MOUNTLAKE TERRACE

King’s earned a trip to state but in the process lost its best player.

About three minutes into its clash with top-ranked Vashon Island Feb. 22, Charlie Enquist, the Knights’ 6-foot, 10-inch center who averages a team-high 13.5 points, fell backward while playing defense and landed awkwardly on his right wrist and hip.

He went to the bench in pain, grabbing his wrist. Team doctor Herb Clark said at halftime Enquist appeared to have fractured the large bone in his lower arm at the wrist. X-rays taken at Northwest Hospital after the game confirmed the break. Enquist, a first-team 2A all-state tournament selection last year, is done for the season.

“My role is to cheer on the guys from the bench,” Enquist said. “Help them to get motivated from the bench.”

This is the first serious injury Enquist has had and he conceded it will be tough to not play at state his senior year.

“It’s hard to accept that,” Enquist said. “It’s difficult, but it’s what I have to do.”

Enquist stayed on the bench during the Vashon game and saw his team hang on for a 54-49 win over the Pirates and earn a return trip to the state 1A tournament in Yakima.

Enquist’s backup, 6-7 Dylan O’Neil, who would’ve started on most teams had he not played behind Enquist this season, filled in and played the game of his life. He scored a team-high 16 points, including a layup with 30 seconds left that gave King’s a four-point lead.

“I knew once Charlie got injured I had to step up and carry the team,” O’Neil said.

King’s started the game on a 7-0 run behind five points from Enquist. After he went down, the Pirates took advantage going on a 10-0 run. But it was O’Neil who helped stop the bleeding, scoring four points during a 6-0 King’s run to give them back the lead.

King’s led by two at the half, but the teams went back-and-forth in the third quarter. Reserve Greg Uhrich banked in a shot from inside the top of the key with two seconds left in the period to give King’s a 39-37 advantage.

“I was pumped, the whole team was pumped,” Uhrich said. “I was shocked it went in.”

Early in the fourth, O’Neil converted a three-point play that put King’s up 42-39 but Vashon responded with a 7-0 run to go up 46-42, its biggest lead of the game.

A big 3-pointer by Cameron George, and a pair of free throws and bucket by Erich Fuhlendorf put the Knights back up by three. The Pirates tied it at 49 with 1:37 to go, but a layup by Spencer Clark on an assist from Fuhlendorf with 41 seconds left gave King’s the lead for good.

“Everyone stepped up tonight,” George said. “It’s amazing to see everyone clicking.”