YAKIMA — King’s junior star Corey Kispert scored a game-high 28 points in a 1A state semifinal Friday, including 17 in a second-half outburst that sealed King’s Way Christian’s fate in a 59-31 victory.
The Knights (23-3) advance to Saturday’s state championship game, where they will look to win their second consecutive title. To get there, they have to get through the Freeman Scotties. The final tips off at 7 p.m.
King’s led King’s Way Christian — also nicknamed the Knights — 23-20 at halftime, but went on a 26-5 run that spanned the third quarter and nearly half of the fourth to salt the game away.
Kispert scored 17 of the 26 points in the spurt, and finished the game shooting 9-for-22 from the field and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. He also added seven rebounds and five steals.
Defensively, King’s held King’s Way Christian to just 11 field goals on 21.6 percent shooting, and King’s Way Christian went just 4-for-30 from the field and 0-for-23 from 3-point range in the second half. King’s also forced 14 turnovers in the game.
Koa Wilkins chipped in 12 points for King’s.
Skyler Freeman led King’s Way Christian (20-3) with 12 points.
King’s Way Christian faces Kalama for third and fifth places at 11:15 a.m. Saturday.
At Yakima Valley SunDome
King’s1581620—59
King’s Way101047—31
King’s—Dawson Porcello 0, Cole Mitchell 5, Christian Lopez 0, Koa Wilkins 12, Josh Frohardt 0, Johnny Foley 0, Karson Dreher 0, Corey Kispert 28, Luke Wicks 0, Sam Echelbarger 8, Chewy Zevenbergen 6, Taylor Schoenfeld 0. King’s Way Christian—Kefentse Cason 2, Judah Smith 4, Darion Lycksell 0, Skyler Freeman 12, Karter Graves 6, Joe Mills 0, Kyler Gonzales 1, Khalfani Cason 0, Kienan Walter 5, Preston Danberg 1, Tony Huser 0, Nick Puicella 0. Records—King’s 23-3 overall. King’s Way Christian 20-3.
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