4A boys notebook: Friends, future roomies face off

TACOMA — Franklin's Aaron Brooks was kidded by his future Oregon roommate, Johnny DuRocher of Bethel, as they walked off the court yesterday after Franklin beat DuRocher's Braves, 71-55.

"Every time you touched him, he let out a yell to help get himself a call," DuRocher joked. "I said, 'Hey, you're an All-American. You don't need help.' "

Brooks and multi-sport athlete DuRocher, recruited to play quarterback for Oregon's football team, became friends in eighth grade when they played on the same summer basketball team. They have agreed to be roommates as Ducks.

DuRocher committed to Oregon during his junior year. Brooks did it last fall, calling DuRocher the day after he did it.

"He said, 'Hey, go get The Seattle Times,' " DuRocher said. "So I stop at the gas station, go get it (the paper), and there was his face on the cover — 'Brooks chooses Oregon.' So then, when I called him, he's like, 'Yeah, I'm coming.' "

DuRocher will get to Eugene first. He will begin classes at Oregon on March 31 and participate in spring football, then return home for graduation at Bethel of Graham.

Brooks posted the better basketball numbers yesterday, tallying 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. DuRocher had 11 points and six rebounds.

Brotherly connection

Chuck and Darren Bowden were reunited at the Tacoma Dome yesterday. The brothers both are assistant coaches — Chuck at Central Valley of Spokane and Darren at South Kitsap of Port Orchard — and sons of longtime Prosser Coach Mel Bowden.

The Bowden brothers' teams faced off in the first round, with Chuck's Bears beating Darren's Wolves, 61-36.

"I have sort of a personal connection with all those guys," Darren said. "They're all good friends of mine. It's kind of a real healthy relationship that we have (between coaching staffs)."

Chuck, 36, and Darren, 34, both graduated from Prosser, where they played football, basketball and track. Both went to Eastern Washington University and have remained at the high schools where they were first hired. Chuck has been at Central Valley for 12 years, Darren at South Kitsap for 10.

Did they trade scouting reports or game tapes?

"No," Darren said, firmly. "I think he scrounged around to get some (video) from people and we scrounged around to do the same. We're really good friends, but when it comes down to it, you still have to coach against each other. And when the game comes, you've got to hope your team wins."

Holt holds court

Justin Holt sat on the sideline and smiled.

"I have a lot of great memories here," he said.

Like helping Lincoln of Tacoma win back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. Holt's role was drastically different yesterday. He was at the tournament to observe officials as part of a sports-officiating class he is taking at Tacoma Community College. And to cheer on the Abes, who are trying to make it three in a row.

Holt was also all smiles when he talked about his future. His girlfriend, Tianna Dickson, recently gave birth to a son, Jusan, and they leave in June for Iowa State, where the 6-foot-6 Holt will have three years of eligibility after spending this season at Tacoma CC. Holt, last year's state player of the year, originally committed to Oregon State and spent the summer on campus. But when he came home for a visit and discovered Dickson was pregnant, he said he couldn't leave and opted for TCC, where he averaged 23.5 points per game.

"It made me humble," Holt said of the experience.

At home in the dome

Pasco junior Roby Clyde is no stranger to the Tacoma Dome this school year.

He quarterbacked Connell to the Class 2A state football championship on Dec. 7, a 41-14 victory over Elma. Then, he transferred to Pasco.

"His family moved," explained Le Burns, Pasco athletic director. Students whose families move are eligible at their new school.

At Connell, Clyde attended some classes and was home-schooled for others. Connell qualified for the 2A basketball tournament with a 12-12 record.

Clyde, a 6-5 wing averaging 9.7 points, had 16 points and five rebounds in yesterday's 54-46 victory over Rogers of Puyallup.

Notes

• Bethel has three 6-8 players who will return next year — junior Ceasar Rayford and sophomores Brandon Moore and Alex Tiefenthaler.

• Pasco students to Rogers of Puyallup students, with 10.3 seconds left in their 10:30 a.m. game, a 54-46 Pasco win: "Back to school! Back to school!"

• The internet Fab 50 Basketball Rankings this week have Franklin No. 14 in the nation and Class 3A state champion Rainier Beach No. 15.

• Franklin's Brooks took the tournament's first shot, missing a three-pointer from the wing on the Quakers' opening possession against Bethel. Teammate Lyndale Burleson scored the tournament's first points on a layup 59 seconds into the game.

Seattle Times staff reporter Sandy Ringer contributed to this notebook.