Tough play down the stretch run catapulted Seattle Christian to a 48-43 home boys' basketball win against Charles Wright Academy of Tacoma on Monday, Dec. 12.
Seattle Christian improved its Nisqually 1A League record to 3-0 while moving to 5-1 overall. Charles Wright saw its unbeaten string end after five non league wins prior to this league opening loss.
"This was our third game in four days and we knew it would be tough," Warrior head coach Shaun DeYager stated. "We started slowly, but gained some momentum after halftime. Then, we retooled everything. There were key threes back to back. When they took their leads we didn't panic. I felt we were in control and the players showed control."
With the teams in a 41-41 standoff, Cody Gunhus raced for an offensive rebound and pulled up just inside the free throw line for a left handed jump shot that gave Seattle Christian the lead for good as 2:12 remained in the fourth quarter. Charles Wright had an opportunity to tie the game again on free throws, but Chaise DeVries of SCS rebounded the miss on the front end of a one and one situation.
Twenty eight seconds later, the Warriors recovered a loose ball and called timeout to set up a play behind their own offensive basket. Richard Jensen caught the inbounds pass and quickly banked in a short range basket to extend the Seattle Christian difference to 45-41 with 1:42 left.
Charles Wright Academy closed within 45-43 on two charity tosses after SCS missed on the first of a one and one free throw chance.
Cody Miller was fouled hard, drawing blood from his nose.
As a result of this action, Gunhus replaced Miller at the line and calmly swished a pair of free throws to effectively enhance the Seattle Christian victory occurrence in a 47-43 control with 25.5 seconds remaining in regulation.
CWA was unable to drain desperation three-point tries while Shane Pierotti closed out the scoring with a final Warrior free throw.
"I just got the ball in my hand and was open," Gunhus said about his key offensive rebound. "I was not too nervous about the free throws,so I just shot them. We all knew we had to pick up the intensity on defense."
First half scoring began quite slowly.
Two three-point baskets by Cody Miller from the same corner spot mixed with baskets from DeVries and Jensen in a 10-point scoring spree had Seattle Christian holding a 10-3 lead before ending the first quarter in front by a 12-6 score.
Charles Wright drained two consecutive three-pointers to close within 14-12 early in the second quarter and eventually trail the Warriors 15-14 at the half.
As the second half opened, Seattle Christian gained leads of six twice, the last at 31-25 following a Miller three-point shot and Shane Pierotti's three-pointer with 2:21 left in the third quarter.
Clinging to a 32-30 advantage going into the final quarter, the Warriors fell into a 33-32 deficit on Cooper Griffin's three-pointer. The lead flip flopped with each squad enjoying small margins until Miller's corner three-point rocket was countered by two Tarrier free throws that forged the 41-41 tie leading into the decisive moments of the game.
Miller shot 4-for-7 from three-point range en route to 16 points with six rebounds and three assists while SCS teammate Jensen shot 7-for-14 from standard field goal range on the way to 15 points and four assists. Shawn Abe contributed eight points and eight rebounds. Although held to four points, DeVries grabbed nine caroms.
Raheem Hughey paced the Tarriers with 11 points.
