By Gerardo Bolong
PUYALLUP - SeaTac 2B League Seattle Lutheran displayed some strong moments, but eventually dropped a 60-40 boys basketball verdict to home standing Nisqually 1A League Cascade Christian on Sat., Dec. 1.
Starting one senior in its season opening game, Seattle Lutheran grabbed an early 5-2 lead in the first quarter.
The Cougars gained momentum and grabbed a 12-7 lead after one quarter.
Cascade Christian High School's triumvirate of Nathan Larsen, Ben Vandouris and Parker Johnson continued its solid play to push the margin to 16-7 as the second quarter began.
Trailing 18-1)1 midway through the second quarter, the Saints utilized swarming defense and quick ball movement to forge a furious comeback.
Simon Solomon rocketed home a three-point goal followed by an Izaiah Duenaz steal and 3/4 court drive for a layup.
Fouled on the field goal, Solomon missed the free throw attempt. Six-foot, one-inch Logan Preston boxed out well for a left-handed put back basket. Another Solomon three-point missile extended the Saint surge to 10 points in a row for a 21-18 SL advantage.
Two Solomon free throw conversions offset a Larsen field goal, but CCHS regained the lead at 24-23 by the halftime intermission.
Tied at 24-all as the third quarter opened, Cascade Christian fired off a 14-0 points salvo.
Sophomore Kevin Kato angled home a three-point goal to narrow the Saint deficit to 38-27 with just less than three minutes left in the quarter.
The Cougars found their stride to stretch the lead to 47-29. Brandon Lick converted a three-pointer to make the score 47-32 heading into the final quarter.
Solid work by Solomon, Duenaz, and Lick pared the Seattle Lutheran disadvantage to 54-40 with just less than three minutes left in regulation, but Cascade Christian took over, once again , until the end.
"We're just very young," said Seattle Lutheran head coach Jay Johnson. "They lost their focus. Potential has to be converted to the game. That's the first pillar. The talent is only as good as it plays. Last season we started slowly at 1-5 and finished 11-9."
Lick drove and fired for 13 points to lead the Saint scoring. Solomon closed out at 10 points while Duenaz posted eight.
Larsen notched 18 points to pace Cascade Christian. Vandouris followed with 15 and Johnson added 11.
