“We trusted they would play through it if they could. And we trusted the coaches to give us the tools to win.”
Skyler Freeman and Preston Danberg did play, they made their contributions, and the Knights are still playing basketball.
Walter scored 23 points, Joe Mills added 17, and the Knights were never threatened after opening the game on an 11-0 run.
“I didn’t think we’d come out like that. We were hitting everything,” Mills said. “It was pretty fun.”
Actually, both teams struggled for the first two minutes. King’s Way coach Daven Harmeling joked it was the worst two minutes of basketball in the history of the Battle Ground gym.
Then it was all King’s Way Christian.
“I’m really proud of them,” Harmeling said. “They were aggressive from the start.”
Walter scored the first eight points of the game, then Mills buried a 3-pointer. Mills would finish the first half with 13 points, and King’s Way had a 30-10 lead.
“Joey was great. He’s a little unknown,” Harmeling said. “That’s not a fluke game for Joey.”
Cascade Christian would score the first eight points of the fourth quarter to make it a 12-point game.
King’s Way, though, scored the next eight.
“Nothing special. Just keep doing what we trust,” Walter said. “They had their little run. We were never nervous.”
Walter also had 10 rebounds for the Knights. Mills made three 3-pointers. Danberg had four steals, including three in consecutive possessions. Karter Graves had eight points and six boards.
The Knights will have a few days to get healthy. Then they will head to the dome for the second year in a row.
“It means everything right now,” Walter said.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 52, CASCADE CHRISTIAN 31
CASCADE CHRISTIAN — Paul Remington 0, Tyler Fox 9, Andrew Tigges 2, Leighton Lanier 3, Aaron Brandner 0, Dylan Cooley 4, Jackson Lapinski 0, Jesse Howells 2, Sam Hoffman 3, Grayson Jones 2, Corbin Nohr 6. Totals 12 (2) 5-6 31.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN — Nick Pulicella 0, Kefentse Cason 0, Judah Smith 0, Darion Lycksell 0, Skyler Freeman 2, Karter Graves 8, Joe Mills 17, Khalfani Cason 0, Kienan Walter 23, Preston Danberg 2, Tony Huser 0. Totals 16 (6) 14-16 52.
Cascade Chr. 3 7 11 10–31
King’s Way 13 17 11 11–52
