Wapato spoils Sultan’s return to state
Published 11:18 pm Wednesday, March 11, 2009
YAKIMA — On Wednesday, the Sultan Turks boys basketball team was somewhere it hasn’t been in 48 years, competing in a state tournament.
The Turks and the city of Sultan, which had been celebrating the triumphant return since knocking off Archbishop Murphy in the district playoffs just over a week ago, suffered a dose of reality in the form of a 56-39 defeat at the hands of the Wapato Wolves in the opening round of the 2A state tournament at the Yakima SunDome.
Sultan led twice, 3-0 and 6-3. Other than that, it was a game dominated by the Wolves. Wapato held the Turks to just 25 percent shooting for the game (13-for-52). Sultan coach Nate Trichler attributed the cold shooting to nerves.
The Wolves shot a more respectable 41 percent (19-for-46).
“I think that was a lot of it,” Trichler said of the Turks’ jitters. “More than anything it was us not making shots.”
Senior guard Jordan Nicholes, who averages 23.1 points per game, led Sultan, but even he struggled. Nicholes shot just 6-for-15 from the field and had nine turnovers. Wapato’s defense keyed on Nicholes from the start.
“Defensively stopping or slowing down Nicholes,” Wapato coach Adam Strom said when asked what the key to victory was.
“He showed glimpses of taking over so we went to our box and one,” Strom said.
The Wolves started the game in a man-to-man defense.
Nicholes’ 18 points were offset by Wapato senior guard Willie Blodgett, who also had 18 points.
On paper, the game had star power and the potential to be a run-and-gun, high-scoring affair. But both stars struggled and both teams missed a lot of shots.
Blodgett’s teammates provided more support than Nicholes’ teammates, outscoring Sultan 38-21. Matt Guevara had 17 for the Wolves. The closest Sultan player to Nicholes was senior guard Michael LaMunyon with nine points.
Despite the loss, Sultan was excited to be back in the state tournament.
“It was fun, it was just another game in front of a bigger crowd,” Nicholes said.
Nicholes said the team will be ready to play today.
“This game is over,” he said. “We just put it behind us.”
Trichler’s emotions after Sultan’s long state drought were a bit different.
“To me, it was actually more of a relief to get here. When I took over the program, that was my goal and I thought it would take four or five years to get here, but it ended up taking eight. It took a lot of patience.”
Sultan plays North Mason in the consolation bracket at 12:30 p.m.
“I think we will play a lot better, being out here again, it won’t be new,” Trichler said.
At Yakima SunDome
Sultan1081110—39
Wapato15121118—56
Sultan—Ruddock 2, Barnhill 2, Beebe 2, Knoles 4, LaMunyon 9, T. VandenEkart 2, Hall 0, Nicholes 18. Wapato—Blodgett 18, Nickoloff 4, Alvarado 9, Garza 0, Thomas 2, Truex 0, Ramos 0, Pitt 2, Reynoso 2, Lamebull 0, Howe 0, Guevara 17. 3-pointers—LaMunyon 2, Blodgett 1, Alvarado 2. Records—Sultan 15-10 overall. Wapato 17-6.
