For the first time all season, the Evergreen boys basketball team has its entire team.
Friday night, the Plainsmen celebrated by picking up a win using a whole lot of different looks on the court.
Robert Franks? Of course he was there on the court. But he wasn’t there when one would normally expect to see him.
Franks scored 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting, but he took a seat for the fourth quarter as Evergreen’s unsung heroes destroyed Heritage defensively, leading to a 66-45 victory for the Plainsmen in a Class 4A Greater St. Helens League contest.
Jordan Henderson added 15 points and 10 rebounds, plus he had a couple of blocked shots and four steals for Evergreen. Greg Washington, in his first game of the season, had five steals and five assists, most during a second-half Evergreen defensive performance that was hard to comprehend:
• The Heritage Timberwolves shot 50 percent from the floor and made eight 3-pointers in the first half, scoring 39 points.
• The Timberwolves scored six points in the second half.
• Six points.
“We needed it,” Henderson said. “We’ve been playing pretty bad defense. So we really needed a really good defensive game. You have to play defense to win game. I’m trying to do whatever I can in my power to help us win. Steals. Passing. Blocks. Rebounds. Whatever I can do.”
Evergreen gave up 93 points to Camas on Tuesday. Then Heritage started off hot on Friday.
“After that Camas game, we definitely focused on defense,” Evergreen coach Brian Witherspoon said. “I was counting on getting everybody back so we could play our up-tempo style of defense, an aggressive style of defense.”
That also included going small-ball. Franks, the 6-foot-8 scoring machine who has signed with Washington State, played three quarters. Witherspoon said he intended on giving Franks a quick rest to start the fourth quarter but the guys on the court were doing so well, he opted to keep them in the game. By the time any of those guys needed a breather, the game was a blowout.
The Evergreen defenders ran wild over the Timberwolves. An eight-point game going into the final quarter, Heritage committed eight turnovers on its first eight possessions. There were Evergreen steals. There was an Evergreen player taking a charge. There were contested passes that went awry. Pretty much everything Evergreen did on defense baffled the Timberwolves.
“Coach usually tells me I have to work on my defense,” said Washington, who also had six points. “I just tried playing hard defense in practice and it paid off in the game.”
Heritage was 3 for 19 in the second half, scoring four points in the third quarter and two in the fourth.
The Plainsmen defense turned to offense. Evergreen (1-3, 1-1 GSHL) scored 15 points in each of the third and fourth quarters, erasing a small halftime deficit to pick up its first win of the season. The Plainsmen finished 29 of 57 from the floor.
The game started like it was going to be another offensive showcase. Mark Bejan hit two 3-pointers and had a dunk, giving Heritage an 8-0 lead. The Timberwolves (3-6, 1-1) would make their first four 3-pointers. Evergreen responded, though, tying the game at 18 by the end of the first.
Heritage stayed hot in the second quarter. Payton Monda made two 3-pointers in the quarter and finished the half with 13 points. He would add two more in the second half for a team-high 15 points.
Franks had a three-point play and a four-point play in the first half for the Plainsmen. He scored eight points in the third quarter before taking his extended break. Kobey Eaton added 12 points for Evergreen.
EVERGREEN 66, HERITAGE 45
EVERGREEN — John Hansberry 2, Kobey Eaton 12, Michael Bozovich 5, Robert Franks 21, Jordan Henderson 15, Dustin Nettles 0, Tyloer London 2, Tyrus Hosley 3, Greg Washington 6, Costel David 0. Totals 29-57 (3-19) 5-7 66.
HERITAGE — Mark Bejan 10, Kalani Umiamaka 3, Kenese Peneueta 6, Kevin Wilkerson 2, Payton Monda 15, Dante Hatchett 0, Tanner Lundberg 1, Amel Mekic 6, Austin Riggs 0, Inas Mehmedovic 2. Totals 17-47 (8-20) 3-4 45.
Evergreen 18 18 15 15—66
Heritage 18 21 4 2—45
