R.A. Long's 2A District IV title triumph over Tumwater was long in the making: 'I’d put us against anybody'

After momentous league, district titles, are the Jacks ready for state? Or, is the state ready for the Jacks?

Author:
Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Feb 19, 2022 3:02 PM EST

LONGVIEW, Wash. — For R. A. Long, Friday night was triumph delayed.

The Lumberjacks played more than 100 games after its district title run in the COVID-shortened spring 2021 season was cut short by a COVID outbreak. They entered the season with high expectations, swept their way to a a 2A Greater St. Helens League title.

All of that hit assistant coach Jamal Holden as he watched Jacks star Cavin Holden dribble the clock out in the 2A District IV championship at Mark Morris High School. The tears flowed, and on-court celebration ensued.

The elder Holden saw many of the same players struggle through 5-15 and 14-10 seasons as underclassmen.

Now the Jacks, No. 2 in SBLive’s 2A power rankings, are ready to bring their show to Yakima after winning a 58-50 defensive slugfest over No. 6 Tumwater — the school’s first since 2003.

“Last year going through that adversity, even the kids from their freshman year had to lose to understand what it takes to win,” Jamal Holden said. “You win these games in the offseason.”

Not even Jacks coach Jeray Key, a standout guard at Mark Morris under Bill Bakamus, had ever cut down the net after a district title.

But it was all part of Key’s vision when he brought Jamal Holden and Jamond Harris (father of senior Jamond Harris) — believed to be the first all-black coaching staff in 2A Greater St. Helens League history — onto his bench when their kids were coming up.

T-Birds senior Adam Overbay converted layup off the glass through a foul to pull within three with just over two minutes to play.

When big buckets were needed late, the Jacks found them. Cavin Holden pulled up and hit a deep 3 to push R.A. Long’s lead to six with 1:45 left and R.A. Long held on to cut the net.

Still, these Jacks are new to winning this time of year. Head coach Jeray Key tried to cool his players’ nerves at halftime. The game was tied 36-36, but the T-Birds set the tone. Tumwater deployed a strong defensive effort and standout guard Luke Brewer had 11 of his game-high 18 points in the first quarter.

R.A. Long also missed shots around the rim, blew fast break opportunities and Cavin Holden struggled to find his rhythm offensively.

Senior guard Jamond Harris scored eight points coming out of halftime —including two timely 3s – to put Tumwater on its heels.

Then, when his team needed it, Holden took over.

“We did a really good job on him, but not for long enough,” Tumwater coach Josh Wilson said.

The Jacks and T-Birds now turn their attention to 2A regional and state fields that will include defending champion North Kitsap and traditional state power Lynden, the Jacks are determined to

But Harris wouldn’t go as far to put the state on notice. Internally, the Jacks are still taking it one game at a time.

“We’ve put a lot of work into it,” Harris said. “We’ve talked about it through all the years we’ve been together. We knew it would happen.”

Added Key: “This is a great opportunity. I’ve said this before, but I’d put us against anybody.”