HILLSBORO — What the Battle Ground Tigers hope to take away most from their first appearance at the Les Schwab Invitational goes beyond a loss.
Facing competition such as Thursday’s opener against the reigning Oregon Class 6A state runners-up is exactly what they signed up for when agreeing to play in the annual event at Liberty High School that draws some of the nation’s elite boys basketball programs.
What happens in December — including a 82-54 loss to Jefferson of Portland in its first LSI game — hopefully makes a difference come late February and early March for the Tigers.
Senior Brendan Beall, who had a game-high 18 points on 7 of 18 shooting, sees the silver lining.
“I thought our intensity was good against their big guys,” he said. “We’re not going to come out and match their size or match their athleticism. We followed the game plan pretty well and stuck to it.
Battle Ground is guaranteed four games in the five-day tournament and faces Clackamas at noon Friday. By making its inaugural LSI appearances, the Tigers join elite company at this year’s field. In addition to Portland-area teams are Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California), Norcross (Atlanta, Georgia) and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada). This week marks the second straight year a Clark County team, in addition to Skyview last season, to play in the event.
Unlike Beall, Perry never attended the LSI as a fan before. The experience Thursday was a new one.
“It’s so cool, “Perry said. “I knew the Les Schwab was big deal. The stands full and everyone cheering. People you don’t even know coming to watch these games, it’s awesome.”
Playing teams that throw multiple defenders at Battle Ground junior power forward, Gonzaga verbal commit Kaden Perry, isn’t new, but the chances the Tigers face another team of similar size, length and athleticism the rest of the season might be slim. The Democrats have four players listed 6-6 or taller.
But a slow start also doomed Battle Ground early. The Democrats (4-2) led from the opening possession, held BG to without a field goal until the 3:26 mark of the first quarter and had a double-digit lead 3 minutes in. As halftime approached, the Tigers connected on field goals in three of its final four possessions to pull within 33-22.
But mental mistakes, Beall said, sunk the Tigers from close-range shots to free throws. BG went 9 of 16 at the line.
“If we go into halftime and it’s tied, it’s a different momentum feel,” Beall said. “It’s tough especially against that team or any team in this tournament, you start slow and it’s tough to come out of a whole like that.”
Battle Ground never cut the deficit to single digits in the second half. And much of the second half was without Perry, who fouled out under-3 to play in the third quarter.
Like he has all season, Perry faced a stiff double team on every offensive touch. The junior worked for all his 10 points that included a thunderous first-quarter dunk — on 2 of 10 shooting and included six trips to the free throw line. He went 4 of 10 at the stripe.
“If I could’ve made my free throws,” Perry said, “it would’ve been a different game.”
It might’ve been, too, had he not fouled out. By the time he got 10th point on two free throws, he quickly picked up three fouls on three possessions Two came on the offensive end and when he was disqualified with 2:56 left in the third, Jefferson’s lead bloomed to 44-27.
The Democrats utilized a Perry-less down low in the Tigers’ 2-3 zone and went on a 13-2 spurt. Battle Ground never got closer than 12 with Perry seated.
Beall earned the team’s player of the game honors, highlighted by tournament officials. The shooting guard had a team-best 18 points on 7 of 18 shooting, including four of the team’s nine 3s. Nate Millspaugh chipped in 14.
Marquis Cook, a 6-6 ninth grader for Jefferson, had 14 of his game-high 22 points in the second half as one of four Democrats in double figures.
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JEFFERSON 82, BATTLE GROUND 54
Jefferson: Marquis Cook 22, Trejon Williams 0, Nate Rawlins-Kibonge 6, Kamron Robinson 15, Lamar Washington 8, Keshawn Hall 19, Tre Anderson 2, Jalen Adams 10, saiah Mitchell 0, Sanborn Melson 0. Totals 33 (10) 6-12 82.
Battle Ground: Max Ramirez 2, Cole Billingsley 0, Nate MIllspaugh 14, Brendan Beall 18, Kaden Perry 10, Bishop Straube 0, brody Smith 3, David Reed 2, Jake Kostman 5. Totals 18 (9) 9-16 54.
Jefferson 17 16 23 26 – 82
- Ground 10 12 10 22 – 54
