King’s Way beats Kalama, closes in on Trico League crown

Kalama (10-6, 7-2) is moving to another league next school year. The Chinooks were hoping to leave with a league title, or a share of one. That could still happen, but the Knights made it really difficult on them with Thursday’s result.

King’s Way used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to take a 15-point lead. The Knights then held off the Chinoooks, who scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and prolonged the game with foul after foul.

Walter, who said he is frustrated with his free throw shooting, got the job done down the stretch, making 9 of 12 in the final period. The Knights, in fact, scored 20 of their 22 fourth-quarter points from the line.

The free throws secured the victory but it was their third-quarter display that earned the win.

“If we don’t stomp them the first part of the second half, we’ll be the ones getting stomped,” Walter said. “This was our chance to show them that there’s no question who is the top of the league.”

Walter scored seven in a row during that 12-0 run, with the play of the night coming off a steal from Graves.

Heading toward the basket with a defender closing in, Graves hesitated, then found a trailing Walter for the basket and the harm.

“He is, by far, our best at stealing and making great plays on the fast break,” Walter said of Graves.

Graves, who could have challenged for his own shot, said he preferred three points by a teammate over two for him.

“I knew if I got it to him he’d be able to finish strong,” Graves said. “The way they were fouling him, I figured he could get an ‘And-1.'”

Sure enough, it happened. Walter’s free throw after the shot made it 39-29. Walter would score the next time down the floor, then assisted on a 3-pointer from Mills to cap the run.

The lead remained in double digits for most of the fourth quater. The Chinooks, though, never surrendered, fouling to stop the clock and trying to get back in it from the arc. Isaac Truesdell would make four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter for Kalama, He finished with 20 points. Hunter Esary had a double-double for Kalama with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

This game — perhaps this league — though, belonged to King’s Way Christian.

KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 69, KALAMA 63

KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN — Darion Lycksell 4, Skyler Freeman 12, Karter Graves 6, Joe Mills 12, Kyle Gonzales 4, Kienan Walter 29, Preston Danberg 2. Totals 18 (7) 26-37 69.

KALAMA — Blake Stemkoski 6, Isaac Truesdell 20, Jonas VanSkike 2, Jared Caldwell 3, Austin Dines 6, Spencer Stone 2, Cameron Walker 5, Victor Leatzow 0, Hunter Esary 19. Totals 23 (7) 10-18 63.

King’s Way 11 19 17 22–69

Kalama 10 12 11 30–63