The postseason represents a fork in the road for the King’s Way Christian boys basketball team.
So it was fitting that the Knights opened their postseason against Forks.
And judging by their 61-31 win Friday in the Class 1A District 4 tournament, the Knights are on the right path.
King’s Way (16-2) will host Eatonville (14-7) in the district semifinals Tuesday with a berth in the regional round of the state tournament on the line.
This point of the season has been a destination for King’s Way, which placed fourth in state last year and was ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press statewide poll.
Though King’s Way rolled through the Trico League undefeated, coach Daven Harmeling worried his team wasn’t showing the intensity needed for the playoffs.
“For two and a half weeks we played with what I thought was a lot of apathy,” he said. “We didn’t have a spark under us and honestly we would have been better off if we had lost a game or two along the way. … But this week we had an awesome week of practice.”
King’s Way was a big favorite Friday against a Forks team that fell to 5-14 after grabbing the final playoff berth from the Evergreen Conference.
But the Knights didn’t coast. Instead they floored the accelerator, outscoring Forks 35-10 in the first half.
Walter and Graves hit 3-pointers on the Knights’ first two possessions. Meanwhile, the defense held Forks scoreless for the game’s first four minutes. Walter scored 10 points in a first quarter that ended with King’s Way ahead 22-6. He scored 19 in the first half.
“I think everyone in the gym could see how hungry the team was,” Harmeling said. “We’re excited to be where we’re at and we know we’re going to get everyone’s best shot from here on.”
To survive everyone’s best shot, Harmeling wants to see fewer turnovers and four quarters of sustained defensive effort.
After Friday’s convincing win, King’s Way is eager to take more steps on the road to its ultimate goal.
“We’ve had our goals and that’s league championship, district championship and then as far as we can get into state,” Graves said.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 61, FORKS 31
FORKS (5-14) — Jeffrey Schumack 1, Keishaun Ramsey 0, Cole Baysinger 0, Austin Pegram 3, Carlos Tejano 1, Parker Browning 9, Cort Prose 0, Brandon Barr 5, Marky Adams 12, Marcis Davis 0. Totals 13 (3) 2-13 31.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN (16-2) — Kefentse Cason 2, Judah Smith 10, Darion Lycksell 0, Skyler Freeman 12, Karter Graves 8, Joe Mills 3, Kyle Gonzales 5, Khalfani Cason 0, Kienan Walter 21, Preston Danberg 0. Totals 23 (8) 7-10 61.
Forks 6 4 10 11–31
King’s Way 22 13 13 13–61
