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Laid back, locked in: Tight-knit Team Washington blasts Oregon boys in WAVOR interstate all-star game

Washington State-bound Dylan Darling, Seattle Pacific pledge Jonas La Tour stand out and share the shine as six players score in double-figures

HILLSBORO, Ore. — A Saturday night in downtown Portland was the setting for the type of team bonding that wasn't in the itinerary and didn't take place at the Hilton Hotel, where the Maurice Lucas Foundation put up the visitors from up north in the region's premiere annual high school all-star game. 

The night before Team Washington took on Team Oregon in the  WAVOR interstate battle featuring many of the region's top senior basketball players, they rented Lime electric scooters and zipped around Voodoo Donuts, one of Portland's more popular tourist attractions.

"Something about those Lime scooters, just scooting around," Gonzaga Prep's Jayden Stevens, an Oregon State commit, said. "We were out there with a little bit of a group, hanging out there, having fun."

On Sunday, Team Washington spread the rock around like a hot potato, and unleashed a balanced attack in a 128-98 drubbing of Team Oregon at Liberty High School.

Six players reached double-figures scoring, led by North Kitsap guard Jonas La Tour (21 points, nine rebounds), Central Valley's Dylan Darling (22 points, six boards, five assists) and Stevens (19 points, nine boards).


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Of its 53 made field goals, 34 were assisted on, led by 13 from Graham-Kapowsin's Joshua Wood, a Fresno State-bound quarterback.

Ask any of the 10 seniors — hand-picked by the Washington Interscholastic Coaches Association for their leadership in addition to individual prowess — and that was no accident.

Washington led by 17 at halftime and built as large as a 40-point lead in the second half. Oregon held a size advantage down low with Mountain View's Tane Prictor (6-11) and Sprague's Dallon Morgan (6-9), but that ultimately didn't matter.

Washington held a 61-42 rebound advantage, an 11-5 steals advantage and turned that into 27 second-chance points and 25 points off of turnovers.

"We're just a bunch of down-to-earth dudes who didn't care about scoring or who was doing it — we just wanted to win, have a good time," Darling said. "That's what made it special."

The roster constructed of five Division I commits, co-league MVPs in Bryson Metz (Union) and Carson Frawley (Camas) and five players who have won a state championship helped Washington cut into Oregon's 15-11 series lead.

It was the second time Stevens and fellow Oregon State pledge Tyler Bilodeau played on the same team, following the WIBCA All-Star game on March 19. Bilodeau's Kamiakin and Stevens' Gonzaga Prep faced one another in the district championship and the 4A state tournament, going 1-1. They roomed together in Portland.

"I only got to talk to him a little bit during the season and we really got to know each other this weekend," Bilodeau said. "It was fun."

Oregon won three in a row from 2016-18 until a Jaden McDaniels and Anton Watson-led Washington team snapped that streak in 2019.

The event hit a two-year pause before returning under a different name — the Northwest Shootout.

Winning and playing well as a unit were at the forefront of the message from head coach Blake Conley (Union) when he first spoke to the team.

"From the first texts in our group chat, we knew how serious this was going to be," La Tour said. "We knew we were going to have practices, lock in as a team and bond with who we have. It's hard to build chemistry in three days and I feel like we were able to capitalize on the importance of the game by coming out with a big dub (win)."

Stars of the day

Maleek Arington, Auburn

Quiet scoring night was overshadowed by just about everything else. Finished with  11 assists, eight rebounds, four steals and a block from behind that nearly sent the ball out of the gym exit doors.

Dylan Darling, Central Valley

Needed just 11 shots to score his team-high 22 points (8 of 11 shooting) — most of which came in an early second half spurt that put Team Oregon away. Also had six boards and five assists.

Jonas La Tour, North Kitsap

The WAVOR game MVP, Seattle Pacific signee and SBLive's Washington 2A state player of the year, La Tour hit 9 of 13 shot attempts, including 3 of 6 from 3, and finished with 21 points.

Jayden Stevens, Gonzaga Prep

Finished with 19 points (7 of 11 shooting, 5 of 5 free throw) and nine rebounds, as well as the dunk of the night — from the Washington side, at least.

WAVOR boys box score

TEAM WASHINGTON

Scoring — Joshua Wood 4, Tyler Bilodeau 15, Dylan Darling 22, Tre Blassingame 8, Jonas La Tour 21, Jayden Stevens 19, Bryson Metz 6, Maleek Arington 6, Quin Patterson 13, Carson Frawley 14.

TEAM OREGON

Scoring — Tane Prictor 10, Julian Mora 4, Noah Ogoli 8, Malik Ross 12, Caden Harris 13, Samaje Morgan 26, Zeke Viuhkola 3, Donatello Tupper 15, Dallon Morgan 5.

WA: 58 70 — 128

OR: 41 57 — 98

(All photos by Ken Waz)