TACOMA — Jackson’s wild four-day ride at the Class 4A state boys basketball tournament was a fitting end for six seniors and quite the coming out party for junior Brett Kingma, who made two game-winning shots and led the Timberwolves in scoring in all four contests, including a 67-58 loss to Kentwood in the championship game March 6 at the Tacoma Dome.
“We played our hearts out, but we just came up short,” Kingma said.
While Kingma will be back next year, best friend and teammate Ryan Todd is headed to Seattle Pacific University.
Todd had a feeling that that Saturday’s finals would be emotional for him. He was right.
“It’s tough,” Todd said. “When you have two people that are really good friends and you play your last game together, it’s going to be an emotional one. It certainly was tonight.”
The friendship between Kingma and his teammates will endure.
“I’ll remember everyone,” Kingma said. “All the seniors, they were great to me. Ryan Todd, it’s the last time I’m going to play with my best friend. It’s really sad, but we’ll continue to be best friends. All of our friendships will carry on.”
The four days at the Tacoma Dome provided plenty of memorable moments for the Timberwolves, who beat defending state champion Federal Way 53-45 in the semifinals to advance to the title contest.
While Kingma was the focus point of the Wolfpack’s offense, he had plenty of support along the way.
“Everybody stepped up and played their best basketball of the year in the state tournament,” Kingma said.
The Wolfpack last advanced to the state tournament in 2006, so none of the Timberwolves had any experience playing at state, let alone a state title game.
Senior Marshall Massengale took a few moments before warm-ups to soak in the entire scene.
“I kind of had to slap myself when I walked out there and just looked around,” Massengale said. “I just saw the lights and the hardwood and then I settled down in warm-ups and it was just like a regular game.”
Todd felt the same way before the championship game and savored every second of the tournament.
“It’s been unreal,” Todd said. “It’s an absolute dream. … We did some pretty special things this week.”
The senior guard also had to clear his head before the Saturday’s finals.
“You try to shake the crowd off a little bit and just take and act like it’s another game,” Todd said. “It obviously was much more than that. But I’m very blessed to have this opportunity to play in such a big game.”
Todd grew up with many of his teammates and he was glad they finished out their high school careers together.
“I love each and every one of them and I’m so happy that I got to do it with such a great group of guys,” Todd said.
The players weren’t the only ones treasuring the memories made at the Tacoma Dome.
Jackson coach Steve Johnson was as proud as he could be of his players, many of whom he’s known for most of their lives.
“I’m going to remember just how much I enjoyed being around them and how they all played together in my camps when they were little,” Johnson said. “Just seeing them grown up together and get to the state championship game, what more can you say?”
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