Sultan’s trip to 2A boys basketball state tournament whistled to a stop

Published 1:50 pm Friday, March 13, 2009

YAKIMA — It’s safe to say the Sultan Turks didn’t plan things this way. Sure, this was a team that hadn’t made it to the state tournament at any level since 1961, but surely things wouldn’t end like this.

But they did.

The Turks were eliminated on the second day of the 2A boys state basketball tournament with a 62-46 loss to the North Mason Bulldogs.

The Turks, coming off a tough loss to sixth-ranked Wapato, didn’t see things get much easier in the consolation bracket when they met up with third-ranked North Mason on Thursday. But, aside from a shaky first quarter, Sultan looked poised for a potential upset.

Then the whistles took over, fouling out Sultan’s top four scorers on the day: Jordan Nicholes (15 points), Zach Beebe (13 points), Michael LaMunyon (11 points) and Matty Ruddock (five points). Nicholes and LaMunyon are the team’s leading scorers on the season, averaging 23.1 and 11.3, respectively.

Things looked bleak when Nicholes, the team’s star senior guard, was the first to leave. Just after a driving lay-up by LaMunyon cut the North Mason lead to 43-40, Nicholes was called for a reach-in foul with 5 minutes, 17 seconds remaining.

Nicholes had been called for charges previously in the game, two of which took away driving lay-ups.

“I was a little hesitant in the lane because it seemed liked every time it was a foul,” Nicholes said after the game.

Sultan could have folded after losing Nicholes, but it didn’t. Coach Nate Trichler praised his team all season for being a “team” and the players showed that kind of heart on Thursday.

LaMunyon hit a field goal, keeping it close, as did Theo VandenEkart.

Then, with the score 52-46 in favor of North Mason, Beebe was the next to depart. He picked up his fifth foul with 2:57 remaining.

But the Turks still had LaMunyon … for another 33 seconds. LaMunyon picked up his final foul with 2:24 remaining. Ruddock fouled out shortly after.

North Mason started to pull away after that, finishing the game on a 10-0 run.

In all, North Mason shot 40 free throws, Sultan shot 19.

“It’s hard to beat a team that shoots 40 free throws,” Trichler said.

In the first half, when Nicholes and his teammates were struggling to find offensive rhythm, it was Beebe who gave them a boost, scoring eight of his 13 in the first half, including all four Sultan first-quarter points.

“He’s been doing that all year,” Trichler said.

For the second straight game Sultan did not shoot the ball well either, shooting just 31.4 percent (16-for-51).

After the game Nicholes and Trichler expressed a mutual admiration for each other.

“Trichler has taught me so much, he’s taught me how to be a winner,” Nicholes said.

“It’s been a pleasure to coach a kid with that kind of work ethic and that kind of heart,” Trichler said.

Despite fouling out with most of the fourth quarter still remaining, Nicholes remained energetic on the bench, cheering on his teammates to make a comeback. Even in the final minutes with the outcome no longer in doubt he was cheering on one of his teammates who entered the game late to get on the scoreboard.

Despite going 0-2 in the state tournament, this will forever be the team that got Sultan to state after a 48 years absence.

“It felt great, it felt special to be a part of the team that got us here, and hopefully start some sort of a tradition here for years to come,” Nicholes said.

“I’m so proud of them, they have done something that hasn’t been done in 48 years, they deserve better; I wish I could give them more is a better way of putting it.” Trichler said.

At Yakima SunDome

Sultan4151710—46

North Mason13131521—62

Sultan—Ruddock 5, E. VandenEkert 0, Barnhill 0, Beebe 13, Cotterill 0, Knoles 0, LaMunyon 11, Hatton 0, T. VandenEkart 2, Pruitt 0, Hall 0, Nicholes 15. North Mason—Casteel 0, Bielec 0, Button 4, Skogstad 18, McMinn 0, Geyer 6, Guimont 11, Hannifious 2, Baker 2, Fullington 19. 3-pointers—Ruddock 1, Nicholes 1, Skogstad 2, Geyer 2, Guimont 1. Records—Sultan 15-11 overall. North Mason 20-4.