MONROE – With players, friends and family scattered across the court at Monroe High School, celebrating after the boys’ basketball team’s 51-37 win against Marysville Getchell on Friday night, Bearcats coach Justin Prohn couldn’t help but smile at the Wesco title banners adorning the gym wall.
Monroe (17-2, 9-0) won its ninth straight game to move two ahead of the Chargers (13-6, 7-2) in the Wesco North 3A/2A standings with just one conference game remaining, locking up its first regular season title since 2011.
“When I got the job here, we met with [the] parents… and I kind of took a picture of that [wall]. I said, ‘We need to add some banners. It’s kind of thin up there,’ said Prohn, who is in his sixth season leading the Bearcats. “So that’s always been the goal.”
FINAL: Monroe wins 51-37
Chayce Waite-Keller (14 points, 16 rebounds) was a monster on both ends for the Bearcats, who have won 9 straight.
Bubba Palacol scored 12 of his 16 points in the 2nd half, but it wasn’t enough for the Chargers to overtake.
— Joe Pohoryles (@Joe_Poho) February 1, 2025
Junior Chayce Waite-Kellar was a force at both ends all night for Monroe, scoring 14 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. Sophomore Isaiah Kiehl (11 points) and junior Caleb Campbell (10 points) each scored crucial baskets down the stretch to keep the Bearcats comfortably ahead.
Getchell senior Bubba Palacol scored a game-high 16 points, but was held to just four in the first half as Monroe imposed its will defensively. With Waite-Kellar and the Bearcat defense clogging the paint, the Chargers relied on the long ball to stay in the game, but the shots didn’t fall. In the end, Marysville Getchell finished 3-for-19 (15.8%) from behind the 3-point line.
“We were having a tough time finding the seams and finding ways to get good looks,” Chargers coach Corby Schuh said. “They’re a big, strong physical team, and we had a hard time just penetrating and getting in there and trying to find some easy shots.”
While Marysville Getchell missed their 3’s, Monroe managed to draw fouls and hit their free throws on the other end to slowly build a 28-15 lead through the first half. Palacol started out strong for the Chargers in the third quarter, with five points across the first two possessions, but the rest of the offense couldn’t capitalize on the Bearcats’ slow start.
Campbell went on a solo six-point run, capped with a steal and breakaway dunk with 2:58 left in the third quarter that sent the gym into a frenzy. The 6-foot-4 forward said his eyes were lighting up the whole way.
“I wouldn’t say I gamble too much, but you see people telegraph passes, don’t really see if there’s a [defender] there, I kind of come out of nowhere and take it,” Campbell said. “It’s fun to get up there.”
From there, Waite-Kellar continued to command the boards and muscle his way to layups. The 6-foot-7 forward had picked up where he left off against the Chargers, when he secured 19 rebounds in Monroe’s 52-39 win on Jan. 10. Marysville Getchell’s only two losses in league play this season came at the hands of the Bearcats, and Waite-Kellar is a big reason for that.
“A lot of anticipation,” Waite-Kellar said about the key to his rebounding prowess. “I put on a lot of weight this summer, so that’s like a big helper for grabbing rebounds. I just love to fight for them. If I see it, it’s like a gut feeling if I can get it or not.”
After yet another putback layup from Waite-Kellar extended Monroe’s lead to 45-29 just 2:08 into the fourth quarter, the game felt all but settled.
With the Wesco title in hand, the Bearcats finish off their regular season slate against Marysville Pilchuck on Feb. 4 before hosting Edmonds-Woodway (18-1) in the postseason on Feb. 6.
“We’re just a really complete team,” Prohn said. “I think that’s hard to guard. I think when they buy into each other, that’s pretty special.
“Edmonds-Woodway is no joke. [Division 1] talent, great coach, great program that works really hard, and just to be able to play in that game is such a special opportunity for us and something that’s really neat.”
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