the floor or setting up buckets on the break with quick outlets. The Lyncs punched their ticket to State with the win and now have a little more than a week to prepare for Yakima.