In big games, big-time players make big-time plays. But to win that big one, sometimes you need something special from an unexpected source. That’s exactly what happened before a huge crowd at Jake Maberry Gym in Lynden, Wednesday night.
Reigning Northwest Conference Most Valuable Player, Davis Fogle, and two-time State Tournament MVP, Anthony Canales, split spectacular moments, but neither could hit the game winner.
In the final seconds, Lion senior forward, Ty Holleman, rebounded a missed free throw by Canales with the score tied at 62-62, and two passes later, nailed a five-footer in the middle of the key to give the Lions a 64-62 victory over the Seahawks.
After the shot went in, game officials determined there was 2.4 seconds remaining in the contest.
The Seahawks inbounded to Fogle in back court, but he could not get a desperation half-court shot off in time.
The Seahawks 2-3 zone defense was effective against the Lions 3-point shooters. The Lions hit only 1-15 from the arc, and that was a first quarter shot by Brant Heppner.
However, as the game went along, the Lions found more success near the rim. Canales scored two quick buckets late in the second quarter, as the Lions first lead was 27-26 with 1:40 left in the half.
The Lions defense tried to reel in the high scoring Fogle, who averages 33 points a game. The Lions rotated defenders on Fogle, but he still scored 24 points in the first half, as he went 10-11 at the free throw line. One of those was after a long 3-point bank shot that resulted in a 4-point play.
In the second half, the Lions mostly used senior guards, Brady Elsner and Charlie Ayres to double-team Fogle as he crossed the center line. As that happened, the open man in the Seahawks offense was sophomore guard Brennan Morgenthaler. Morgenthaler was on the receiving end of passes from Fogle, and promptly hit four open jumpers in the third quarter, and two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points before fouling out with 2:38 to play in the game.
The 6-6 Heppner scored inside with one-minute left to give the Lions a 61-57 lead, but fouled out just ten seconds later, as Fogle wiggled and spun inside for a score. Fogle missed the following free throw, and the Seahawks were on defense, down a bucket.
On the Lions possession, the Seahawks full court defense forced a turnover, and the ball got to the hands of Fogle, who drove to the left wing and nailed a 25-foot jumper over the hands of Elsner and Ayres. That gave the Seahawks a 62-61 lead with 24 seconds left.
With 6-1 junior Aiden Miller face-guarding Canales to deny him the ball, the Lions worked for the game winner, finally getting the ball to Canales near the top of the key with 12 seconds left. Canales worked his way into the key, where he was fouled by Fogle with seven seconds to go.
Canales hit the first free throw for the tie, but missed the second, setting the stage for Holleman’s game winning shot.
Fogle scored only two free throws in the third quarter, and finished with 35 points. Morgenthaler’s 14 was the other double-figures scorer. Sophomore forward Micah Dickison scored eight points for the Seahawks.
Canales scored 31 points without a 3-pointer, as he hit 15 of 23 2-point shots. Heppner finished with 17. Holleman and senior forward Jack Stapleton scored seven points each, in a game where only nine players got into the scoring column.
The Seahawks (8-3/12-4) host Blaine on Saturday, at 5pm.
The Lions (10-0/13-3) play at Sehome on Saturday at 6pm. The Lions and Mariners girls game will proceed that, at 430pm.
There will be more on this game in Sunday’s edition.
~ Ted House
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