TUMWATER — Black Hills had the chance to clinch its first league title in five years on its rival court on Friday night, but Tumwater kept its own title chances alive with a 65-55 win.
“The guys did a great job,” Tumwater coach Josh Wilson said. “The first (matchup) was tough … To get that one is a massive deal for us. The guys came out, battled hard, played good defense, and did what they needed to do.”
The Wolves led by three after the first quarter, but Tumwater was able to take control in the second by outscoring them 18-7 in the second.
Peyton Faught did what he could to keep Black Hills in the game in the third, hitting four three-pointers, but the T-Birds hit four threes of their own in the quarter and held a six-point lead going into the fourth.
“We were able to put our foot down tonight and control flows and momentum,” Wilson said. “It was nice to see us have the maturity tonight to be able to settle in.”
In his final home regular season game, Tumwater’s Beckett Wall had one of his best games of his career to help the T-Birds cross the finish line.
The senior scored 14 of his game-high 19 points in the second half, and he also brought down six rebounds.
“Some people are dudes, and some people are not. Beckett Wall is a dude,” Wilson said. “You could just see it in his eyes. He just wasn’t gonna let it happen … I’m just so proud of him.”
Sahara Anthony III added three three-pointers to finish with nine points, while sophomore Julian Balsley added eight.
“Julian killed it tonight,” Wilson said, before noting he didn’t play much in Tumwater’s loss at Black Hills earlier in the season. “We probably should have put him in the first game … Bright future for Julian for sure.”
Luke Overbay and Jake Dillon also both finished with eight points.
The win keeps Tumwater (13-5, 6-2 2A EvCo) in contention for the EvCo title, but the T-Birds would need Black Hills (12-6, 7-1 2A EvCo) to lose one of its last two games.
If the Wolves beat Centralia on Wednesday and Aberdeen next Friday, Feb. 7, they’ll win their first EvCo title since 2020.
“This was definitely a setback, but we still have everything in front of us,” Black Hills coach Jeff Gallagher said. “I’m most looking forward to practice tomorrow. Getting the kids back in the gym and resetting our minds.”
Faught finished with a team-high 16 points, while Quinton Morrill added 12. Talon Morrill, Tristan Deville, and James Morgan finished with seven points apiece.
Gallagher liked the way his team responded after falling behind in the second, but he also tipped his cap to the T-Birds.
“Every shot that we put at Tumwater, they answered,” Gallagher said. “They shot the ball extremely well, and that’s just basketball.”
If Black Hills does win its final two, Tumwater can still clinch the No. 2 seed in the district tournament with wins over Aberdeen on Wednesday and Shelton next Friday, Feb. 7.
As the No. 2 seed, the T-Birds would avoid a pigtail and host a first-round district tournament game.
“We gotta take care of business there,” Wilson said. “But to be able to get that bye and play at home, the importance of that can not be understated.”
