Howell hits game-winning shot, Gonzaga Prep beats Puyallup in 4A championship game
Brogan Howell dribbled the ball at the top of the key, got to the baseline, pivoted and shot the ball over the outstretched arm of 6-foot-7 Puyallup defender Drew Nasinec.
He sank it. Game winner. The biggest shot of Howell’s life, lifting Gonzaga Prep to the Class 4A state tournament title, 57-55, over Puyallup.
“My team had faith in me, my coaches had faith in me, it all just came down to that last shot,” Howell said. “I’m just lucky that they trust me to take it.”
Howell looked almost dazed, as if the gravity of his shot hadn’t sunk in yet. It surely will as the texts and calls pour in on the long drive back to Spokane.
“Incredible,” Gonzaga Prep coach Matty McIntyre said. “We wanted to just space the floor, put the ball in Brogan’s hands. At the very least, go to overtime, maybe get a foul call. But he’s so quick and athletic, he was able to elevate over the 6-7 kid, an incredible shot.”
McIntyre already has some decoration ideas.
“We’ll have to talk about building a statue of him outside the school here,” he joked.
It was the final game of the 3A and 4A state boys and girls basketball tournaments at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday and it delivered plenty of entertainment, going back and forth until the final buzzer.
Puyallup had a chance to win it after advancing the ball past half court after Howell’s shot and calling a timeout. Puyallup coach Kevin Olson called the number of his best player, Drew Jones, who was the best player all tournament long. He took a dribble after receiving the inbound pass, got the corner and let a 3-pointer fly, but it went long.
“He’s a great player,” Howell said of Jones. “Just tried to stay in front of him. The game plan all night was just stop No. 23 and just try to get that done as well as possible.”
Jones was so good in the tournament that he was named the tournament MVP, despite Gonzaga Prep winning the title. He scored a game-high 20 points in the championship game, Nasinec scored 16 and Lawson Looker added 13.
Carter Nilson led Gonzaga Prep with a team-high 16 points and Hudson Floyd scored 12. Gonzaga Prep won close, nail-biting games all tournament.
“My gray hairs are coming in fast as ever,” McIntyre deadpanned.
The runner-up finish was Puyallup’s best since 1971, when the Vikings won the 4A title, beating Pasco.
This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 11:24 PM with the headline "Howell hits game-winning shot, Gonzaga Prep beats Puyallup in 4A championship game."
