Boys 4A: No. 1 Gonzaga Prep gets help from backup Noah Drynan to advance past No. 2 Skyview

Top-seeded Gonzaga Prep has won a lot of ways this season. Thursday’s quarterfinal was one of the more unique.

Sure, Anton Watson got his – 24 points with 10 rebounds. And Jamaari Jones added his customary 14 and 11.

But backup guard Noah Drynan was asked to contribute more than usual on the big Tacoma Dome stage, and he didn’t shy away.

Drynan finished with a season-high 10 points, well above his season average, and No. 1 seed Gonzaga Prep (24-0) beat second-seeded Skyview (24-5) 59-52.

Drynan averages 2.1 points and 14 minutes per game.

The Bullpups advance to take on familiar foe Richland (24-1) in a semifinal on Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Richland’s only loss? A 56-53 decision to the Bullpups in the District 8 title game on Feb. 16.

“Round six, or whatever we’re on,” said Gonzaga Prep coach Matty McIntyre of the burgeoning rivalry.

“We prepare the same for every opponent,” said senior Devin Culp. “But obviously we’re excited to play the Bombers – it’s always a fun rivalry between us.”

It’s a shame that this No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup wasn’t a title game, but it had that feel.

Second-seeded Skyview lost in its regional matchup last weekend so it was forced to play in an elimination game on Wednesday.

When the Storm advanced on a last-second tip-in against Glacier Peak in the first-round, that slotted them in Gonzaga Prep’s side of the bracket and set up the 1-2 showdown in the quarterfinals.

Skyview got off the first punch, as Greater St. Helens 4A league MVP Alex Schumacher popped a 3, Kyle Gruhler made a layup and the Storm led 5-2 early.

Watson made a pair from the line and followed with a twisting layup and the Bullpups went up 10-7.

Watson got loose for another layup, then finished a fastbreak with a two-handed dunk. He closed the quarter with two more free throws and Gonzaga Prep led 16-12 after one.

The Pups scored the first six points of the second – including a windup dunk and tip-in on consecutive possessions by Watson – to work up a 10-point lead.

Skyview then rolled off eight straight to get it back to one.

But Prep responded, with Drynan recording layups on three consecutive possessions – two off assists from Watson – and the Bullpups went up 30-22.

“They were keying on Anton a lot and he just did a great job sealing the guys off so I just had a free lane,” Drynan said. “Easy like that. He just did a great job sealing so I could go get it.”

“He came off the bench good,” Watson said of his teammate. “We needed that for our team because at the beginning we were a little bit slow. He fired us up.”

“Noah played great,” McIntyre agreed. “You never know how a kid is going to respond and be in the Dome the first time. The lights weren’t too bright.

“He seized the moment and created some memories I hope he remembers for the rest of his life.”

Again, Skyview answered, as Schumacher reeled off the last six points of the half.

Gonzaga Prep led 30-27 at the break, with Watson already owning 14 points.

The lead was four points a couple of minutes into the second half when the Pups went on an 11-0 run. Watson made a scooping layup around two defenders and Sam Lockett scored on a fastbreak.

On the next trip down, Devin Culp got the ball at the top of the key and saw the lane was unguarded.

“When you see that big-old wide opening and when you’re as athletic as I am you just gotta take full advantage of that,” the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder signed at Washington to play tight end explained.

He charged down the lane, rose and threw down a thunderous dunk that drew the biggest ovation of the night.

“I guess you gotta put on something special in the Dome.” Culp said, acknowledging it was his first dunk of the season.

“That got me hyped,” Watson admitted.

It was Culp’s only basket of the night, but it was a loud one.

Gonzaga Prep led 49-34 at that point and took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Prep got it out to 15 on another layup from Drynan early in the fourth, but Skyview had one last run in them, and Schumacher’s three-point play – which fouled out Sam Lockett – made it an eight-point game with 1 minute, 36 seconds to go.

Schumacher finished with 25 points.

“He is a heck of a player,” McIntyre said. “We definitely had a hard time with him tonight, especially with Sammy out.

“We had to go with a lot of different options. We rotated three or four different guys on him. Doubled him sometimes.”

But Prep bounced back. Watson scored on an alley-oop from Drynan and then Drynan hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to push the lead back to 11.

Skyview scored the last five points of the game as Gonzaga Prep struggled at the line down the stretch, but it was enough to survive and advance to face Richland’s 7-foot-3 senior Riley Sorn one more time.

“That’ll be a tough one,” Watson said. “But we’re ready. We’re prepared.”

McIntyre had the last word.

“(Friday) night should be a lot of fun.”