Jackson Esary fuels top-ranked Kalama to 2B District IV title win over Morton-White Pass: 'This group does not like to lose'

Author:
Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Feb 20, 2022 6:05 AM EST

CHEHALIS, Wash. — Days before Kalama was set to face Morton-White Pass for a chance to keep the 2B District IV trophy the same place it’s been for the past eight months, Chinooks coach Wes Armstrong made an admission.

Second place wasn't going to be an option.

“Not to say we’re cocky or arrogant," Armstrong said Thursday. "This group does not like to lose. They want to keep the district trophy here in Kalama. And they’ve been working extremely hard for it.”

See, these Chinooks (19-1), whose only loss of the season came in the opener when most of the team was recovering from a state football championship, don’t much like losing.

One could argue they aren’t very good at it, either. See Saturday for proof.

Jackson Esary scored a game-high 26 points and hit a deep 3 late to lead the Chinooks to a 43-42 win over Morton-White Pass on Saturday night at W.F. West High School and secure another year lease for the district trophy.

It’s their lowest point total of the season and comes after a buzzer-beating 3 by Dylan Mills saved an otherwise bumpy outing against Napavine in the semifinals Wednesday.

But the Chinooks, No. 1 in SBLive’s 2B power rankings and the WIAA RPI, are state bound and their ultimate goal of bringing the gold ball back from Spokane is alive and well.

Win at all costs, even if it means winning ugly.

Esary took a tip from his dad when he rose up for a deep 3 to put Kalama up five with just over a minute left. He aimed for the middle of the square on the backboard and the long heave dropped in off the glass.

He swears he called bank, too.

"You'll just have to take my word for it," he said.

Timberwolves center Josh Salguero answered with a two on the other end and for MWP, and the next possession, the 6-7 junior pulled down an offensive rebound, was fouled on a putback attempt and hit two free throws with 22.9 seconds left, setting up the Timberwolves’ last look.

“I was really nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Salguero said. “Last couple games I’ve been a little off. But you’ve got to believe in yourself and was able to make two and make it a close game for us.”

Borrowing a quote from Michael Jordan, Salgeuro felt the Timberwolves didn't lose, but instead ran out of time.

Morton-White Pass (16-6) senior forward Leytan Collette had a potential game-winner, but his tightly-contested turnaround jumper at the horn missed.

Both teams advance through to the regional round. A state seeding committee will announce the field Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

The Timberwolves entered the district title game on a five-game win streak that included wins over Adna and Napavine.

The T-wolves mounted an 8-0 lead in the final minutes of the third quarter and took its first lead since early in the first quarter when Collette hit a pull-up jumper.

As Armstrong drew up plays in the huddle before the start of the third quarter, Esary was stubborn in his message as the team said “dominate” in unison as they took the court.

“We’re not losing,” Esary said. “It’s not going to happen. We ain’t going to do it.”