Sentinels eke out Title Win

Photo by david b. hardt

MAAZIN BUTLER TAKES THE BALL TO THE BASKET IN A RECENT GAME.

The Trojans’ boys basketball (16-3, 10-2) team closed the regular season out with a facile win versus the brawny but inconsistent-shooting Washington Patriots (3-17, 0-12) on Feb, 19.  The Trojans, in league play, managed to maneuver narrowly intact through Nisqually 2A competition. However, the Trojans found their toughest opposition playing their rivals, the Steilacoom Sentinels (16-3, 10-3).  

In the first game of four meetings, the Trojans played the Sentinels on Jan. 15. The Sentinels scratched out a 60-58 overtime victory. The game was the biggest game in town. The Trojans would battle back and forth throughout the whole contest, pushing the game into overtime. The Trojans would come up short when senior guard Cameron Hays (averaging 10.0), with 2.3 seconds left, managed to get off a shot from right corner, but the ball hit the rim and went long. The buzzer went off and the celebrating Sentinel students rushed the floor.  

On Jan. 26, with the last disappointing overtime loss still fresh on the Trojans’ minds, they would take the home court with a standing-room-only crowd, spirit-blaring band, and nudge out the Sentinels 52-46. The Trojans out scored the Sentinels, 27-18, in the final half to secure the victory. This time Hayes wouldn’t come up short; he would lead his team with dazzling passes and good percentage shots scoring 16 points. With the series tied both teams knew that in order to get first in the league, it would be through the other.

The Trojans had the home court advantage again on Feb. 5. Once again, it was another tight contest, outlasting the scrappy Sentinels, 53-51. The game that would come down to big three point shots by senior Thomas Darnellie (averaging 10.5) and clinching free throws by senior guard Mazin Butler (averaging 11.5).

On Feb. 16, the Trojans led the season series 2-1. Looking to improve with each game, the team went back and played the final game at Steilacoom. With ear-piercing noise and the feeling of playoff basketball in the air, the Trojans came up short, 49-52. The Trojans, just like in the first game, would have one last shot, but this time it would have been to tie.  With just seconds left in last period, junior guard Kevin McCrossin got open after a long inbound pass and threw up a three, but like the first game the ball rattled out, bringing the series to knot 2-2

With both Teams knowing each other so well, and having every game come down to the wire, it is fitting that these two teams would find each other playing for the number one playoff seeding game at Franklin Pierce High School this week.

In a game that would award one team with the league championship and a No. 1 seed in districts play-offs, both the Trojans and Sentinels would bring their “A” game. The Trojans battled going back and forth all game with the Sentinels. However, just like in the four previous games, it would come down to one shot. With 28.8 seconds left in the game and Steilacoom up 51-53, junior guard Jack Murrey Jr. (12 points) went up strong, got fouled, and went to the charity line. Murrey would easily sink the first shot, but on the second shot the ball spun out of the rim. Despite senior Mazzin Bulter leading Fife with 17 points, Steilacoom pulled nail bitter out 53-52 to win the game.

Fife will play at Foss High school on Feb. 26 against Interlake Saints.

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