TACOMA — The ride is over, but not forgotten.
Coach Matt Gruhler’s message to his Skyview Storm boys basketball team post game Saturday morning: be proud, never forget this moment, and never forget this place.
And, one more thing.
“We’re still a family, no matter what,” senior Cole Grossman said.
The end result didn’t go the Storm’s way, losing to Enumclaw, 62-57, at the Class 4A Hardwood Classic to earn sixth place.
But this isn’t an ordinary loss.
By playing on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome, it means you’re guaranteed a state trophy. And in its first trip to the Class 4A state tournament in program history, Skyview brings home its first state trophy.
Grossman said this year’s team set the standard for the underclassmen.
“It’s a great moment to be in,” he said. “Everyone wants first, but we’re very proud of our players and coaches and very proud of what we’ve done.”
Said fellow senior Samaad Hector: “I’d never thought we’d get this far. I knew hard work pays off, and it did, but I didn’t think it’d work out in our favor at all.”
Hector had seven points, six rebounds and three blocks and Grossman led Skyview with nine rebounds and also had four points, three assists and two blocks in a rematch with Enumclaw from last week’s 4A regional at Battle Ground. Enumclaw won, 51-44, after Skyview led by as many as nine in the second quarter before the Hornets rallied late to win.
Saturday, though, went back and forth from the start. It featured 14 first-half lead changes, including eight over the final 3:14 of the half. Astonishingly, Enumclaw also hit three end-of-quarter buzzer-beaters; Kale VanWieringen’s 3 ended a third quarter that saw the Hornets take the lead for good, closing the quarter on an 11-2 run. During that stretch, Enumclaw’s Kaden Anderson had all nine of his second-half points to finish with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Suddenly, Skyview’s deficit sat at double digits for the first time — 49-38 — entering the fourth.
Skyview guard Alex Schumacher had a game-high 20 points and got the Storm as close as 60-55 on two free throws inside 1 minute remaining. He finished 8 of 9 at the free throw line. In four tournament games, Schumacher averaged 19.7 points.
Reflecting on the season while holding the sixth-place state trophy, Gruhler said what made this year’s ride so special in his fifth year at Skyview is the season’s unexpectedness: a 17-0 start on its way to playing a Class 4A-high 31 games. In-between came a co-4A GSHL title and getting to the Tacoma Dome where no other Skyview boys basketball team’s qualified for in the school’s 20-year history.
Gruhler believes the way his team played in four games over four days at the Hardwood Classic earns the program respect.
“Our guys competed and fought and did all the nitty-gritty in a way to represent our school and represent our program really well,” Gruhler said. “That’s the exciting thing about it.”
For Hector, Skyview always will have a special meaning. He enrolled at Skyview before his junior year when he and his family moved to Vancouver from Michigan. In his second year with the program, he credits the coaching staff for expanding his craft as a basketball player.
And the season? That became special, too.
“Skyview developed my abilities to play better,” Hector said. “… This is the best group of guys I’ve ever played with; I love my teammates and coaching staff.
“I gave everything to Skyview.”
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ENUMCLAW 62, SKYVIEW 57
ENUMCLAW — Kaden Anderson 17, Griffin Webb 10, Kale Engebretsen 2, Bryson Engebretsen 12, Peter Erickson 6, Kellen Krac 0, Easton Tandecki 2, Travis Smith 6, Kale VanWieringen 3, Josh Brown 2, Keegan Ulrich 2. Totals 25 (2) 10-17 62.
SKYVIEW — Alex Schumacher 20, Cole Grossman 4, Jovon Sewell 6, Samaad Hector 7, Kyle Gruhler 8, Jacoby Thompson 0, Sean Boss 0, Squeeky Johnson 0, Lowell Dunmire 8, Chris Webster 0, Jace Chatman 6. Totals 20 (7) 10-18 57.
Skyview 11 13 14 19 – 57
Enumclaw 12 13 24 13 – 62
