EDMONDS — Winning close games takes good execution in the late moments, which is exactly why the Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball team was able to slip past Kamiak on Tuesday night.
With the score tied and a little over one minute to play, the Warriors were able to convert five of six free throws, nab the rebound of their one missed free throw and get two other offensive rebounds, and force Kamiak into two turnovers while committing none themselves.
The result was a 47-42 non-conference victory for Edmonds-Woodway, which improved to 2-1 in the young season.
“These guys don’t have a lot of varsity experience,” said Warriors coach Robert Horton. “So to come through a game like this against Kamiak, which is a pretty good team, (and win) by making free throws, by not throwing the ball away and by not making stupid plays, that’s a step in the right direction.”
Down the stretch, he added, “we figured out a way to win the game, which is important for a young team like we are.”
The Warriors have only three players with significant varsity experience _ guards Tre-var Holland and Jordan Rice, and guard/forward Brady Edwards _ and the six players who scored against Kamiak were all underclassmen.
So they are indeed young, as Horton pointed out, “and as a coaching staff we understand that we’re going to make mistakes. But we’re going to try to learn from those mistakes … and take little steps so we can become a better team every time we take the court.”
With the score 40-40 and a little over a minute to play, Rice (who scored all of the team’s final seven points) got the first two with an 8-foot double-clutch jumper from right of the key. The Warriors then used a press to force Kamiak into a turnover without getting the ball out of backcourt.
Rice was fouled with 23 seconds remaining and made two free throws for a four-point margin. The Knights responded by getting the ball into frontcourt and calling a timeout, but then throwing the ball away on the in-bounds pass.
“Turnovers are something that we pride ourselves on,” Horton said. “Anybody that watches us knows we’re going to press and we’re going to force turnovers. That’s the way we play.”
With 15 seconds left Rice was fouled again. He made the first try and missed the second, but snagged the rebound and was fouled once more. This time he made both attempts for a seven-point lead.
Kamiak’s Gavin Patrick scored the game’s final points with a layin in the closing seconds.
Holland led the Warriors in scoring with 13 points, including nine in the first half. Rice and Edwards each added 11.
Kamiak, coming off wins against Everett and Meadowdale, suffered its first loss of the season. The Knights were led by guard Marcel McQueen Jr., who had nine points.
At Edmonds-Woodway H.S.
Kamiak1312107—42
Edmonds-Woodway1614215—47
Kamiak—Christian Clausen 0, Carson Tuttle 5, Chance Lord 5, Jase Wiley 0, Trevor Gray 2, Marcel McQueen Jr. 9, Coleman Grayson 8, Gavin Patrick 7, Andrew Foote 2, Keller Whitney 0, Nate Shubert 4. Edmonds-Woodway—Tre’var Holland 13, Jordan Rice 11, Brady Edwards 11, Dominic Martinez 6, Benji Parrilla 0, Phinnian Rogan 0, Chuckwuma Okereke 0, Tanner Caraco 0, Ali Gaye 4, Ryan Peterson 2. 3-point goals—Carson Tuttle 1, Tre’var Holland 1, Jordan Rice 1, Brady Edwards 1, Dominic Martinez 2. Records—Kamiak is 2-1, Edmonds-Woodway is 2-1.
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