TACOMA — The Union Titans no longer are on the side of the Class 4A state tournament bracket with a chance to play for a state championship.
While disappointed their state title hopes are dashed following a 58-55 loss to Curtis in the teams’ state quarterfinal Thursday, the Titans already are looking ahead to Friday’s consolation game against Puyallup.
Because a win means a state trophy for the third time in four years.
“It stings,” junior guard Brad Lackey said, “but we’re right back to business after this. We can’t be thinking about this one. We have to play the next one.”
Lackey had 11 of his 16 points after halftime, and fellow guard Ethan Smith poured in a team-high 18, but Union had 19 turnovers and was held to just one field goal the final 2 minutes, 41 seconds of the game.
Union went the full length of the court with 6.6 seconds left after a timeout trailing 3, and Houston Combs’ potential game-tying 3-point attempt fell short at the buzzer.
While neither team had a comfortable lead, Union led by as many as six three times Thursday. The last came at 46-40 on Brad Lackey’s 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter. Another Lackey 3 made it 53-48 with 2:41 to play.
But that final 2:41 is when Curtis made its run. The Vikings outscored Union 7-0 in a 2-minute stretch, getting a 3-point play by Jordan Parker, a putback by Soloman McGinnis and two Zack Paulsen (game-high 22 points) free throws.
Smith said it wasn’t so much being frazzled, as it was the Titans trying to make a late-game play.
“We got a little too excited some of the times,” said Smith. “We just couldn’t finish.”
On the possession before, Combs’ quick lay-in following a Union timeout made it 56-55 Curtis. Yet in the final minute, Union turned the ball over, and had another near-turnover at midcourt. The Titans retained possession on that play, but lost 12 seconds off the game clock trailing 56-53.
Union finished with 19 turnovers.
“Curtis did a great job of pressuring,” coach Blake Conley said, “and forcing us into turnovers. You can’t win a state game and have 19 turnovers.”
The Titans haven’t been in many down-to-the-wire games this season, and have won their past seven games by an average of 26 points.
“They looked like the more experienced team down the stretch,” Lackey said of Curtis.
The Titans face Puyallup, which fell 45-40 to Mt. Si in its 4A quarterfinal, at 9 a.m. Friday. Win, and the Titans are guaranteed a state trophy Saturday.
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CURTIS 58, UNION 55
CURTIS — Jared Franklin 8, Zack Paulsen 22, Jordan Parker 11, Soloman McGinnis 8, Maceo Lewis 2, Bryce Parker 0, Dylan Yager 0, Josiah Miller 0, Isaac Morrow 7. Totals 20 (2) 16-22 58.
UNION — Tanner Toolson 7, Alishawuan Taylor 4, Brad Lackey 16, Houston Combs 6, Ethan Smith 18, Ariya Briscoe 1, Josh Reznick 0, Mason Hill 2, Ty McCullum 0, Curtis Youngren 2. Totals 17 (6) 15-15 55.
Curtis 19 9 12 18 – 58
Union 16 17 10 12 – 55
