Union vs. Skyview No. 3 was a triple treat.
First, add the higher stakes with a district No. 1 seed on the line.
Then mix in a standing-room-only crowd that left the bleachers shaking and ears ringing.
Cap it off with a fast-paced and physical game between two teams that shared the 4A Greater St. Helens League boys basketball title after splitting two regular season meetings.
It turned out pretty sweet for Union. The Titans triumphed 66-55 Friday at Evergreen High School in a tiebreaker game to decide the GSHL’s No. 1 seed to the bi-district tournament.
Union (17-4) will host Mount Rainier, the No. 7 seed from the North Puget Sound League, on Wednesday. Skyview travels on Wednesday to face the NPSL’s No. 4 seed, either Kennedy Catholic or Enumclaw.
After Friday’s win, Union is primed for the playoffs. Having won eight in a row, the Titans believe they can make another run to the state tournament, where they placed second last year.
“Luckily, we have some guys who have experience in the Tacoma Dome,” Union coach Blake Conley said. “They know that once you get to the playoffs, you have to shift into that next gear.”
Among them is Tyler Combs. The senior guard scored 24 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, as Union turned away Skyview’s late charge.
“That’s kind of my role,” Combs said. “At the end of the game, I’ve got to create something for myself or the other guys and do what I’ve got to do.”
The Storm pulled within 50-48 on Cole Grossman’s thunderous dunk with 5:20 to play. But Ethan Smith’s 3-pointer gave Union back the modest cushion it had kept for much of the second half.
Union would then seal it at the foul line. The Titans were 11 for 12 in the fourth quarter and 21 for 23 for the game.
“I thought we made the tough plays, the hustle plays,” Conley said. “Guys really rose to the occasion and got stops at the end.”
Union cut down the net to celebrate its district title. But Skyview (19-2) can also take plenty from Friday’s game.
“This was the kind of atmosphere we wanted to play in,” Skyview coach Matt Gruhler said. “We’d prefer not to have a tiebreaker because it means extra games going into the playoffs. However, it makes us a little more battle-tested.”
And neither team can expect to face a postseason foe much tougher. Skyview is No. 2 in the WIAA’s RPI ranking used for state playoffs seeding. Union is No. 3.
“We just played in a high-intensity environment against a really good team in a playoff game,” Conley said. “We’ve got that experience already this year. I’m sure for Skyview it’s going to help too to play in a playoff game like this. Hopefully we’ll represent the GSHL well in the playoffs.”
Skyview and Union each handed each other its lone league loss. After Skyview won 59-55 at home on Jan. 5, Union struck back 18 days later 72-69.
Friday, Alex Schumacher led the Storm with 18 points and Grossman added 11. But the Titans made enough key defensive stops to stay ahead for good once taking the lead early in the second quarter.
“We had two great games against those guys in the regular season,” Conley said. “We knew it was going to be a dogfight tonight and it was.”
UNION 66, SKYVIEW 55
SKYVIEW – Alex Schumacher 18, Cole Grossman 11, Jovon Sewell 6, Samaad Hector 7, Jacoby Thompson 0, Squeeky Johnson 0, Lowell Dunmire 0, Chris Webster 0, KB Fesehazion 1, Kyle Gruhler 9, Jace Chatman 3. Totals 19 (7) 13-19 55.
UNION – Coby Weatherspoon 0, Houston Combs 0, Zach Reznick 13, Tyler Combs 24, Quinn Lamey 6, Dustin Nettles 0, Alishawuan Taylor 4, Ethan Smith 12, Aiden Nellor 0, Brad Lackey 2, Jason Franklin 5. Totals 21 (3) 21-23 66.
Skyview 16 13 12 14—55
Union 14 19 13 20—66
