By John McCallum
Editor 

Blackhawks advance in boys basketball playoffs

Cook’s four 3-pointers in fourth prove decisive at Clarkston

 

Last updated 2/15/2018 at 1:39pm



When it mattered most, Cheney High’s boys basketball team found a way to produce the program’s first playoff win in nine years.

Trailing 40-30 heading into the fourth quarter last Wednesday in Clarkston, juniors Devin Cook and Camden VerStrate together with senior Justace Reiter put the rest of their Blackhawks teammates on their backs in the Great Northern League loser-out game. Cook hit four 3-pointers in six consecutive possessions, Reiter’s 2-point shot tied the game at 50-all in the final minute, and with VerStrate’s 3-pointer at the buzzer, Cheney advanced with a 53-50 win over the Bantams.

It was a thrilling ending to a game that started somewhat inauspiciously for Cheney. The Blackhawks were blanked 15-0 in the first quarter, going 0 for 12 from the field including 0 for 4 from beyond the arc.

Cheney head coach Gregg Smith chalked up the start to his team’s lack of playoff experience against a Clarkston program with several players who experienced the Bantams’ back-to-back 2A state championships in 2015 and 2016.

“It took a little bit to figure out the reality of that,” Smith said.

But Cheney did, clawing its way back. The Blackhawks shot 54.5 percent in the second quarter, and outscored Clarkston in the third, 14-10, to set up their 23-point fourth.

Cheney’s defense forced 20 Bantams turnovers overall, compared to the Blackhawks 15. And while shooting just 35 percent from 2-point range, Cheney was 43 percent from beyond the arc, missing their first eight shots but going 7 for 8 after that.

And as Cook heated up in the fourth, so did his teammates at the foul line, going 6 for 7 down the stretch.

“Devin caught fire and started it,” Smith said. “The other guys kept it going.”

Cook led Cheney with 14 points, with VerStrate adding 12.

Cheney’s win set up a rematch with No. 2 seed West Valley on Saturday where, despite a fierce fourth-quarter rally, they fell short of the upset, losing 69-64 on the road.

The Blackhawks’ downfall came in the last minute and a half of the second quarter and the first two minutes of the third. The Eagles capitalized on a couple of quick possession to take a 30-23 halftime lead, and hit three consecutive 3-pointers to open the third quarter to extend their margin.

Cheney was 63 percent from 2-point range, 19 of 30, but just 31 percent, 6 of 19, from beyond the arc. Cheney out rebounded West Valley 31-24, and both teams had 16 assists each. Where the Blackhawks were hurt was in turnovers, committing 12 miscues to the Eagles’ six.

VerStrate led all scorers with a career night, knocking down 26 points with four rebounds, seven assists and three turnovers. Cook added 11 points.

Cheney moves its record to 9-12 overall. In the past, that was a season-ending mark, one that led to a time of reflection.

This year, Smith and company are looking forward.

“We’re still alive, we’re still playing,” he said Monday afternoon, preparing for a Tuesday trip to Yakima’s Eisenhower High School to watch Selah and Wapato face each other in the Central Washington Athletic Conference title game.

Cheney will face the loser in crossover playoff action at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, in a game originally scheduled for Pullman but moved on Tuesday to Eisenhower. Third-ranked Selah comes in to Tuesday’s game at 20-1, while 15th-ranked Wapato — coached by former Medical Lake head coach Arnold Brown — is 16-6.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.

Author Bio

John McCallum, Retired editor

John McCallum is an award-winning journalist who retired from Cheney Free Press after more than 20 years. He received 10 Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards for journalism and photography, including first place awards for Best Investigative, Best News and back-to-back awards in Best Breaking News categories.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 03/22/2024 15:06