Montesano and Elma battled it out in an East County Rivalry game to determine who moves on to state, and who’s season comes to an end as we review boys prep playoff basketball games on the Harbor.
BOYS PREP BASKETBALL
Montesano 63, Elma 54
Montesano advanced to the 1A State Tournament with a 63-54 victory over Elma in the 1A District 4 Tournament third-place game in front of a packed house on Saturday at Hoquiam High School.
In one of the most anticipated East County Rivalry games in recent memory, the Bulldogs (19-6 overall) and Eagles (15-9) played close throughout the first three quarters.
Monte held a 20-14 lead after closing the first quarter on back-to-back offensive rebound-putbacks by senior Cam Taylor.
Elma would tie the game early in the second frame on a three by senior guard Cason Seaberg, but Monte responded with a 7-0 run capped by another Taylor rebound and putback for a 27-20 lead with four minutes left in the first half.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma senior guard Cason Seaberg (22) drives to the hoop against Montesano’s Tyce Peterson (23) and Cam Taylor during the Bulldogs’ 63-54 win in the 1A District 4 third-place game on Saturday at Hoquiam High School.
The Eagles got back to within a point after Seaberg found senior forward AJ Holmes, who scored on on a 360-pivot layup and foul shot, followed by a jumper from Elma junior guard Theo Flores to cut Monte’s lead to 27-26.
The teams traded baskets before Monte senior Gabe Bodwell netted a three with 0:22 on the clock to close out the first half with the Bulldogs up 32-28.
Monte’s lead stayed within five points throughout much of the third quarter until another Bodwell three with just over a minute left put the Bulldogs up 52-36.
Taylor followed with an offensive board and putback for a 44-36 lead Monte would take into the final quarter.
Monte gained its first double-digit lead when junior guard Delon Chan scored on a pull-up jump shot and the 6:12 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs would extend the lead to 15 when Chan hit what appeared to be a dagger three to make it a 55-40 game with 3:56 left.
“We got up on their scorers and made their shots a little bit deeper, a little bit tougher,” Monte head coach Leonard Barnes said of his team’s keys to extending its lead. “On offense, we started doing some more motion stuff to move the ball because (Elma head coach) Matt Ferrier’s teams always play great defense. They were giving us some issues there so we made a couple of adjustment to what we did.”
But Elma wasn’t done yet.
The Eagles ramped up its press defense and embarked on an 11-2 run, with Seaberg scoring nine points in the spree. The high-scoring standout guard’s breakaway layup capped the run and put Elma back within striking distance at 57-51 with 1:22 left in the game.
“I think we just got rushed and we were all panicking a little bit,” Monte senior forward Tyce Peterson said of Elma’s comeback run. “We’ve never really been in that scenario, especially in districts, so we had to calm ourselves down and make sure we were in the moment and not in our heads.”
Fortunes did not favor the Eagles late in the game, as Elma’s pressure defense created four straight Monte miscues, but it resulted in an Eagles turnover and three traveling calls against Elma, taking the wind out from under the Eagles’ wings.
With Elma forced to foul, Monte converted 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch – with Peterson going a perfect 4 f0r 4 in the final minute – to ice the game and send Montesano to the state-tournament.
“We went about three-and-a-half minutes without scoring and that’s when they took off,” Ferrier said. “We just played from behind from that point in time. We knew we couldn’t go more than two possessions without matching a score with them and that was the game plan. Unfortunately, we waited until the fourth quarter to do it. It was completely disappointing.”
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano junior guard Delon Chan (21) shoots over Elma’s Grant Vessey (4) during the Bulldogs’ 63-54 win in the 1A District 4 third-place game on Saturday at Hoquiam High School.
Montesano was led by Chan (20 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds), Bodwell (17 pts., 11 reb.) and Peterson (15 pts., 3 reb., 8-10 FT). Taylor added nine points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs.
“First time all year Chan, Gabe and Tyce: 15 points or more from three guys. It’s pretty phenomenal to have that kind of presence,” Barnes said. “Cam Taylor and Gabe Bodwell, their presence on the boards was phenomenal.”
The Bulldogs shot 52% from the field on 24-of-46 shooting and had 30 rebounds and 13 turnovers as a team.
Elma was led by Seaberg, who had 27 points, four rebounds and four steals.
The Eagles hit 22-of-60 from the field (37%), including 4 of 23 from the 3-point line (17%), to go along with 25 rebounds and 12 turnovers as a team.
With the win, Montesano advances to the state tournament, where it will take on No. 13 Sultan as a No. 12 seed in a regional elimination game scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Tumwater High School.
“It’s always been a dream to go to state and last year, frankly, I didn’t think it was going to happen,” said Peterson. “Going 4-16 to now – this is our 19th win – so we’ve really turned it around. A lot of kudos to Coach Barnes and a lot of kudos to us. I know personally I’ve put in so much work and put in countless hours in the gym and this is paying it off. … I’m so happy right now.”
“It’s pretty exciting,” Barnes said. “The kids are excited, the coaches are excited, the community is excited. It’s a huge step for Bulldogs basketball and Montesano High School. I’m just so excited for the players, the school, the students. They are here supporting us and I love our family of players and students at Monte. Go Dogs!”
One season removed from a trip to the district final and a state-tournament berth, Elma’s season ends with the gut-wrenching loss.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma junior guard Traden Carter (0) looks to draw a foul against Montesano’s Gabe Bodwell (12) during the Bulldogs’ 63-54 win in the 1A District 4 third-place game on Saturday at Hoquiam High School.
“Obviously, our expectations were humongous for this group after last year. They knew it and had a lot of weight on their shoulders all season long,” Ferrier said. “They felt the pressure, the coaching staff felt the pressure and as young men they did a great job of handling that much stress. I thought this was the best game we played in districts. … Obviously, our energy, effort and strength and what we tried to do, battle-wise, was awesome.”
With the stinging pain of the loss still evident in his eyes, Ferrier took time to praise his seven outgoing seniors – Seaberg, Holmes, Grant Vessey, Carter Studer, Wesley Murray, Jacob Meadows, Jackson Schneider – and his coaching staff.
“All seven of my seniors were fantastic and (assistant coaches) Jason Olsen and Carter Avery have been huge over the last two years in this rebuild,” he said.
Elma 14 14 8 18 – 54
Montesano 20 12 12 19 – 63
Scoring: Elma – Seaberg 27, Holmes 8, Carter 7, Studer 7, Flores 5. Montesano – Chan 20, Bodwell 17, Peterson 15, Taylor 9, Damasiewicz 2.
Other games
1B District 4 Tournament
Oakville 52, Taholah 49 (Taholah eliminated)
