Skyview earns respect in 59-52 loss to No. 1 Gonzaga Prep

TACOMA – The Skyview boys basketball team might not leave the Tacoma Dome with a state championship trophy. But the Storm have already earned something valuable.

Respect.

That much is guaranteed after Skyview hung with top-ranked and unbeaten Gonzaga Prep of Spokane.

Skyview fell short 59-52 in the 4A state quarterfinals Thursday. But there was no sulking in the postgame locker room.

A team making its first state tournament appearance knows it won’t earn statewide respect by simply showing up. But even in defeat, Thursday’s gritty performance was the kind that earns admiration.

“Just from this game we definitely made a name for ourselves,” Skyview senior Alex Schumacher said. “This was a great way to show who we are.”

And Skyview isn’t done. The Storm (24-5) face Kamiak (17-9) in the consolation bracket at 12:15 p.m. Friday. Win that game and Skyview will clinch a trophy, either fourth or sixth place.

“To get our first trophy would earn us so much more respect,” senior Samaad Hector said.

Gonzaga Prep (25-0) entered Thursday having outscored its opponents by 21.6 points per game. Six-foot-7 junior forward Anton Watson, a Gonzaga University commit, is a leading candidate for state player of the year.

There were several times when Gonzaga Prep seemed ready to run away with the game. Each time Skyview responded.

“I’m really proud of our guys,” Skyview coach Matt Gruhler said. “They battled until the end. A few different times it looked like they were going to pull away, but our guys fought through adversity and kept it close.”

When Gonzaga Prep opened a 22-12 lead, Hector scored seven quick points to help Skyview pull within 22-21.

After Gonzaga Prep stretched the lead to 30-21, the Storm fought back to 30-27 at halftime.

And though Skyview trailed by 15 after a 17-4 Gonzaga Prep run in the third-quarter, the Storm had chances to pull within both five and six points inside the last two minutes of the game.

At the center of every Skyview rally was Schumacher, who scored 25 points.

“He is really the engine that makes us go,” Gruhler said. “Even when they had their best defender on him, he made stuff happen.”

But the Storm couldn’t overcome as tough a frontcourt as they’ve faced all year. Watson had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Six-foot-4 Jamaari Jones had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

“Straight-up men,” Schumacher described them as.

“They’re as tough as it gets,” Gruhler said.

Gonzaga Prep outrebounded Skyview 29-23. After having 11 offensive rebounds one day earlier in a win over Glacier Peak, the Storm had just three Thursday.

Though the stats and the score weren’t in Skyview’s favor, the Storm don’t need numbers to know they gave a worthy challenge to the team wearing No. 1.

“We’re disappointed as far as we didn’t end up on the right side of the win column,” Gruhler said. “But at the same time as a coaching staff we’re really proud of our team’s effort and fight. At the end of the day, all you can really control is how hard you play.”

GONZAGA PREP 59, SKYVIEW 52

SKYVIEW – Alex Schumacher 25, Cole Grossman 6, Jovon Sewell 1, Samaad Hector 13, Sean Boss 2, Squeeky Johnson 0, Lowell Dunmire 0, Chris Webster 0, Kyle Gruhler 2, Jace Chatman 3.  Totals 21 (4) 6-9 52.

GONZAGA PREP – Jacob Parola 2, Brennon Costello 0, Devin Culp 2, Liam Lloyd 4, Sam Lockett 3, Nick Dyrnan 0, Jamaari Jones 14, Sheadon Byrd, Anton Watson 24, Noah Dyrnan 10, Carter Sonneborn 0, AJ Few 0, Isaac Jessup 0. Totals 23 (0) 13-24 52.

Skyview                     12        15        9          16—52

Gonzaga Prep          16        14        19        10—59