TACOMA – O'Dea eliminated University 47-45 in the State 3A boys basketball tournament Friday at the Tacoma Dome.
The Titans (15-11) were on the cusp of winning but couldn’t get a clutch basket in the final minute. Michael Isotalo gave U-Hi a chance when he made a deep 3-pointer with 1:33 remaining to cut the Irish lead to the final margin, but the Titans didn’t score thereafter.
“We put together a really solid game plan and the kids executed it really well,” U-Hi coach Garrick Phillips said.
What hampered the Titans was the inside play of O’Dea’s Jacob Lampkin, who got loose frequently and finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
“The size wore us down a little bit,” University coach Garrick Phillips said.
U-Hi got off to a good start, opening a 15-7 lead. O’Dea cut the lead to 22-20 by halftime. Robert Little hit the fifth of five 3-pointers to give U-Hi a 34-31 lead going into the fourth quarter.
A driving basket by Garrett Schmerer gave U-Hi its last lead at 42-41.
Robert Little led U-Hi with 15 points and five rebounds, Isotalo had 12 and Ben Kuiper finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.
“It’s one of the highest character groups I’ve ever coached in my 21 years,” Phillips said. “That’s what makes it ending so hard.”
Statistics
3-point goals - T. Kidd, Woodard, Little 5, Isotalo, Kuiper 2. Total fouls - O'Dea 10, University 13. Fouled out - None. Technicals - None.
