Huskies Leep over Western in exhibition

  • Larry Henry / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, November 8, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Larry Henry

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – Coach Bob Bender calls Grant Leep the “rock” of the University of Washington men’s basketball team.

Leep demonstrated why, hitting a crucial 3-point shot in the final minute as the Huskies defeated Western Washington 81-76 in an exhibition game Thursday night at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

David Dixon, the Huskies’ 6-foot-11 center, tipped the ball to Leep after a missed free throw and the senior captain from Mount Vernon drilled a shot from the left baseline to put the Huskies ahead 75-69. They held off the Vikings with six free throws in the final 40 seconds to finish 2-0 in exhibition games.

“The last little series, when they got the rebound of the missed free throw and Leep hit that three, that kind of broke our back,” said Western coach Brad Jackson. “I was real pleased with how our guys did, and I think we have the makings of a real good team.”

The Vikings were without their best player, Jacob Stevenson, sidelined with a broken hand, but still they gave the Huskies all they could handle.

The Vikings were confident coming into the game, but looked as if someone had flashed a sign as they walked onto the court: “You are about to face a Pac-10 team.”

They were very tight in the opening 20 minutes, and it reflected in their shooting, a horrid 23.5 percent. This same team shot 49.8 percent last season.

“One thing to keep in mind is that it’s early in the season,” Jackson said. “It took awhile for our guys to get into the flow.”

Once they got to halftime behind by only three points (33-30) and realized what a good position they were in, they came out looking more like the team that went 27-4 and reached the NCAA Division II semifinals last year.

The Vikings led by seven points three times in the second half, but the Huskies took the lead for good 70-69 on a Dixon layin and free throw with 2:45 remaining. Junior college transfer Josh Barnard and Leep each made a free throw before Leep hit his big 3-pointer off Dixon’s only rebound of the game.

“Grant is a rock,” Bender said. “His demeanor, his play and the calming effect he had were essential in this game. If you ask the players who their leader and captain is, they will say, without hesitation, Grant Leep. By him being a leader now, it helps his teammates have confidence in him down the road.”

Barnard, who came to the UW from Tacoma Community College, stepped up big in the second half with 15 of his team-high 17 points. The Vikings had no one with the size to handle Dixon and the senior center made 6-of-8 shots from down low for 15 points.

Darnell Taylor, a 5-9 senior from East Palo Alto, Calif., sparked the Vikings with 17 points, 14 in the second half.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Palmer Mutcheson chips onto the green during the Men’s Club Championship at Snohomish Golf Course. Mutcheson won the tournament and carded a nine-under-par 63 on Aug. 4, 2024, which set a new course record. (Photo courtesy Kiana Richards, Snohomish Golf Course)
Tee off in style: The top three golf courses in the Snohomish County

From scenic fairways to championship-level greens, these courses are a golfer’s dream!

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.