No. 1 River Ridge survives No. 4 Squalicum, advances to 2A state tournament

The Hawks can breathe a bit easier after that one.

In a wire-to-wire Class 2A state regional, top-ranked River Ridge squeaked by No. 4 Squalicum, 63-57, to book a trip to Yakima next week.

“Yeah, we’re going to celebrate,” coach John Barbee said.

With good reason.

Friday’s matchup at Puyallup High School was about as close to a state championship as a regional can get.

“I hope we can actually get there so we have the comparison, but that was just a great game, great team,” Barbee said. “We’re very identical. Our kids fought, they fought.”

Back and forth for the duration. The lead changed six times, and never extended beyond the 9-point lead Squalicum built in the first quarter when Damek Mitchell hit back-to-back baskets.

Mitchell led all scorers with 25 points, and the Storm pulled down a handful of offensive rebounds to create an advantage early.

“That first half they kicked our butt on the boards, and I thought we did a nice job in the second half,” Barbee said. “They outrebounded us in the first half on the offensive and overall, and that’s been our staple. I think down the stretch we had some big-time rebounds.”

And some big-time shots.

Kelle Sanders hit a short jumper off of a deflected in-bounds pass at the halftime buzzer to give the Hawks a two-point lead at the break.

River Ridge held a steady lead until Mitchell hit three straight free throws with four minutes, 54 seconds to go in the fourth to make it 50-49 for Squalicum.

But Issiah Scott would answer with two 3-pointers.

“We think we’re the best team on game day,” he said. “So we’ve got to beat everybody to be the best.”

Scott and Jaden White led River Ridge with 15 points apiece, and combined for all seven of the Hawks’ 3-pointers. White had four, Scott had three.

“As long as we get it into the paint and are able to kick it out, more than half of the time it’s a good shot,” White said. “And I can always rely on him to knock one down, and he can always rely on me. As long as we’re driving and kicking, we’re good the entire way.”

Scott’s contested 3-pointer from the right corner made it 55-54 with 1:37 to play. Squalicum never regained the lead.

The Storm missed four of its final five shots from the field, and River Ridge hit eight of 10 free throws — by four different players — in the final minute to ice it.

“Basketball is so much about fundamentals and free throws are one of those fundamentals,” Barbee said. “Our guys did a good job. Center stage, this is what you dream about.”

But no dreaming for the Hawks. They’re headed back to Yakima for the second straight year to chase a title.

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 10:36 PM with the headline "No. 1 River Ridge survives No. 4 Squalicum, advances to 2A state tournament."