By JOEL SCHOENBERG
For The Beachcomber
The Vashon High School boys’ basketball team played two games last week, both ending in victories for the league-leading Pirates who are now 4-0 against their Nisqually League opponents.
At press time, there were four more games left in the regular season, all important in the Pirates’ quest to repeat as conference champions. The first of the games was after press time Tuesday night against the Seattle Christian Warriors. The team will play Bellevue Christian in an away game on Friday.
Pirates vs. Cascade Christian
The first game of last week was an overtime thriller in Puyallup against Cascade Christian on Wednesday night, where the Pirates outlasted the physical play of the Cougars to seize a key away-court victory. The game started late due to the amazing comeback victory from the Vashon girls’ basketball team, which set an exciting tone for a fantastic night of prep basketball.
As in previous games, the Pirates’ full-court press played a part in the boys’ favorable outcome, with Vashon forcing turnovers, shot-clock violations and converting steals into layup baskets. Cascade Christian was unable to get much offense rolling and didn’t even score until halfway through the first period.
Vashon held an 11-5 lead at the start of the second quarter, but Cascade Christian awoke with sophomore Dylan Cooley sinking a quick three-pointer. Vashon junior Casper Forest responded and owned the waning minutes of the first half, with a sneaky steal leading to fast break points and a pretty fadeaway jump shot that left Vashon up 21-16.
In the second half, the Cougars came out with speed and determination, and clawed their way back into the lead on the shooting of their senior Jesse Howells, who scored 14 points that night. But Pirate senior and team captain Sam Yates was not going to let them get too far ahead as he racked up a team-leading 16 points. By the end of the third, Vashon was down three points to the Cougars, 32-29.
The fourth quarter saw multiple fouls on both teams, each trying to gain the physical edge. The Cougars had the worst of it though, and junior Tyler Fox fouled out with two minutes left in regulation. Pirate Sean Delargy scored four straight points with a jumper and a baseline bank shot that brought the game to tie at 40 points each. After a streaking layup from Vashon’s Yates, Cascade Christian’s Howells managed to sink a baby hook with six seconds left and send the game to overtime at 42-42.
In the extra period, Vashon stayed aggressive with senior Edgar Polkat coverting a three-point play after being fouled on a layup. After the Cougars answered, Yates elevated fiercely to put back an offensive rebound for the lead and bring the Vashon fans that made the trip to Puyallup, to their feet.
As the clock wound down and the Cougars were pressuring hard on defense anticipating an upset of the Pirates, senior Sam Schoenberg spotted up well beyond the arc and hit a devastating three-point shot to take the lead and dash the hopes of the Cougar faithful.
As the Cougars hustled to reply with their own shot, Schoenberg wrested the ball away, was immediately fouled, then sank a free throw shot to seal the game for Vashon, 49-44.
The Pirates play the Cougars again Friday, Feb. 5, at home.
Pirates vs. Charles Wright Academy
The Charles Wright Academy Tarriers came to Vashon for the second game of the week on Friday. The contest was hard fought by both teams, but the superior speed, shooting and defense of the Pirates was too much for the younger Tarriers, and the Pirates went home with a 56-33 victory.
Vashon started with full-court press and hounding defense to force multiple turnovers. And, after shaking off a few jump shot misses from distance, the Pirates managed to find the rhythm and went up 24-11 at the half.
The Pirates were determined to not repeat their recent pattern of starting slow in the second half and came out with a swarming defense that kept the possessions coming for Vashon. But with two straight three points shots from Tarriers sophomore Henry Lenaburg, Charles Wright had some hope heading into the final period down 35-24.
That optimism was shattered when Pirate Yates split the double-teaming defenders on a drive to the basket, scored despite being fouled and then hit the “and-one” free throw. Yates hit his stride and sank multiple deep three-point shots, midrange jumpers and freethrows to ice the game for Vashon, 56-33.
The Pirates’ most recent victories came on the heels of two games the previous week, which they split, easily defeating Bellevue Christian but losing a hard-fought, non-league game to Lindbergh High School, 46-43, at the King Showcase basketball event at the ShoWare Center on Jan. 18.
The Pirates’ regular season will end at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
— Joel Schoenberg is the father of a Pirate basketball player.
