I could find dozens of moments to write about as I start to say goodbye to the high school basketball season.
Instead, I’d rather thank two players and two teams for making me look really good, for making me seem smarter than I really am.
Let’s start with the Union boys basketball team.
The Titans did not have a whole lot of trying times in games this season. They crushed a lot of opponents, from start to finish.
But at the Tacoma Dome, well, they were on the wrong end of the scoreboard for most of their three games. Of course, you know, the Titans still managed to win two of those games, placing fourth in state.
While Titans did not need a lot of comebacks this season, the program has plenty of experience. Last year, if you recall, the Titans were getting crushed by Federal Way in the state semifinals. Then Union got out of the funk it was in and turned it into a thrilling game. Federal Way won, but the Titans had a chance to tie at the last second. The next day, Union won the third-place game.
Even before last year, the Titans had reached the Tacoma Dome three times and always brought home a trophy.
They’ve lost some games, but then bounced back.
Now to last week. On Friday, the Titans trailed Lewis and Clark by eight points with less than four minutes to play. The season was on the line. That bring-home-a-trophy-from-the-dome-every-time thing was at stake, too.
You know what happened by now. Union’s defense stepped it up and Denis Kirichenko did his best Cameron Cranston impression and buried a 3-pointer to save the season.
So how is this making me look good?
Oh, because in Saturday’s trophy game, Issaquah led the Titans by 12 at the end of the first quarter. I tweeted this:
“If I’ve learned anything about Union basketball through the years, the Titans, trailing by 12, have them right where they want them!”
You know what happened. Union took the lead for the first time with 90 or so seconds to play, and walked off the court a winner.
• • •
We opened the girls basketball season with a feature on Washougal seniors RaeAnn Allen and Alyssa Blankenship.
We felt that Washougal was going to have a storied season, even though Washougal is not a traditional power.
Still, it was a great story to tell:
Two seniors with deep ties to Washougal — not just the basketball program, but the community — were promising, back in December, that they would do everything within their power to accomplish something that had never before been done at Washougal.
The Panthers did, indeed, make school history. They won a share of a league title. They hosted a playoff game for the first time. Then they finished fourth in state.
The Washougal Panthers had the highest finish at state among any girls team from Southwest Washington this season.
Thanks, Washougal, for making me look like I knew what I was doing.
• • •
We had six teams in two locations make it to the final eight. So we asked our Blazers beat writer Erik Gundersen to help us out with our coverage. He knows basketball, of course, but is not an expert (yet) on Clark County high school basketball.
The two of us were in Tacoma and he asked me for my opinion on a number of aspects regarding the teams.
Shortly after the start of the Skyview game on Thursday, I told Erik to keep an eye on Ashlee Comastro, the way she rebounds. I told him, it’s just about a lock, if she gets her hand on the ball, she will secure it.
Not 15 seconds later, three people were fighting for a rebound. Comastro stuck her hand in the crowd, and sure enough, she came away with the board. Next time down the floor, she did it again.
Erik gave me a look that said he was impressed — by Ashlee and me!
Hey, I wasn’t surprised about Comastro’s abilities. But dang if she did not come through right away for me, making me look good. Thanks Ashlee.
Later, in the Prairie game, we talked about the future of the program. Yes, the Falcons would miss some key seniors, but there are a few freshmen who look like they will be the real deal real soon. I specifically pointed out Mallory Williams because of an interesting tidbit I got from her coaches and teammates at practice earlier in the week.
They said when Mallory shoots and misses, it’s a shock. She’s that good of a shooter.
Sure enough, Williams entered the game, took a shot and was true on a 3-pointer. The next day, she led the team in scoring. She finished the tournament 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
Erik probably thinks I’m a psychic.
Nope. Just observe a lot of basketball and listen to my sources.
Thanks Mallory.
And thanks to all players and coaches and fans for another thrilling basketball season.
Paul Valencia covers high school sports for The Columbian. Reach him at 360-735-4557 or on Twitter @360PaulV.
