2A Boys State Tournament: Lynden Eliminated by Renton

The Renton RedHawks defeated the Lynden Lions, 46-36, in Wednesday’s elimination round of the 2A State basketball tournament, in the Yakima SunDome.

The 36 points by the Lions was their lowest scoring game of the season by 11 points.  On the other hand, the RedHawks beat their previous low score of the season by one point. 

In the first quarter ended with the Lions leading 13-12, which was the highest scoring quarter of the game.  The RedHawks were able to drive the lane on the Lions and come up with scores or free throws.  At the other end, the Lions battled the quickness of the RedHawk defenders, who were able to create more havoc as the game went on.

The Lions switched from their customary man-to-man defense to a zone in the second quarter, which solved the penetration problem the RedHawks created.  The teams left the floor at halftime tied at 24-24.

Lion senior Ty Jorgenson

While the Lions continued to keep the RedHawks offense in check in the third quarter, they could only come up with one bucket each from senior forwards Ty Jorgenson and Spencer Adams.  The RedHawks held a 33-28 lead with eight minutes to play.

With the RedHawks leading 37-28, Adams hit a 3-point shot from the top of the key to cut the lead to six with 4:15 left.  The momentum carried over to the defensive end where the Lions came up with a turnover, but they could not return and cash in at the offensive end.

The Lions hung around, as the score was still at 37-31 as the RedHawks worked the 30-second clock.  But as the shot clock ticked toward zero, the RedHawks made something out of nothing, as senior wing Nate Omar got loose and drove the lane for a score just before the clock expired, advancing the Renton lead to 39-31 with 2:15 left. 

To that point in the fourth quarter, the Adams 3-pointer was their only score.  Malachi Koenen did add a 3-pointer in the final minutes and Adams got a bucket inside, but in the meantime, the RedHawks were able to make the plays and the free throws to allow them to pull away.  

The Lions out rebounded the RedHawks 38-33, but shot only 26-percent for the game, and the 11 first half turnovers kept them from leading at halftime.  The RedHawks got the win despite shooting only 35-percent from the field.

Sudan Luok, a 6-4 junior forward, led the RedHawks with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Adams and Malachi Koenen had 11 points each for the Lions, with Jorgenson adding nine. 

The #8 RedHawks (13-11), who play in a league with several 3A and 4A teams who are high seeds in their respective state tournaments, advance to the quarterfinals.  They will play #2 RA Long at 900pm on Thursday.

The Lions went through their share of adversity this season, and end with a record of 18-8 and are denied a state trophy for the second year in a row. 

~ Ted House

STATS

Lynden: Navarre 3, Bedlington 0, Price 0, Ellis 2, Markus Koenen 0, Malachi Koenen 11, Broersma 0, Whitney 0, Jorgenson 9, Adams 11

FG: 13-49 26.5%

FT: 5-10 50%

3P: 5-20 25%

Renton: Holifield 2, Luok 17, Elegam 3, Omar 5, White-Kelley 7, Taylor 10, Abdi 2

FG: 15-43 34.9%

FT: 14-23 60.9%

3P: 2-13 15.4%