Republic falls
After Republic returned all contributors from the 2004 State B championship team, its 2005 run wasn’t supposed to end on the first day.
On this night, it was more about DeSales than the Tigers, as the Irish shot lights-out to pull the 67-56 upset of Republic (25-3) at the Spokane Arena.
DeSales (23-1) hit 52 percent of its shots from the field, but it was a flurry of five 3-pointers in the first quarter that set the tone as the Irish built a 23-16 lead.
“Early in the season the 3 was there for us more, but it went away for a while,” DeSales head coach Greg Fazzari said. “We knew exactly what they were going to do defensively, that they were going to run that 2-3 zone and we have a couple kids who look like they can’t shoot it but they can.”
The first quarter was a perfect example, as DeSales hit open shots over the zone.
“The difference was they were in our face, and we weren’t in their face,” Republic head coach John Gianukakis said. “They knocked down a lot of open shots early. If they don’t hit five in the first, it’s a little tighter.”
From the first quarter on, Republic never got it any closer than four when Zach Gianukakis hit a 3-pointer to make it a 25-21 game. Gianukakis had 16 in the first half, but was held scoreless in the second by the physical Irish.
“Defense has been the key part of our success,” Fazzari said. “We have strong kids who are in the weight room a lot, so our strength is our strength, so to speak. Our (defensive) goals were to limit Gianukakis. We knew we couldn’t stop him, so we just wanted to limit his offense and make him work hard to get his shots.”
Republic also struggled with foul trouble, as 6-foot-4 forward Gaeb Giddings and point guard Tyler Orestad, who combined to average 26 points a game this year, spent considerable time on the bench. Both fouled out early in the fourth quarter, Giddings without a point and Orestad with six.
“We wanted to front Giddings and limit his touches, and we did a good job of that,” Fazzari said. “The other thing we wanted to do was contain Orestad, and we didn’t do a good job of that - I’m glad he had foul trouble.”
The loss was Republic’s first in a state tournament held at the Spokane Arena. The Tigers had won eight straight with state championship runs in 1997 and last year.
Casey Worth led DeSales with 14 points and Nick Conley had 13. DeSales used its bulk to make up for a lack of height underneath, as the Irish were only outrebounded 31-29.
Republic was left with the disappointment of a mission to repeat left unaccomplished.
“They’re pretty upset,” John Gianukakis said of the Tigers, who could still finish fifth. “It’s up to them. I hope they come out and show their worth. You hope their character comes out, and they show they’re a good basketball team.”
DeSales plays Sunnyside Christian (23-1) in the quarterfinals at 9 tonight.
The other evening quarterfinal will pit Lind-Ritzville against King’s West at 7:30.
L-R needed a Nick Ashley 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in regulation to force overtime before beating Riverside Christian 58-48. King’s West (23-3) had a much easier time, rolling over Toutle Lake 54-33.