It’s hard to believe Friday night’s boys basketball game inside J. Hoover Gymnasium was a mid-December non-league contest.
It sure didn’t feel like it, given the jam-packed stands, and the frantic finish between two rivals that led to the Skyview student section storming the floor in celebration.
In fact, Storm senior guard Alex Schumacher labeled Skyview’s 55-52 non-league victory over previously unbeaten Columbia River as a statement win with 4A Greater St. Helens League play starting Monday.
“This was a good way to end it,” said Schumacher, who led the Storm with 17 points.
Skyview’s once-12-point fourth-quarter lead was whittled down to three in the final seconds by the Chieftains, and River’s potential game-tying shot by Jack Armstrong on a catch-and-shoot following a timeout was off the mark.
Friday was both teams’ final non-league game before their respective league games begin Monday. Skyview travels to Heritage to open 4A GSHL action while Columbia River is at Ridgefield in 2A Greater St. Helens play.
Lucky to sneak away from the win, the Storm say, but luck has nothing to do with its 4-1 start. Three wins have come via double digits on a team featuring three new starters (Jace Chatman, Squeeky Johnson and Lowell Dunmire) off last year’s sixth-place team from state.
Dunmire had 10 of his 12 in the second half, and Sean Boss added 10 for the Storm.
While a different team from last season, just how quickly the Storm are gelling is a good sign for Schumacher, one of two starters back of last year’s state-placing team.
“We’re doing a good job so far five games in,” Schumacher said, “and already starting out with a bang like that.”
It was Schumacher’s alley-oop off an inbounds pass from Johnson at the third-quarter buzzer that gave the Storm a bang in terms of fireworks and momentum. A five-point lead end-of-quarter lead turned into a 52-40 cushion the first three minutes of the fourth quarter.
But River wasn’t done, and point guard Nate Snook made sure of it.
The 6-foot point guard had a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Twenty of his game-high in points came in the final two quarters, including all four of his 3-pointers. His final one cut Skyview’s lead to 55-52 with 1 minutes, 12 seconds to go. River called a timeout with 3 seconds remaining to set up its potential game-tying shot.
Evan Dirksen added 14 for the Chieftains, and Armstrong had 10. River made just one substitution all game.
How his team executed, especially in a late-game situation for the first time all season, is exactly what Skyview coach Matt Gruhler wants to see.
“It’s never good not to be tested,” the coach said. The late-game situations are a little tighter, a little tougher. Some guys haven’t had any of that experience.
“Hopefully, we can carry that momentum into league play.”
SKYVIEW 55, COLUMBIA RIVER 52
SKYVIEW — Alex Schumacher 17, Lowell Dunmire 12, Sean Boss 10, Squeeky Johnson 2, Kyle Gruhler 6, Jace Chatman 6, Cody McKinney 2. Totals 20 (7) 8-14 55.
COLUMBIA RIVER — Nate Snook 22, Evan Dirksen 14, Jack Armstrong 10, Matt Asplund 0, Caden Dezort 1, Alex Miller 6. Totals 18 (6) 7-9 52.
Skyview 17 12 16 10—55
River 12 13 13 14—52
