Regional playoff roundup: 5 WIAA playoff basketball games you should not have missed
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Myles Mayovsky started getting acclimated to Tri Cities-to-Seattle bus rides long before Kennewick's boys basketball season.
And he's getting accustomed to winning west-side playoff games, too.
After leading the Lions' football team to two state playoff victories, and a Class 3A Gridiron Classic berth last fall, Mayovsky and a few of his teammates are at it again in basketball.
The 15th-seeded Lions buried 3A KingCo champion Lake Washington underneath a third-quarter scoring onslaught, and shocked the No. 10 seed Kangaroos, 61-54, in a winner-to-state, loser-out Class 3A regional-round game Friday night at Bellevue College.
Not only has Kennewick won two state playoff games for the first time in school history, it will make its first final-destination state-tournament appearance since 1989 next week in the Tacoma Dome.
"It's a great opportunity for our program, our community and our school," Kennewick boys coach Bradyn Leyde said.
The Lions erased a 13-point first-quarter deficit by starting the second half on a 25-3 run in the first 5:59 to grab a 46-29 lead.
Jonah Gebers had all of his nine points in the quarter, and Daniel Dickinson added eight of his 13 points during the spurt.
"We got settled in," Leyde said. "That first quarter, we were rattled a little bit."
It helps that five varsity players were also on the Kennewick state runner-up football team last fall.
"You know, that football team played from behind a lot, and they played as underdogs a lot - and traveled multiple times over to this side of the state," Leyde said. "The toughness and competitiveness of that group where each play matters - it translates well on the court."
Mayovsky jokes he knows exactly what towns he will see on his trip to the west side - even that rest stop the bus will park at.
"We love setting records for this school," Mayovsky said. "We are super excited about this."
Liberty of Spangle girls 63, Warden 61: Lancers shock unbeaten Cougars
Teagan Colvin had 15 points and 12 assists in leading the Lancers' upset over top-ranked (and No. 2 seed) Warden in the 2B regional round.
Photo by Todd Milles
Not sure how many Disney movies Liberty of Spangle girls coach Chris Colvin watches this time a year - but he knows a magical-kingdom moment when he sees it.
And the Lancers benefited from one Friday night at Wenatchee High School.
Trailing 61-60, Liberty got a game-winning corner 3-pointer from senior Ava Budde with 25 seconds remaining.
It was especially sweet for the guard, who suffered a serious knee (MCL) injury during the season and was thought to be lost for the year.
But she has returned for the postseason, wearing a huge knee brace - and a renewed sense of determination.
"That is the first thing I said to them in the locker room is how courageous is this kid to want to be out there with her teammates after having a substantial injury," Colvin said. "It is a 'Disney movie', obviously."
Warden, the tournament No. 2 seed, but ranked No. 1 in SBLive WA's final rankings, had once last chance to tie - or take the lead- but turned the ball over with six seconds remaining. The Lancers ran out the clock.
The loss ended Warden's 35-game winning streak, dating back to last spring. Lauryn Madsen led the Cougars with 25 points. Kiana Rios added 20.
"I do (think it's an upset) for the simple fact that Warden is a really good team," Colvin said. "They are undefeated for a reason. The scores they beat everyone by are reflection the type of talent they have."
Ellie Denny led the Lancers with 16 points. Teagan Colvin added 15 points and 12 assists.
Central Valley boys 69, Woodinville 66: Darling scores 48, hits big FTs
Central Valleys Dylan Darling scored 48 points in the win over Woodinville, and will be back in the Tacoma Dome for the 4A state championships.
Photo by Vince Miller
Bears interim boys coach Geoff Arte knows GSL scoring champion Dylan Darling is right around an 80-percent free throw shooter.
"But he doesn't miss many with the game on the line," Arte said.
And that is why Arte wasn't all that worried with 7.7 seconds to go in regulation.
He didn't need to be, either - Darling buried both attempts to tie it at 61-61, then was part of the defensive effort that forced a shot wide of the target by Woodinville.
And in overtime, it was Darling who had two crucial assists, including one on Kyelan Breesnee's 3-pointer that broke a 63-63 tie.
Darling finished with 48 points on 16-of-26 shooting. He's also not finished playing his high school career.
"So glad for this group because it is so young," Arte said. "And Dylan really wanted to get back (to Tacoma) obviously."
Burlington-Edison girls 52, Tumwater 47: Reisner, defense clutch in posting upset
The Tigers shake up the Class 2A bracket with their regional-round victory over No. 1 seed Tumwater
Photo courtesy of Burlington-Edison athletics
Everyone has a bad week.
Last week, it was the Tigers' turn - they were handled in their Northwest District title game by Archbishop Murphy.
And on Saturday night at W.F. West High School, they made sure it was somebody else's turn.
In this instance, it was Tumwater, ranked No. 2 in SBLive WA's rankings for Class 2A, but the tournament No. 1 seed.
The Thunderbirds trailed by double digits much of the game, but trimmed it to 49-47 on Natalie Sumrok's basket with 1:18 to go.
But Sydney Reisner, who scored 17 points, scored the final three points to turn away Tumwater.
When SBLive WA spoke to Tigers girls coach Brett McLeod on Sunday morning, the coach admitted folks around the program were stilled "revved up" over the win.
"They prepared really well and focused on (the game plan) - and followed through what we were trying to do," McLeod said. "We played with a confidence and belief."
What a season for Reisner, who broke her collarbone during the fall girls soccer season, and did not return to basketball until January.
"It took her a little bit to get into a rhythm," said McLeod, pointing to a late-January game against Ferndale in which she scored 18 points in the third quarter as the signal that she was fully back.
"From there, it was like, 'I've got it back now.'"
Hermiston (Ore.) girls 53, Everett 51: Simmons last-second floater caps comeback
There will be a first occurrence at the upcoming 2022 Hardwood Classic: An Oregon program will be vying for a WIAA state basketball championship.
That is because ninth grader Izzy Simmons - who plays anything like a high school newcomer - sank the biggest shot of her young prep career.
Simmons capped the Bulldogs' frantic fourth-quarter rally with her game-winning floater at the buzzer at Everett Community College.
Thirty seconds earlier, she tied the game at 51-51 with her basket - and then Hermiston forced a turnover to set up the winning field goal.
Afterward, first-year Hermiston girls coach told The East Oregonian's Annie Fowler that he was going to start calling his girls the "Cardiac Kids."
"They have no give up in them," Ego told the newspaper.
Hermiston trailed 41-33 entering the final quarter - and still faced a seven-point deficit with five minutes to go.
SBLive's on-the-ground coverage from WIAA regional round
No. 1 Woodinville girls ride second half spurt 4A regional round win over Bellarmine Prep (Drowley)
Sunnyside girls dancing toward Tacoma Dome following regional round upset of Chiawana (Buhler)
Enough of recent history, No. 6 seed Gig Harbor takes care of Class 3A stalwart O'Dea: 3 takeaways (Drowley)
In the end, it's another No. 1 Mount Si double-digit victory, this time over dangerous Gonzaga Prep (Drowley)
Not looking for style points, just wins - and No. 2 Curtis plods past Davis (Milles)
Life Christian Academy survives hold-your-breath finish, beats Zillah in overtime classic (Milles)
In a slog, all second-seeded Ellensburg has to do is turn to its defense to win games (Swenning)
Tahoma boys surging into program-first state appearance after regional road win over No. 4 Kamiakin (Buhler)
Photos: Giovanny Evanson nets career-high as King's Way Christian boys grab 1A state berth (Waz)
