Class 2A boys semifinals: A new champion will be crowned after Pullman shocks No. 1 North Kitsap
YAKIMA – It was fairly assumed that top-ranked North Kitsap was headed to the Class 2A state championship game to defend its title.
Whether it was to be perennial contender and second-seeded Lynden or the upstart No. 3 R.A. Long that was to try and wrest the gold ball from Vikings’ grip remained the only question.
Well, ya know what they say about assumptions.
Fourth-seeded Pullman, unheralded for the most part because, well, it was on North Kitsap’s side of the bracket, took down the champs, 69-53, on Friday night.
The Greyhounds held the Vikings to 26.2% shooting for the game and outscored the 2020 titlists 26-9 in the fourth quarter to reach their first championship game since they won the second of back-to-back titles in 2014.
They’ll face Lynden in Saturday’s afternoon title tilt at 3.
"That was a heckuva fourth quarter," said Pullman coach Craig Brantner, who was at the helm for the repeat eight years ago. "I think our kids believed in themselves tonight."
The Greyhounds trailed by 10 points early in the third quarter but were able to trim the deficit to a one going into the fourth in large part to 6-foot-8 senior post Grayson Hunt, who finished with 22 points – 14 after halftime – and 22 rebounds.
"Before the game, we said that he had to have 20 for us,” Brantner said. "We didn’t say anything about the rebounds."
The defense took it from there. The Vikings shot just 17.6% in the second half with many of the misses in the final minutes when they tried in vain to rally.
"(Coach) really wanted us to focus on defense because that’s what our program is all about," Hunt said. "He came into the locker room and was like, 'Hey the only guys who thought you could do this were you guys.'"
North Kitsap senior star Jonas La Tour finished with a game-high 23 points, but he needed 24 shots to get there. Cade Orness and Harry Davies added 12 and 11 points, respectively, but also struggled shooting.
The Vikings will face R.A. Long for third and fifth place at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Jaedyn Brown added 18 points for the Greyhounds (23-2) and grabbed seven rebounds, while Payton Rogers chipped in 13.
The veteran coach had no predictions about the nightcap between the Lions and Lumberjacks, just a wide smile.
"As of right now, I’m just happy to be in the game," he said.
No. 2 Lynden 46, No. 3 R.A. Long 44: Lynden will get a shot at its 11th state championship on Saturday afternoon, but the Lions needed every second to put away the Lumberjacks, who were making their first semifinal appearance in nearly 70 years.
Lynden senior Jordan Medcalf sliced through the R.A. Long defense and fed sophomore Anthony Canales for the game-winning layin with 21 seconds remaining in the game.
The Lumberjacks were unable to get a good look at a tying or winning shot with a 30-foot heave missing at the buzzer.
"Jordan Medcalf is a patient guy and he picks his spots," Lynden coach Brian Roper said. "We were telling him, 'We need you to make a play.'"
Medcalf and Canales matched each other for game-high honors with 19 points. Canales added 11 rebounds.
The Lions (21-2) were last in the championship game in 2018 when they completed a repeat.
Aaron Ofstun and Jamond Harris scored 12 apiece for the Lumberjacks (21-3) and Cavin Holden added 10.
