MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The Tulalip Heritage boys basketball team is returning to the state tournament for the second time in three years.
With a 61-45 drubbing of Clallam Bay Feb. 17 in the tournament semifinal game at Mountlake Terrace, the Heritage boys demonstrated patience and teamwork, pulling away from the Bruins with a 16-0 run in the third quarter. They earned the No. 1 seed out of the district with a 68-58 defeat of North Sound Christian Feb. 21.
This team and the one that placed second at the 1B state basketball tournament two years ago have a lot of differences. This Heritage team is younger and has more players who can shoot the ball. Whereas that team depending on big numbers from big shooters like Lesjar McKinney and Antonio Robinson, this one can get double-digit contributions from at least four players on a routine basis. Against Clallam Bay, McKinney led all scorers with 19 points, shooting 60 percent from the free-throw line.
But the team also got 17 points and six assists from Shawn Comenote and 11 points from James WhiteBear and is capable of similar performances from junior Keith Davis, who had eight against the Bruins.
They’re also more mature than the 2006-07 team. Instead of getting incensed by aggressive Bruin defense and the hard-fought stretches of the game, the Hawks kept their heads.
“When we were down, (head coach) Marlin (Fryberg) called a time out,” said assistant coach Dale Jones, who was with the program through the last state tournament run as well. “These guys are going to be physical,” they told the players. “Keep focused on what got us here.”
What the two teams have in common is McKinney, who had the state tournament’s highest per-game scoring average two years ago. He has matured too, from merely a sharpshooter, into a leader. After that run and the team’s late-season surge to the league championship, eyes are on him.
“It’s a pleasure to play with these guys,” McKinney said. “Anyone can shoot it.”
The boys travel to Yakima to compete in the 1B state tournament, Feb. 25-28. The bracket will be available at http://www.wiaa.com/athletics/basketball/. Click on 1B tournament info.
