Mount Si holds off Davis to reach WIAA 4A boys basketball championship
TACOMA, Wash. — There's something to be said this time of year about not only an experienced roster, but an experienced roster that's been to the state tournament year after year.
In the end, experience — and a lot of skill — paid dividends for top-seeded Mount Si in its 57-45 win over Davis of Yakima in the WIAA 4A semifinals.
Tied 23-23 at halftime, the Wildcats were able to hold the Pirates at bay in the second half in order to reach the state championship game Saturday night.
The Wildcats were able to keep an 8-10 point lead for much of the third quarter, but Davis wouldn't go away quietly, bringing it back to within two possessions more than once.
But whenever it looked like the Pirates were about to have Mount Si on the ropes, the Wildcats put their foot back on the gas.
"Our guys have an expectation of what it takes to compete at this level," Mount Si coach Jason Griffith said. "We have some kids on this team that have played in the state championship game. We'll dig deep and use that experience."
Davis' usual point guard, Cesar Hernandez, played off the ball against the Wildcats after suffering an ankle injury in the quarterfinals the day before.
Even so, Hernandez tried to will his team back into the game, scoring a team-high 17 points to go with seven rebounds. Finnegan Anderson added 15 points and seven rebounds for Davis.
Mount Si was led by the usual suspects of Trevor Hennig, Blake Forrest and Latt Ford, but got valuable minutes and points from Marshall Smith, who finished with six points and four boards.
Hennig scored a game-high 21, Forrest had 15 and Ford recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
"I'm a big believer that to do well at the dome your seniors have to play and to go on a run your seniors have to play well," Griffith said. "(Smith) was huge today and that's what you have to get out of those senior role players and that's what they gave us."
Getting to the championship game has been the goal all season long for the senior-heavy Wildcats.
As sophomores, the Mount Si seniors experienced the heartbreak of losing in the title game.
"We were here two years ago and this time we're trying to get the job done," Forrest said.
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Final: No. 7 Richland 70, No. 4 Glacier Peak 59
For about 28 minutes, Richland and Glacier Peak were locked into a back-and-forth battle in the final 4A semifinal.
But for the last four minutes it was all Bombers.
Richland put together a masterclass over the last four minutes of the game getting big shot after big shot from its playmakers.
Lucas Westerfield scored a team-high 20 points and hauled in 12 rebounds. Josh Woodard also recoreded a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards.
The Bombers move on to the 4A championship Saturday where they'll play top-seeded Mount Si.
