PHOTO BY ROCKY ROSS

After defeating Port Townsend in the West Central District playoffs last year to earn a bid to state, Fife lost to the Redskins Feb. 26 to fall into the district’s loser’s bracket. Senior Kevin Cox (3) hit a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left to cut the Port Townsend lead to one, but the Trojans still fell short.

Trojan comeback falls short

By Ben Miller

TACOMA – In the West Central District playoffs last year, the Fife Trojans knocked off the Port Townsend Redskins with a chance to go to the state tournament with this district’s No. 3 seed. On Feb. 26, the Redskins found an ounce of revenge by defeating Fife 47-44 to advance to the district finals and send the Trojans into the loser’s bracket.

Now, in order to make it back to the state playoffs this time around, the Trojans will have to defeat Steilacoom Feb. 28 and the winner of the contest between Foster and Port Townsend March 1. It’s a tall order, but after a game that went down to the wire, the Trojans are up for the challenge.

“I still think we’re in good shape,” said Fife coach Mark Schelbert. “I think we can beat any of the three teams that are left.”

Against Port Townsend, the Trojans came out flat. The Redskins jumped out to a 14-6 lead that grew to a 21-11 advantage in the second quarter. It looked like Port Townsend was ready to run away with the game.

But before the end of the first half, the light went on for Fife. Using a 15-2 run that stretched from the end of the second quarter through the beginning of the first, Fife was able to cut the Redskin lead down to just one at 25-24.

“They came out more aggressive early,” said Fife senior Kevin Cox.

From there on, it was a tight battle back and forth. Port Townsend battled back to strengthen its lead, only to have the Trojans pull off a run of their own to get back in it. The Redskins struggled to pull away while Fife struggled to take the lead.

For the Trojans it came down to missed opportunities in the rebounding column of the stat sheet. Time and time again, Port Townsend would miss a shot and give the Trojans hope of taking a lead only to let the rebound slip away from them. With extra chances to make extra shots, the Redskins were able to keep Fife at bay.

“They just wanted it more on the boards,” Cox said. “We need more than just Damien (Fisher) rebounding.”

In one instance with 2:27 left in the third quarter, after the Redskins pulled down two offensive rebounds on the same possession, Schelbert subbed in five new guys and looked at each of the players who had just been out on the court and said “you need to rebound.”

With the score tied up at 39 and just less than one minute remaining in the game, Port Townsend’s Elan Solvik hit a 3-pointer to put the dagger in the hearts of the Trojans. After that, Fife tried to fight back for the lead, but it was to no avail, as the Redskins hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the deal.

“I like the way we competed in the second half, I think it was much better than in the first half,” Schelbert said.

Story Tools