Thursday, Mar. 05, 2009

4A boys: Winston leads Wa-Hi to first-round win

By Rene Ferran, Herald staff writer

TACOMA -- Walla Walla (20-7) used a 12-2 second-half run to regain control after Todd Beamer (14-12) erased an eight-point deficit to take its only lead of the game, 32-31 on a layup by Chase Hildebrandt with 3:15 left in the third quarter.

Following a timeout, Wa-Hi held the Titans without a field goal for more than 6 minutes, and Michael Weisner and Derik Heitzmann hit 3-pointers to spark the run as Walla Walla went onto a 54-49 victory.

"We just talked about winning and getting the job done," said Wa-Hi senior Gary Winston, who scored a game-high 25 points, including two foul shots with 5:18 to play that capped the run and gave Wa-Hi its biggest lead at 43-34.

"We started moving the ball on offense, got everybody some touches and found the open guy," added Winston, who was 8-of-10 at the foul line in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Davis' tip jam with 35 seconds left cut Wa-Hi's lead to 53-49, but Beamer couldn't capitalize on five missed free throws by the Blue Devils down the stretch.

Wa-Hi 54, Todd Beamer 49

TODD BEAMER (49)

Kevin Davis 16, Mefi 9, Hildebrandt 10, Hebert 2, V.Aficiuc 10, M.Aficiuc, Moore, Gridley 2. Totals 19-53 9-14 49.

WALLA WALLA (54)

Gary Winston 25, Richards 1, Hessler 6, Weisner 11, Arias 3, Heitzmann 5, Clothier, James 3. Totals 17-46 14-26 54.

Todd Beamer 6 15 12 16 -- 49

Walla Walla 12 15 10 17 -- 54

Highlights -- TB 2x16 3pt, WW 6x17; TB 43 rbs, WW 31; TB 15 TOs, WW 11; Davis 13 rbs, 5 blks; Vlad Aficiuc 7 rbs; Spencer Hessler 10 rbs; Winston 6 rbs.

Curtis 68, Eisenhower 65

CURTIS (68)

Da.Williams 21, Do.Williams 3, Langlow 8, Rasmussen 11, Van Essen 7, Vaughn 6, Gollihur 1, Doss 6, Lacy 5. Totals 25-52 14-32 68.

EISENHOWER (65)

Gaut 15, Watson 6, Knizel 0, Lopez 12, Mount 1, Elmo 6, Fowler 7, Sarate 0, Berman 6, Kline 0, Bonzer 12. Totals 24-42 17-26 65.

Curtis 10 10 18 27 -- 68

Eisenhower 22 13 10 16 -- 65