RENTON – No matter the final score, the Columbia Adventist Academy boys basketball team felt it had already won on Saturday.
Before their 71-34 loss to Seattle Lutheran, the Kodiaks relished being in the Class 1B state tournament at Renton High School.
And regardless of Saturday’s blowout to a much better team, Columbia Adventist plans to be back for more.
“I was happy to hear guys in the locker room before we even came out saying ‘we’ll be back here next year, so it doesn’t matter what happens today,’” Kodiaks coach Jay Pierce said. “Hopefully we can instill that. This is the goal every year.”
Columbia Adventist, which won the Class 1B Columbia Valley League, saw its season end at 14-5.
Saturday, the Kodiaks ran into a team that was taller, faster and more aggressive. Seattle Lutheran improved to 22-1, having not lost until its district title game last week. The Kodiaks were outrebounded 46-28 and had 23 turnovers.
“We gave up way too many rebounds and made way too many turnovers against a team that’s better than us,” Pierce said. “But we had heart. We tried, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Seattle Lutheran jumped to an 11-0 lead and never looked back. By halftime, the Saints had stretched the lead to 31-13.
Josh Meyer scored 20 points and Xavier Turner added 17 for Seattle Lutheran, which advances to the state quarterfinals in Spokane.
Columbia Adventist had its moments. Mikey Burdick made two drives into the lane that ended with bank shots. Matthew Rodriguez finished with a team-high 13 points and six rebounds.
“I was proud,” Pierce said. “We did what we do. We didn’t quit. We worked our tail off.”
SEATTLE LUTHERAN 71, COLUMBIA ADVENTIST 34
COLUMBIA ADVENTIST (14-5) – Matthew Rodriguez 13, Jonathan Kinsman 4, Mikey Burdick 4, Nick Squires 3, Hayden Sherrill 0, Josiah Redberg 0, Riley Phillips 0, Casey Shearer 2, Cameron Bean 0, Kaelan Willauer 2, Nicholas Anspach 2. Totals 15 (1) 3-3 34.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN (21-1) – Grant Bell 6, Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht 8, Gavin Doerr 1, Xavier Turner 17, Brandon Lulow 6, Matt Smith 0, Roberto Duenaz 2, Joe Meehan 5, Simon Solomon 7, Josh Meyer 20, JT Gallant 2. Totals 31 (6) 3-7 71.
Col. Adventist 7 6 15 6 — 34
Sea. Lutheran 15 16 20 20 — 71
