Cubs Eliminate Bulldogs; Now One Win From State
- Ted House
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The Sedro-Woolley Cubs are one win away from a state tournament berth, after their 63-45 win over Mount Vernon, in the consolation round of the 3A Boys District 1 Tournament.
This was a rivalry game in a post-season elimination situation, so the Sedro-Woolley gym was packed with a standing room only crowd, with student sections filling the end zone bleachers.
The Bulldogs zone defense was geared to slow down the league’s top scorer, and in my opinion, Most Valuable Player, senior forward Ethan DeJong. And, for the most part, it worked. The Bulldogs actually dared any player, besides #11, to shoot from the outside.
In sports, there’s an old saying that gets repeated nearly every game by a player or coach: “Take what they give you.” The Bulldogs were giving that outside shot, but there was a Cub who was ready to take what they gave.
Senior guard, Jae Thompson, hiding in the weeds with a 4.2 points per game scoring average, took what the Bulldogs gave him, which was about any open 3-point shot he could put up.
Thompson nailed two 3-pointers in the first quarter to give the Cubs some early momentum in front of the packed home crowd. He added another one in the second quarter, but he wasn’t close to being done.
The Bulldogs countered by attacking the Cubs man-to-man defense on their interior where they had a size advantage with two post players who know how to use the low block to their advantage. Senior, 6-5 forward Taran Hanjrah, and 6-7 sophomore, Kingston Collins. The two had several opportunities in the first half, but they combined for only 11 points.
The Cubs defended the inside with as much bulk as they could muster, as 6-1 junior Camden Howell drew the starting assignment against Hanjrah. The Bulldogs trailed only 16-15 after one quarter, but could muster only five points in the second quarter, and trailed the Cubs by only six points, 26-20 at halftime.
Hanjrah scored eight points in the third quarter, but the Cubs slowly increased their lead as Thompson hit a 3-pointer on the Cubs first possession, and senior guard Cliff Tadema added a 3-point play, pushing the Cubs lead to ten points.
The Cubs lead volleyed between eight and 12 points through the third quarter, which ended with the Cubs leading 42-32.
DeJong hit two free throws with 5:19 left in the game to give the Cubs a 14-point lead, their biggest of the night, but the fireworks were yet to come for the Cubs.
Thompson hit his fifth 3-pointer of the game at the 4:30 mark for a 17-point lead, then his sixth, just 40 seconds later to push the lead to 20.
After a Bulldog bucket, the crowd erupted again as DeJong came up with a steal and went uncontested for a 2-hand-flush. Then, 30-seconds later, Thompson had the coup de grâce hitting his seventh 3-ball of the night, and the Cubs led 60-37.
Thompson hit seven of the Cubs’ nine 3-pointers on the night to finish with 21 points. DeJong led the Cubs with 23. They also got 11 from Tadema.
The Bulldogs season ends with an 11-12 record. Hanjrah, in his last game as a Bulldog, led them in scoring with 15 points.
The Cubs, now 18-5, are in the exact position they were in last year. One win from their first state tournament berth since 2007. In last year’s winner to state game, the Cubs came up short in a 45-43 loss to Shorewood.
This year, the foe will be Monroe, who is the #2 seed in the district tournament. The #6 Cubs will take on the Bearcats, Saturday, at 130pm at Jackson High School. Monroe won the Wesco North Division, and have a record of 18-4. One of those wins was a 68-61 victory over the Cubs on December 20.
Also, on Wednesday, the Lynden Christian Lyncs won their fifth straight 1A Boys District Tournament by beating the Nooksack Valley Pioneers 76-58, at Lynden High School. The Lyncs now await their seeding for the regional round of the state tournament.
The Pioneers will play for second place on Saturday, 250pm at LHS, against the winner of Friday’s game between Blaine and Meridian.
~ Ted House
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