Published: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Jackson punches its ticket to state
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Elizabeth Armstrong/The Herald
Members of the Jackson High School boys basketball team celebrate their victory over Cascade on Friday night.
MARYSVILLE — Jackson isn’t dead. Not even close.
Last weekend, after the Jackson High School boys basketball team blew a 22-point lead and lost a winner-to-state game against Lake Stevens, Jackson coach Steve Johnson heard the naysayers. Within earshot of Johnson, someone muttered Johnson’s Timberwolves were done, predicting they wouldn’t bounce back and advance to the state tournament through the district loser’s bracket.
That presumptuous doubter was soooo wrong.
Sparked by an unselfish attack that produced 15 assists, Jackson beat the Cascade Bruins 66-49 Friday in a winner-to-state, loser-out Class 4A District 1 tournament game at Jim Linden Fieldhouse.
Western Conference South Division champion Jackson (20-4) snared the district’s third and final berth in the 4A state tournament, which opens Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome.
Jackson’s most recent trip to state was in 2006, before the team’s current seniors were in high school.
“The opportunity to get there and to take this senior class there and let them experience it is something that really means the world to me,” Johnson said.
Guided by Johnson, Jackson won a fifth-place trophy in ‘06. The T-wolves, ranked No. 10 in the latest Tacoma News Tribune rankings, hope to snare more top-eight hardware this time.
“They deserve it,” Johnson said of Jackson’s state berth. “I don’t think anyone can doubt that we’re one of the top three teams in the district and I think we proved it bouncing back with two convincing victories after the obviously brutal (district semifinal loss against Lake Stevens).”
Jackson beat South No. 2 seed Mountlake Terrace 66-53 Wednesday to advance to Friday’s clash with Cascade.
Everybody knows about Jackson’s high-scoring guards. Junior Brett Kingma bolstered their reputation by scoring a game-high 21 points (six 3-pointers) in the win over Cascade. But how about the big guys?
Showing patience and precision, Jackson frequently passed the ball inside to players such as forward Austin O’Keefe. The 6-foot-4 junior tallied 15 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds and, along with forwards Mike Wishko (6-4) and Andy Gay (6-5), gave Jackson consistent strength inside.
“It feels great,” said O’Keefe, who scored all seven of his baskets from within 5 feet. “We’ve been underrated all year and then finally to come in and get the big win — we all contributed. All three of us bigs stepped up.”
Jackson had a fantastic start and built a 34-23 lead by halftime. It twice led by 14 points in the half (22-8 and 25-11). Cascade responded midway through the second quarter and cut the deficit to six when Chris McGrath drained a 3 from the middle. But Jackson scored the final five points of the half.
After Gay’s power layin on an assist from guard Ryan Todd (12 points, three assists), Jackson got the ball with about 5 seconds left. Kingma took the ball up the left side, spun away from a defender and swished a 3-pointer from the left wing just before time expired.
The Bruins, seeded third from the Wesco North, made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and finished with a record of 15-9. Seniors Jamieson McDaniels (18 points) and Jordan Garrett (12 points) were Cascade’s top scorers.
“Our guys reached their goals,” Cascade coach Jamar Williams said, “so they have nothing to hang their heads about.”
After winning a total of 13 games over the previous three seasons, the Bruins won 15 times in 2009-2010. “They brought pride and tradition back to Cascade,” Williams said.
McGrath, a four-year varsity standout, played his final game as a Bruin. He looked fatigued and finished with just seven points, all in the first half. But the prolific guard got to end his career on the court instead of the sideline.
He suffered a severe ankle sprain on Feb. 5 that initially appeared would end his season. McGrath rehabbed diligently, though, and returned for his team’s final two games.
“That’s how you build a program,” Williams said of McGrath. “You want guys like that in your program that bring it every day — whether it’s practice or game situations — that are positive, that are good teammates (and) that are encouraging.”
At Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.
Cascade 8 15 17 9 — 49
Jackson 22 12 20 12 — 66
Cascade: McGrath 7, Hancock 5, Garrett 12, McDaniels 18, Barton 1, Jackson 2, Cline 2, Bruce 2, Nelson. Jackson: Kingma 21, Todd 12, Massengale 6, O’Keefe 15, Wishko 4, Gay 6, Gilchrist 2, Dineen, Rucker. 3-point goals-McGrath 1, Hancock 1, McDaniels 2, Kingma 6. Records-Cascade 15-9. Jackson 20-4.
Last weekend, after the Jackson High School boys basketball team blew a 22-point lead and lost a winner-to-state game against Lake Stevens, Jackson coach Steve Johnson heard the naysayers. Within earshot of Johnson, someone muttered Johnson’s Timberwolves were done, predicting they wouldn’t bounce back and advance to the state tournament through the district loser’s bracket.
That presumptuous doubter was soooo wrong.
Sparked by an unselfish attack that produced 15 assists, Jackson beat the Cascade Bruins 66-49 Friday in a winner-to-state, loser-out Class 4A District 1 tournament game at Jim Linden Fieldhouse.
Western Conference South Division champion Jackson (20-4) snared the district’s third and final berth in the 4A state tournament, which opens Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome.
Jackson’s most recent trip to state was in 2006, before the team’s current seniors were in high school.
“The opportunity to get there and to take this senior class there and let them experience it is something that really means the world to me,” Johnson said.
Guided by Johnson, Jackson won a fifth-place trophy in ‘06. The T-wolves, ranked No. 10 in the latest Tacoma News Tribune rankings, hope to snare more top-eight hardware this time.
“They deserve it,” Johnson said of Jackson’s state berth. “I don’t think anyone can doubt that we’re one of the top three teams in the district and I think we proved it bouncing back with two convincing victories after the obviously brutal (district semifinal loss against Lake Stevens).”
Jackson beat South No. 2 seed Mountlake Terrace 66-53 Wednesday to advance to Friday’s clash with Cascade.
Everybody knows about Jackson’s high-scoring guards. Junior Brett Kingma bolstered their reputation by scoring a game-high 21 points (six 3-pointers) in the win over Cascade. But how about the big guys?
Showing patience and precision, Jackson frequently passed the ball inside to players such as forward Austin O’Keefe. The 6-foot-4 junior tallied 15 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds and, along with forwards Mike Wishko (6-4) and Andy Gay (6-5), gave Jackson consistent strength inside.
“It feels great,” said O’Keefe, who scored all seven of his baskets from within 5 feet. “We’ve been underrated all year and then finally to come in and get the big win — we all contributed. All three of us bigs stepped up.”
Jackson had a fantastic start and built a 34-23 lead by halftime. It twice led by 14 points in the half (22-8 and 25-11). Cascade responded midway through the second quarter and cut the deficit to six when Chris McGrath drained a 3 from the middle. But Jackson scored the final five points of the half.
After Gay’s power layin on an assist from guard Ryan Todd (12 points, three assists), Jackson got the ball with about 5 seconds left. Kingma took the ball up the left side, spun away from a defender and swished a 3-pointer from the left wing just before time expired.
The Bruins, seeded third from the Wesco North, made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and finished with a record of 15-9. Seniors Jamieson McDaniels (18 points) and Jordan Garrett (12 points) were Cascade’s top scorers.
“Our guys reached their goals,” Cascade coach Jamar Williams said, “so they have nothing to hang their heads about.”
After winning a total of 13 games over the previous three seasons, the Bruins won 15 times in 2009-2010. “They brought pride and tradition back to Cascade,” Williams said.
McGrath, a four-year varsity standout, played his final game as a Bruin. He looked fatigued and finished with just seven points, all in the first half. But the prolific guard got to end his career on the court instead of the sideline.
He suffered a severe ankle sprain on Feb. 5 that initially appeared would end his season. McGrath rehabbed diligently, though, and returned for his team’s final two games.
“That’s how you build a program,” Williams said of McGrath. “You want guys like that in your program that bring it every day — whether it’s practice or game situations — that are positive, that are good teammates (and) that are encouraging.”
At Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.
Cascade 8 15 17 9 — 49
Jackson 22 12 20 12 — 66
Cascade: McGrath 7, Hancock 5, Garrett 12, McDaniels 18, Barton 1, Jackson 2, Cline 2, Bruce 2, Nelson. Jackson: Kingma 21, Todd 12, Massengale 6, O’Keefe 15, Wishko 4, Gay 6, Gilchrist 2, Dineen, Rucker. 3-point goals-McGrath 1, Hancock 1, McDaniels 2, Kingma 6. Records-Cascade 15-9. Jackson 20-4.
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