Drive to 55

The Morton-White Pass Timberwolves never made a false step during their two-year quest.

The Timberwolves capped their journey Saturday night as Zach Walton scored 16 of his 34 points in the first quarter during a 72-57 victory over the Liberty Lancers in the State 2B boys title game at the Arena.

MWP (28-0), also last year’s undefeated champion, ended the season with a 55-game winning streak as its four senior starters, including Walton, fulfilled a pledge they made after a loss to Northwest Christian at the 2013 tournament.

“My son played on that team,” coach Tony Gillispie said after MWP gained a bit of revenge by defeating NWC during Friday’s semifinals. “We went home a little upset.”

Walton, a 6-foot-5 wing, had 20 points by halftime as the Timberwolves built a 41-25 advantage.

“It was real important, because we knew it wold be hard for them to get back in the game,” Walton said of the fast start.

“It was very important,” Gillispie said of the quick start. “I talked about that in the locker room. It sets a tone and puts the other team on their heels, so it’s huge.”

Match Burnham scored 27 points in his final game for Liberty (26-3), which was attempting to win the school’s second title and first since 1986.

Walton thrilled the crowd by scoring 16 points during the first 6 minutes. He had two 3-pointers and a monstrous dunk as Liberty’s defense struggled and fell behind 22-9.

“My teammates did a great job of getting me the ball,” Walton said.

Although Walton went quiet until the last minute of the second quarter, 6-3 junior guard Kaleb Poquette scored seven second-quarter points to reach halftime with 12. He finished with 20 points.

Liberty seniors Clay Fleming and Burnham scored 12 points apiece in the first half, but the rest of the Lancers contributed just one point. Burnham, charged with guarding Walton, also picked up his third foul with 3:03 left in the half and his fourth with 3:17 left in the third.

Burnham scored Liberty’s first nine points of the third quarter, but Walton helped pushed the Timberwolves’ lead to as much as 20 points.

The Lancers wore down for good in the fourth as starter Kyle King fouled out with no points and sophomore Chase Burnham, a strong presence off the bench, followed him 90 seconds later and finished with one point.

Liberty coach Mike Thacker picked up a technical with MWP leading 61-46. Walton hit both free throws for his 31st and 32nd points, and soon followed with a basket that ended his night.

Fleming finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.

MWP will carry the fifth-longest boys streak in Washington history into next season.

“They never get old and they’re never easy,” Gillispie siad. “From the beginning of summer, we had a bull’s-eye on our back all year.”

Staff writer Jim Allen

contributed to this report.