Timberline uses free throws to beat Kentridge, 62-54, in 4A WCD 3 fifth-place game
The Timberline Blazers boys basketball team did not make a shot from the field in the fourth quarter, but shot 22 free throws and made enough of them to hold off Kentridge, 62-54, in a Class 4A West Central District 3 seeding game Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School.
Timberline shot no free throws at all in the first half, but scored 15 points from the line in the final period, including 5 of 6 attempts by sophomore guard Eli Morton.
The Blazers held the Chargers’ three leading scorers to two points apiece in the final period.
With the victory, their fourth in five postseason games, the Blazers (16-8) earned the No. 5 West Central seed to 4A state regionals. Kentridge (15-11) moves on to the 4A state regionals as the district’s No. 6 seed.
Senior Jarryn Bush scored a game-high 19 points for the Blazers, including seven points in the third quarter, as his team overcame a two-point halftime deficit to lead, 47-43, heading down the stretch.
Timberline coach Allen Thomas said the postseason, during which Bush has averaged 19.3 in his past three games, has brought out the 6-foot-2 senior’s will to score after a season showing his leadership mostly in other ways.
“He’s brought that senior mentality,” Thomas said. “’I don’t want to lose. I don’t want to go home.’”
Bush picked up some of the scoring slack from the Blazers’ season scoring leader, sophomore Erik Stevenson, who scored four points Saturday.
“He was doing a good job sharing the ball, getting it inside to Jarryn and Jaelen Bush,” Thomas said of Stevenson. “He’s just trying to follow the model we’ve followed all season: ‘We’ is greater than ‘me.’ ”
Morton finished with 10 points — five in the first quarter, including a three-pointer, and the five foul shots in the fourth. Junior Jaelyn Bush contributed nine points.
Junior guard Jake Williams, compensating for the absence of starter Austin Curry, resting a hip injury, good moments in a tight third quarter, including a steal and fastbreak layup and a three-point basket that accounted for his five points.
Morton finished with 10 points — five points in the first quarter, including a three-pointer, and the five foul shots in the fourth. Junior Jaelen Bush contributed nine points for Timberline.
Kentridge of the South Puget Sound League was led by the 14 points apiece of Ethan Walker and Joran Ticeson. Elijah Ticeson chipped in 12 points.
Timberline and Kentridge will play either Feb. 26 or 27 at sites to be determined.
This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 10:10 PM with the headline "Timberline uses free throws to beat Kentridge, 62-54, in 4A WCD 3 fifth-place game."