KENT - Opportunities to win were abundant before Class 1A Seattle Christian dropped a 41-38 boys basketball verdict to Class 2A South Puget Sound League Sumner in the 9 a.m. opener of the 2012 ShoWare Shootout on Saturday, Dec. 22.
"After a high energy late night game, I thought we did well to stay in the game and have a chance at the end," declared Warrior head coach Shaun DeYager. "We had a chance at a game winning scenario and got a good look at the end. It was tough to play in a large arena with just a few fans, but it was an opportunity to play in a big arena before we go to the Yakima Sun Dome next week.
After Cody Miller notched a basket to give Seattle Christian a 35-32 fourth quarter lead, Thomas Murphy torched a Spartan 3-pointer to deadlock the proceedings with just less than five minutes remaining in regulation.
Although the Warriors had chances to tie or lead, it was Sumner that ran off six consecutive points to lead 41-35 with 1:40 left. Twelve seconds later, Ciody Gunhus drained a 3-pointer to bring SCS close at 41-38. The Seattle Christian defense held off Sumner until Shane Pierotti cleared himself to launch a 3-point try that bounced off the front rim near the end of the game.
Early action favored the Spartans who battled into two seven-point leads, the last being 14-7. SCS fired back on consecutive 3-point missiles by Miller and Pierotti, respectively, to trail only 14-13 following one quarter.
The Spartans settled into a 22-19 halftime lead before the squads fought to a 26-26 three quarter draw.
Josh Perkinson nailed a free throw and an inside basket for the final points of the third quarter with more than four minutes remaining before the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Seattle Christian established leads of 31-28 and 33-30 before Sumner closed within 33-32, setting up the final drama.
Perkinson scored nine Warrior points while Miller had eight points and five rebounds against the Spartans who owned the glass, 35-22. Spencer Eble owned seven points and Shawn Abe had six. Cody Gunhus led in steals with four.
Riley Bruil scored 12 Sumner points with seven rebounds as teammate Luc Powers-Hubbard had eight points and eight rebounds. Cole Hamilton contributed eight points. Austin Ford aided the dominating rebound total with seven.
On Friday, Dec. 21, the Seattle Christian boys took an 81-49 Nisqually victory against visiting Life Christian behind the school record scoring performance of Miller.
He poured home 46 ponts on 19-for-27 shooting from the field. This also included 5-of-8 from behind the 3-point arc and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
"I just played my regular game, running off screens," Miller recalled. "My teammmates kept setting me up and everything I put up went in. I was getting good looks. After I hit my first two shots, I kept getting more confident."
