LAKEWOOD – Sean Counley and Josh Knudson weren’t even in high school the last time the Granite Falls boys basketball team beat Lakewood.
But after losing 10 straight times against Lakewood over a span of nearly six years, Granite Falls finally broke through on Tuesday night. Led by the inside-outside attack of seniors Knudson and Counley, who combined to score 49 points, Granite Falls outlasted Lakewood 64-59 in overtime at the Lakewood High School gym.
“It means a lot. There’s a lot of rivalries between both of these schools,” said Counley, a 6-foot-4 post who grabbed 10 rebounds, and scored 16 points after the first half. “It feels really good right now to beat them at their own court.”
Counley scored 22 points and Knudson, a 6-foot guard, tallied 27 to lift Granite Falls in the Cascade Conference thriller.
The Tigers (3-1 in conference, 9-1 overall) won their fifth straight and are one victory away from matching their total from last season.
Granite Falls fought back from a nine-point, second-quarter deficit and led by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter. But Lakewood (1-2, 4-5) charged back, forced overtime and made Granite Falls work extra hard to end its drought.
Lakewood got within 61-59 with 17 seconds to go when Terrence Ordonez, who scored a career-high 12 points, made a hanging, 14-foot jump shot. But Knudson sealed it for Granite Falls by going 3-for-6 on foul shots the rest of the way.
Knudson, who scored eight in overtime, came off a screen and made a key 3-point basket that made it 57-54. Lakewood never got closer than two after that.
Counley tallied four points in the extra session and repeatedly ripped down defensive rebounds throughout the game.
“Those are their two (stars) and we knew that,” Lakewood coach Ron Thorvilson said. “(Knudson) stepped up and made a big (3-pointer), and that kind of changed the complexion of the game in overtime.”
“Win or lose, I was just glad to see these guys perform like that. Patience and perseverance” were the difference,” Granite Falls coach Keith Johnson said.
Lakewood forced overtime with a big rally. Dan Spencer, who finished with 14 points, capped the comeback with a 3-point play – a layin and a foul shot – with 15 seconds to go.
Lakewood center John Loucks had a huge all-around effort (10 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks) and teammate Ryan Boyce scored 14 points, a career high, and handed out eight assists. Boyce filled in at point guard for Dan Borisov, who was out with a fever of 102 degrees.
“I thought Ryan Boyce just did an awesome job stepping up,” Thorvilson said.
Loucks asserted himself on both ends of the floor in the first half and helped Lakewood take a 28-23 lead to the break. The center scored eight points and blocked five shots (four in the first quarter).
Counley and Knudson combined for 17 points in the first half, 13 in the second quarter, to keep Granite Falls close.
Granite Falls used a 9-2 run in the third quarter to take its first lead since the first quarter. Knudson and Counley scored all nine point, with Counley hammering down a two-handed dunk during the spurt and Knudson capping it with a 3-pointer to make it 35-34 Tigers.
After winning just 15 games between the 2001-02 and 2004-05 seasons, Granite Falls is clearly on the rise. The Tigers’ multi-talented senior class, which excels in several sports, loves to compete together, Counley said.
“It is a very special group. A lot of us grew up together,” Counley said. “I moved (to Granite Falls) freshman year and I’ve just kind of been friends with all of them.”
At Lakewood H.S.
Granite Falls617121514-64
Lakewood10186169-59
Granite Falls-Cuddeback 2, Knudson 27, DeNoma 8, Counley 22, Villegas 3, Londerville 2. Lakewood-Boyce 14, Ordonez 12, Spencer 14, S. Noteboom 3, Loucks 10, Wyatt 3, K. Noteboom 3. 3-point goals-Knudson 2, Villegas 1, Boyce 1, K. Noteboom 1. JV score-Granite Falls 50, Lakewood 40. Records-Granite Falls 3-1 in conference, 9-1 overall. Lakewood 1-2, 4-5.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
