PUYALLUP — Though the Kamiak boys basketball team battled to the end and even came within a few shots of maybe pulling off a remarkable comeback win, the Knights simply came up short of heroics in the late moments against Curtis.
Likewise, they simply had no answer for Curtis guard Aushanti Potts-Woods, who poured in 38 points in a dazzling display of scoring.
The 82-74 loss in a Class 4A regional game Saturday night at Rogers High School ended Kamiak’s season, and kept the Knights from advancing to next weekend’s state tournament in the Tacoma Dome.
Kamiak scored first on an early layin by guard Carson Tuttle, and another Tuttle layin minutes later made the score 4-4. But from there Curtis ran off 15 unanswered points, including nine from Potts-Woods, for a lead the Vikings never lost.
The margin was 22-8 at the end of the first quarter — Tuttle had all of Kamiak’s points in the period — and it stayed in double digits the rest of the first half. Even after Knights drew within 11 points late in the second quarter, the Vikings closed with a 7-2 burst in the final 45 seconds for a 43-27 edge at halftime.
Kamiak did not get within single digits until midway through the fourth quarter when eight straight points made the score 71-66. The Knights had a great chance to pull within three moments later when guard Christian Clausen had a good look at a 3-pointer from the right wing, but the ball just clipped the rim and bounced away.
Kamiak would miss four of its next five shots from the field, and in the meantime Curtis scored seven points to push the lead back to nine. The Knights would later score the game’s final five points, but by then the outcome was settled.
Tuttle, a talented sophomore, led the Knights with 23 points. Seniors Coleman Grayson and Nate Shubert both had 12 points and Clausen added 11.
At Rogers H.S.
Kamiak8192225—74
Curtis22211920—82
Kamiak—Carson Tuttle 23, Christian Clausen 11, Jase Wiley 4, Trevor Gray 3, Hunter Watkins 2, Coleman Grayson 12, Gavin Patrick 4, Patrick Olson 0, Keller Whitney 0, Isaiah Jeannot 3, Danny Sharpe 0, Nate Shubert 12. Curtis—Zack Paulsen 0, Nate Ward 10, Aushanti Potts-Woods 38, Glenn Jordan 8, Jordan Parker 0, John Moore 18, Gage Ferguson 0, Sindou Diallo 8, Jase Paulsen 0, Mekhi Hughes 0, Brandon Mauss 0, Trevor Morrow 0. Records—Kamiak 16-7, Curtis 23-3.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
