G-Prep boys ride defense to victory over Union in State 4A opener

TACOMA – It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Gonzaga Prep boys basketball team started with a bang at the Tacoma Dome on Thursday.

After all, three months ago the Gonzaga Prep football team captured a state championship in impressive fashion.

It wasn’t so much picking up where the Bullpups left off – although they, like the Dome, have significant ties to the football title – it was the basketball team saying it plans to take some hardware of its own home.

G-Prep relied on a good friend – hard-nosed defense – to spark the offense as the Bullpups handled the Union Titans 62-52 in a State 4A tournament opener.

The Bullpups (22-3) must pick up their play even more when they meet No. 1-ranked and defending state champ Federal Way (26-0) on Friday. Tip-off is at 9.

“We got into a rhythm early,” G-Prep coach Matty McIntyre said. “You never know how you’re going to shoot in the Tacoma Dome, but the kids shot it with confidence. We were attacking virtually the entire 32 minutes.”

Logan Adams led G-Prep with 13 points, six assists, three steals and four rebounds. Devin Culp added 10 points.

G-Prep opened a 38-24 lead by halftime thanks largely to defense and knocking down some big 3-pointers.

The Bullpups got the lead to 16 points early in the third before the Titans rallied within 50-46 with five minutes to go in the fourth.

But G-Prep turned Union back behind freshman Anton Watson, who played just one minute because of foul trouble and a cut above his right eye in the first half. Watson made three baskets including a dunk off a nice pass from Culp.

“I was most pleased with our defensive effort,” McIntyre said. “We got contributions from everybody.”