SPOKANE — For the second straight game, and though No. 2 Morton-White Pass had grander plans entering the 2B state tournament this week, the Timberwolves gritted out its final game of the season, defeating No. 3 Lake Roosevelt, 63-45, to capture fourth at the tournament.
The Timberwolves led nearly wire-to-wire, and separated in the fourth quarter thanks to a 21-10 run to secure its second straight trophy, and an improvement from last year’s fifth-place finish.
“You have to play well the entire tournament and you have to get a little lucky to win this whole thing,” MWP coach Chad Cramer said. “Unfortunately, I liked our draw, but we didn’t play well in our first game. We picked a bad day to have a bad game, and that took us out of title contention, but I think this game shows that we’re as good as anyone in this tournament. We came out and won convincingly tonight.”
MWP’s defense forced ill-advised shots all game, giving the Raiders plenty of 3-point looks that they couldn’t knock down. LR shot a dismal 7-of-36 from behind the arc, while the Timberwolves cashed in on 5-of-11 of their attempts.
Jake Cournyer saved his best two efforts of the season for last for MWP, scoring 23 again after a 23-point effort against Napavine in a loser-out game on Friday.
The senior was 10-of-16 from the field and led the T-Wolves in scoring for the second straight contest.
Fellow seniors Josh Salguero and Carter Dantinne also had standout days, with Salguero notching a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double and Dantinne scoring nine points and drilling the game-clinching 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
“Carter is the ultimate team guy,” Cramer said. “I think he might’ve played his finest game as a high school varsity player in his final game. He picked a good time to have one. Defensively he got his hands on so many things, he’s so active. You want a guy like that on your team at all times.”
Point guard Judah Kelly scored four points and hauled in eight rebounds, and senior forward Hunter Hazen scored four points and grabbed seven boards in his final high school game.
After a disappointing opener in Spokane against Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, the Timberwolves rattled off two straight wins and brought yet another trophy to an ever-growing collection back home in Morton and Randle.
“This team really loves each other,” Cramer said. “Things end, unfortunately, in high school sports. It’s emotional, these guys enjoyed this ride and enjoyed playing with each other. I’m super proud of everything they did.”
