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Boys basketball: Late run allows undefeated Freeman to clinch 1A regional

Gonzaga Prep’s Jacob Parola (10) heads to the basket for a layup as Sunnyside’s Art Salacious (3) and Ismael Zavala (45) defend during the first half of a WIAA 4A regional playoff basketball game, Fri., Feb. 23, 2018, at University High School. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga Prep’s Jacob Parola (10) heads to the basket for a layup as Sunnyside’s Art Salacious (3) and Ismael Zavala (45) defend during the first half of a WIAA 4A regional playoff basketball game, Fri., Feb. 23, 2018, at University High School. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

The two-time state runners-up and undefeated Freeman Scotties got a pretty good workout for a while on Friday night.

An 11-point first-half lead was whittled to one early in the third quarter by seventh-seeded Cascade Christian.

The No. 2 seed Scotties turned it back on in the fourth quarter and closed the game out on a 17-7 run to pull away with a 57-42 victory in a 1A regional game at University HS on Friday.

“They’re a good team, well coached,” Freeman coach Marty Jessett said. “They really challenged us.”

Michael Coumont led Freeman (23-0) with 22 points, Jackson Clark added 14 points with 10 rebounds and Quin Hopkins pitched in with 11 points.

“Hopkins hit some big buckets,” Jessett said. “Obviously, Michael (Coumont) had a number of them and Clark got a couple of putbacks. We’ve got a lot of guys who can score, so it’s hard to focus on one.”

Corbin Nohr led Cascade Christian with 13 points and Dylan Cooley added 10.

Freeman plays on Thursday at 2 p.m. in a state quarterfinal at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Cascade Christian (14-9) faces a state first-round elimination matchup on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Freeman got out to an 18-9 lead after the first quarter following an 8-2 spurt evenly split by Coumont, including a long 3, and Clark.

The Cougars chipped away and got the deficit down to six at intermission, then at the start of the third bit into it a little more.

Nohr converted a three-point play, and then a floater by Parker Johnson made it 30-29 with just more than 5 minutes left in the third. After Hopkins scored on a fastbreak, Jessett called timeout.

After the break, Freeman scored the next four points to make it a six-point run.

Early in the fourth, Clark hit back-to-back jumpers in the lane, and Coumont threw down a two-handed slam on a fastbreak with just less than 4 minutes left to push the Scotties’ lead to 48-39.

“We want to get it done this time,” Jessett said of finishing second at state the past two seasons. “With all that’s happened since last season, we’d love to get it done for the whole community for a lot of reasons.”

King’s 57, Lakeside 35: Micah Holmes scored 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting but the No. 9 seed Eagles (14-11) were eliminated by the 16th-seeded Knights (16-11) in a 1A regional at Medical Lake HS. Elon Zedenbergen scored a game-high 22 points for King’s on 9-of-15 shooting. King’s play on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in a first-round elimination game at the SunDome.

1B

Yakama Tribal: 56, Pomeroy 50 Jake Tewalt scored 28 points, but the fifth-seeded Pirates (20-3) fell to the No. 4 seed Eagles (20-5) in a 1B regional at Davis HS in Yakima.

Bryce Strom scored 19 points for Yakima Tribal, which plays on Thursday at 9 a.m. in a state quarterfinal at the Spokane Arena while Pomeroy faces a state first-round elimination game on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m.

Sunnyside Christian 55, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 36: Kyler Marsh scored 16 points and the top-seeded Knights (23-1) downed the eighth-seeded Warriors (18-6) in a 1B regional at Eisenhower HS in Yakima. Payton Nielson led ACH with 11 points.

Sunnyside Christian plays on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in a state quarterfinal at the Spokane Arena while ACH faces a state first-round elimination game on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Idaho

Moscow 56, Lakeland 46: Gabe Quinnett scored 23 points and the Bears (10-13) eliminated the visiting Hawks (13-8) to win the three-game 4A District I-II championship series 2-0. Josiah Haaland led Lakeland with 15 points. Moscow earns the district’s lone berth to the state tournament and faces the District 3 second seed on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Borah HS.

Timberlake 75, Bonners Ferry 56: Jacob James scored 19 points and the Tigers (9-13) defeated the visiting Badgers (10-12) in the 3A District I second-place game. Seth Bateman led Bonners Ferry with 11 points. Timberlake earns the district’s second seed at the state tournament and faces District 5 champion Snake River on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Meridian HS.

Genesis Prep 82, Lakeside 34: Jonny Hillman scored 22 points and the Jaguars (19-4) eliminated the Knights (13-9) in the 1A Division II District I championship game at Lakeland HS in Rathdrum. DayDay Higgins and Kenyon SpottedHorse led Lakeside with seven points apiece. Genesis Prep earns the district’s lone seed to the state tournament and faces District 3 champion Council on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Rocky Mountain HS.