Class 2A boys' basketball state tournament preview

Published: February 27, 2013 

24 LYNDEN BBB sumner

Lynden beat Sumner 58-39 in the regional round of the Class 2A State Boys' Basketball Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 in Lynden.

ANDY BRONSON — THE BELLINGHAM HERALDBuy Photo

Here's a look at the final 8 teams in the Class 2A state basketball tournament.

BURLINGTON-EDISON TIGERS

Coach: Jake Martyn

Colors: Navy and gold

School enrollment: 904

Conference: Northwest

State appearances: 19

Last appearance: 2011 (fifth)

Record at state: 26-31

State trophies: 11

State titles: None

2012-13 record: 17-8

Road to the quarterfinals: Finished fifth in the NWC (8-4) and second at the Northwest District Tournament. Beat White River 51-50 in regional round.Outlook: Rudy Mataya (jr. G) drove the length of the floor for a last-second lay-up in the Tigers' regional win. The Tigers, who seemed to improve as the season progressed, also scored an impressive win over Anacortes in the semifinals of the district tournament. Austin Von Herbulis (sr. P) provides them with good size and 14.7 points per game, while the ultra-athletic Isaak Davies (jr. G) is leading the team with 15.1 points per game. Daron Browning (sr. F) gives Burlington three players averaging in double figures.

PULLMAN GREYHOUNDS

Coach: Craig Brantner

Colors: Royal blue and grey

School enrollment: 518

Conference: Great Northern

State appearances: 19

Last appearance: 2012 (sixth)Record at state: 23-30State trophies: 7State titles: None

2012-13 record: 26-1

Road to the quarterfinals: Won league title (12-0) and claimed Great Northern League Tournament title. Beat Ellensburg 62-56 in regional round.

Outlook: Second-ranked Pullman leaned heavily on 6-foot-6 Corey Langerveld (sr. SF) in its regional, and he responded with 28 points and nine rebounds to help the Greyhounds avenge their only loss of the season from their Nov. 30 opener. Langerveld averaged 21.0 points through Pullman's first 21 games to lead the team, but Race Martin (jr. C) averaged 13.0 and AJ Miles (jr. SG) chipped in 9.6 per outing. In addition to good size, Pullman brings an experienced, athletic roster to Yakima.

SEQUIM WOLVES

Coach: Greg Glasser

Colors: Purple and gold

School enrollment: 725

Conference: Olympic

State appearances: 13

Last appearance: 2009 (DNP)

Record at state: 17-23

State trophies: 6

State titles: None

2012-13 record: 21-4

Road to the quarterfinals: Won league title (15-1) and finished second in West Central District Tournament. Beat Hockinson 51-48 in regional round.

Outlook: The Wolves had to survive a Hockinson comeback attempt to advance through the regional round. Gabe Carter (sr. F) scored all of his 11 points in the first quarter and added six rebounds and four assists. Rory Kallappa (jr. F) also hit six key free throws down the stretch. Jayson Brocklesby (sr. F) leads the team with a 21.5-point scoring average through the first 20 games. Carter also averaged double figures with 11.6 per game, while Alex Barry (so. G) and Kallappa each chipped in 7.1.

RENTON INDIANS

Coach: Rick Comer

Colors: Red and white

School enrollment: 1,005

Conference: Seamount

State appearances: 24

Last appearance: 2010 (DNP)

Record at state: 39-32

State trophies: 13

State titles: 4 (last in 1967)

2012-13 record: 23-2

Road to the quarterfinals: Won league title (13-1), finished first in a sub-district tournament and sixth in the South Central District Tournament. Beat River Ridge 73-57 in regional round.

Outlook: After winning its first 19 games and grabbing the No. 1 ranking, the Indians have dropped two in February. Renton did a good job of containing one of the state's better guards during the regional round to earn its first trip to state in the 2A ranks. Seamount League MVP Jonathan Patterson (sr. F) scored 20 points in the game and averaged 14.5 points through 17 games. Lavelle Smith (sr. G) also averaged 13.3 for speedy, athletic Renton.

YAKIMA WEST VALLEY RAMS

Coach: Jon Kinloch

Colors: Blue, scarlet, white

School enrollment: 1,037

Conference: CWAC

State appearances: 13

Last appearance: 2008 (seventh)

Record at state: 25-21

State trophies: 8

State titles: None

2012-13 record: 21-2

Road to the quarterfinals: Won league title (17-1) and the CWAC Tournament. Beat Wapato 70-67 in double overtime in the regional round.Outlook: West Valley came back from 10 down with 4:31 to play in its regional to force overtime on a 3-pointer by Tyler Cluff (sr. G). Jalen Peake (so. W) hit three 3-pointers in OT for the Rams and finished with a game-high 24 points, while Austin Strock (sr. P) scored 15 points and had 13 rebounds. Peake has led the team with 16.0 points per game, through Strock is averaging 15.0 and Cluff 9.9, while Jace VanDeBrake (jr. G) has chipped in 7.6 for a team that has lost only once since Dec. 1 (Feb. 2 vs. Ephrata).

LYNDEN LIONS

Coach: Brian Roper

Colors: Green and gold

School enrollment: 703

Conference: Northwest

State appearances: 45

Last appearance: 2012 (first)

Record at state: 103-58

State trophies: 31

State titles: Eight (last in 2012)

2012-13 record: 23-1

Road to the quarterfinals: Won NWC title (12-0) and Northwest District Tournament title. Beat Sumner 58-39 in regional round.

Outlook: Top-ranked Lynden's win over Sumner represented the 15th time the Lions have held an opponent to less than 40 points per game this season. By contrast, they have scored 60 over more 15 times. The Lions are battle tested and deep, as the core of the team was part of two straight state football titles and they returned four starters from last year. John Shine (sr. G) and Dak Shagren (sr. G) lead the team with 13.4 and 13.1 points, respecitively, while WSU-bound offensive lineman Matt Meyer (sr. C) is averaging 8.0.

ANACORTES SEAHAWKS

Coach: Brett Senff

Colors: Purple and white

School enrollment: 667

Conference: Northwest

State appearances: 23

Last appearance: 2012 (DNP)

Record at state: 35-36

State trophies: 14

State titles: None

2012-13 record: 20-5

Road to the quarterfinals: Finished second in NWC (10-2) and third at Northwest District Tournament. Beat Mark Morris 58-49 in regional round.

Outlook: Anacortes turned five Mark Morris turnovers into nine points in the fourth quarter and got 15 points from Sam D'Amelio (sr. G) and 10 each from Matt Aldridge (sr. G) and Andrew Medalia (jr. F). The athletic Seahawks, who are capable of running with just about anyone, have five players averaging in double figures, led by Billy King (sr. P) and his 12.2 per game. Ty Johnson (so. G) and A.J. Yost (sr. F) join D'Amelio and Aldridge at just over 10 points per game, while Medalia averages 8.5.

CLOVER PARK WARRIORS

Coach: Mel Ninnis

Colors: Green, white, gold

School enrollment: 721

Conference: South Puget Sound

State appearances: 6

Last appearance: 2012 (fourth)

Record at state: 10-10

State trophies: 3

State titles: 1 (2011)

2012-13 record: 20-6

Road to the quarterfinals: Won league title (12-2), finished second at sub-district tournament and won West Central District Tournament title. Beat Olympic 62-38 in regional round.

Outlook: Clover Park hasn't lost since January and got 26 points from David Crisp (jr. G) in its regional win. Xavier Means (sr. F) is a physical presence inside along with transfer Anthony White Jr. (so. G) from Lakes, who gives the Warriors toughness to go with with high-flying guards Crisp, Phillip Winston (jr.) and Travis Parker (so.). Crisp averaged 23.9 points per game through 16 games, while Winston scored 22.3 in 11, and Parker is just off double-figures.

Reach Sports Editor David Rasbach at 360-715-2271 or david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com. Follow Whatcom County Sports on Facebook or @bhamsports on Twitter.

Order Reprint Back to Top

Top Jobs

Find a Home

$1,995,000 Bellingham
6 bed, 4 full bath, 1 half bath. Selective BHam waterfront...

Find a Car

Search New Cars
Ads by Yahoo!