By JOEL SCHOENBERG

For The Beachcomber

Coach Andy Sears and the Pirates varsity basketball team had a great run at the Les Schwab Holiday Hoopfest tournament in snowy Bend, Oregon, over the holiday break. The tournament included solid athletic effort from the Pirates, including a thrilling overtime victory over Bend High School. But the week ended with a tough loss to the Summit High School Storm on their home court in a game that was competitive to the very end.

The Pirates wrapped up 2015 non-league play with a record of 10-2 and move on to play Nisqually League opponents in January and February, fighting for the chance to appear again in the 2016 WIAA Hardwood Classic state basketball tournament.

In the first game of the tournament, Monday, Dec. 28, Vashon battled hard to defeat Sherwood High School (Oregon). The first quarter was a back and forth battle between two well-matched athletic teams. Coach Sears started the game with a full-court press that disrupted Sherwood’s offense. At the end of the first quarter, Sam Schoenberg drained a three at the buzzer for the tie at 14-14. Vashon’s half-court game was solid for the second quarter, yielding a one-point lead at the half: 28-27.

In the second half, Vashon’s zone defense strengthened, and Sherwood had trouble penetrating the lane. Meanwhile, Sean Delargy took the ball low for three straight post-up baskets and several laser passes to Alex Symbol, ending the third quarter with a 46-38 lead for Vashon.

After adjustments to its offense, Sherwood managed to post-up for some points themselves and claw back to a two-point deficit. But as the clock wound down, Sherwood couldn’t keep up with the sharp passing and ball control skills of Vashon. With the 59-53 victory, Vashon moved on to face local team, Bend High School, in the second round on Tuesday evening.

The home crowd for Bend High School turned out for game two of the Les Schwab Holiday Hoopfest despite the fresh snow and cold temperatures, but Vashon overcame to take the thrilling overtime victory and move on to the championship game the next day.

Vashon started out tentative on offense and unable to contain Bend on defense, leading to an 11-19 deficit at the end of the first. Foul trouble put Symbol on the bench for much of the second quarter, but Josh Tillman came out and picked up right where Symbol left off with solid defense, rebounding and low-post scoring. With a physical blocked shot by Schoenberg near the basket, the tide turned for the Pirates and set an aggressive defensive tone that carried the team through the rest of the quarter.

Offensively, Delargy drained multiple three pointers, gathered rebounds and was involved in almost every play. With Delargy’s 16 points in the quarter, the Pirates built a 36-31 lead at the half and carried great momentum into the locker room.

The Pirates came out strong to try and keep that momentum going, but Bend worked harder and built a small lead midway into the third. Symbol was whistled with another marginal foul that sent him to the bench for another long spell. The Pirates squeaked out a 51-51 tie on clean free-throw shooting from Delargy to end the third quarter.

Edgar Polkat started the fourth with a torrent of scrambling for rebounds and sharp shooting, and Vashon built a small lead. Sam Yates continued his super long-range heat with three-point shots that got the Vashon families who made the trip to Bend, Oregon, on their feet and cheering loudly.

But Bend came back to hit a three pointer and came within two points with just one minute left in the game. Both teams were sharp from distance, but Vashon was best with hitting 11 from beyond the arc, while Bend hit a respectable but insufficient 10 from three-point range.

After Vashon gave up the ball to Bend in a scramble at mid-court, Bend tied the game on a quick baseline jumper with 50 seconds left. Vashon then took the inbounds pass and held the ball for the last shot of regulation, passing crisply around the perimeter. Vashon couldn’t convert the long three pointer to win it, taking the game to overtime.

Overtime started great for Vashon with Yates burying a deep three- pointer off the glass, setting the tone for the team. Bend initially managed to keep up with Vashon’s quick play, but the Pirates fought hard through very physical fouls on Yates and Symbol from Bend’s scrappy defenders.

The Pirates converted foul shots and kept tight on defense to secure a thrilling 76-73 overtime victory against local favorite Bend High School and moved on to the championship game on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

That game concluded with a close loss for Vashon against the home team Summit High School in a hard- fought battle down to the last few minutes.

Summit started strong with three straight baskets working the low post and didn’t let up much for the rest of the first half. Delargy continued his tournament hot streak with steals and ball control. Symbol also continued to score in the low post, but was swarmed with defenders for much of the first half. At the start of the second quarter, Polkat scored with two quick baskets, and Yates worked the perimeter for his signature deep three-point shot, and the half ended at 21-16.

Vashon came out from the halftime break and fought back hard to tie the game 21-21 midway through the third on a Delargy drive to the basket. After yielding more fast break points to Summit, Symbol nailed a buzzer beater three-point basket, and Vashon was down 31-29 at the end of three.

Vashon continued to scrap for rebounds and hit deep perimeter shots and with 2:40 left in the game found themselves tied with the 6A school out of Bend. But with excellent ball control skills and solid free-throw shooting, Summit carried the day, defeating Vashon 53-46 and taking the championship trophy.

The Pirates play at Seattle Christian at 7 p.m. Friday and play at home next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, against Bellevue Christian.

— Joel Schoenberg is the father of a Pirate basketball player. .