TACOMA – He didn’t wear a mask or cape, but Samaad Hector played like a superhero Friday.
It wasn’t just his 26 points and 17 rebounds in Skyview’s 64-56 Class 4A state tournament win over Kamiak that has heroic.
Hector felt a certain super sense.
“Everything slowed down when the ball came into my hands,” he said. “I kind of felt like I had ESP. I saw things develop a half-second before everyone else did.”
Now, for the first time, the Skyview boys basketball team will bring home a state tournament trophy.
The Storm will face Enumclaw at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with the winner placing fourth and the loser taking sixth. Enumclaw beat Skyview in the 51-44 in the regional round of the state tournament last Saturday.
Hector, a 6-foot-5 senior, scored 18 points in the second half, many at key moments when Kamiak of Mukilteo threatened Skyview’s modest lead at the Tacoma Dome.
Hector had seven offensive rebounds and several late defensive boards as the Knights never got closer than five points in the fourth quarter.
“That was one of the more impressive performances I’ve ever seen as a coach,” Skyview coach Matt Gruhler said. “Every time the ball went up, I just expected Samaad to come down with it. I feel that way a lot, but today it was just amazing to watch how passionate he was going to get the ball.”
That passion came from Hector not wanting this season to end.
“He said before we walked out there, ‘I don’t want to go home today,’ Gruhler said. “And he played that way.’”
Skyview (25-5) handled one of the toughest challenges in the state tournament – playing a consolation game the morning after being knocked out of the championship round.
“We talked about this being a mental-toughness check time,” Gruhler said.
There was no sluggishness following Thursday’s loss to top-seeded Gonzaga Prep. Skyview scored the game’s first six points and built a 17-9 lead.
“To come back and fight hard the next day after a bumming loss, it just shows the heart we have,” Hector said.
Kamiak (17-10) briefly led 26-25 late in the second quarter. But the Storm never trailed after reclaiming the lead on a Kyle Gruhler 3-pointer.
“Every time Kamiak made a little bit of a run, we stayed composed and did what we talked about doing,” Matt Gruhler said. “Our guys really executed.”
Alex Schumacher had another strong game. The Skyview point guard scored 19 points, bringing his tournament average to 19.7 points over three games.
Cole Grossman was a physical presence in the paint for Skyview, scoring eight points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Add in Hector’s standout performance and it became clear why Skyview has made good on so many of its lofty goals this season.
“We wanted the chance to get to the dome and they worked their tails off,” Matt Gruhler said. “For those guys to get that after all that hard work means a lot to them. And it definitely means a lot to the program. Our program is on an upswing.”
SKYVIEW 64, KAMIAK 56
KAMIAK – Dakota Bueing 3, Carson Tuttle 0, Conner Fitzpatrick 5, Jordan Meyer 6, Landon Overturf 0, Braden Leary 2, Danny Sharpe 11, Ryker Wuttke 0. Totals 21 (7) 7-9 56.
SKYVIEW – Alex Schumacher 19, Cole Grossman 8, Jovon Sewell 3, Samaad Hector 26, Sean Boss 0, Squeeky Johnson 0, Lowell Dunmire 2, Chris Webster 0, Kyle Gruhler 6, Jace Chatman 0. Totals 26 (3) 9-14 64.
