2A boys state tournament: Nooksack nabs championship

YAKIMA — Jason Heutink's 15-footer with 2.2 seconds left pushed Nooksack Valley to the Class 2A boys state basketball championship last night at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Heutink, the tournament's Most Valuable Player, scored 30 points, including 18 in the second half as the second-ranked Pioneers outlasted third-ranked Pullman 56-54 in the hard-fought contest.

After a timeout with 24 seconds left, Heutink drained the clock, then drove the left key, wiggling the ball up past two Pullman defenders for the winning score. Pullman called a timeout, but the Greyhounds couldn't get off a viable shot in the final 1.6 seconds.

Phil Silves added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Nooksack Valley, which finished the season 25-1.

Fred Peete scored 26 to lead Pullman (23-4), but only had 13 in the second half.

Nooksack led the majority of the game, building leads of eight points in the first half and nine points in the second, but Pullman fought back each time.

Peete grabbed 12 rebounds and Tavarius Payne 10 as the Bulldogs outrebounded Nooksack 34-28. But the Pioneers made up for the difference with their tenacious defense that came up with 11 steals and helped force Pullman into 16 turnovers.

Other games

Chewelah 63, Cashmere 52 (3rd-6th places) — Andy Belzer scored 18 points and Ryan Feist added 16 as Chewelah (19-9) captured third place.

Belzer made 6 of 14 field goals and Feist hit a pair of three-pointers and was 8 for 10 from the foul line for the Cougars. Chewelah held a 39-28 rebounding advantage, with Curry collecting 12 rebounds and Belzer 10.

Curtis Thibault led the Bulldogs (18-9) with 12 points and six steals and Kent Fletcher had 13 rebounds.

For the Cougars, the third-place trophy is the second-best basketball finish in school history. Chewelah won the 2001 2A state title.

For Cashmere, the sixth-place finish is the worst in any classification since 1926 in a year in which the Bulldogs reached the semifinals. The school won titles in 1972, 75, 77, 80, 86 and 95, and was second three other times.

Hoquiam 64, Ilwaco 39 (4th-7th places) — Jeff Wayman scored 19 points to lead top-ranked Hoquiam (26-1) to fourth place. The Grizzlies suffered their only loss of the season in Thursday's quarterfinals — 59-40 to second-ranked Nooksack Valley.

Wayman, who made 8 of 14 shots, had 10 points in the second quarter as the Grizzlies scored the first 11 points of that period and used a 21-9 run to build a 33-21 halftime lead.

Hoquiam, which closed the game with a 17-7 fourth quarter, also got 16 points from Justin Reed and 12 points and seven rebounds from David Brittinen. Kyle Kaino had 17 points for Ilwaco (17-10), hitting five three-pointers.

Lynden Christian 60, Kiona-Benton 54 (5th-8th places) — A.J. Hoekema scored 18 points, leading four players in double figures as Lynden Christian (17-10) claimed fifth place.

Hoekema made 8 of 14 field goals and had 10 rebounds for the Lyncs.

Nathan Kooi and Mark Holleman each scored 15 points and Greg Burgers added 12 points for the Lyncs. Holleman also had six assists and four steals.

Brett Harding and Stuart Allen scored 13 points each for Kiona-Benton (18-9).

Rick Rose added 11 points and 12 rebounds and Jeff Linehan scored 10 points.

All-tournament team

The all-tournament team is voted on by select members of the media covering the 2A tournament.

First team — Jason Heutink, Nooksack Valley (MVP); Fred Peete, Pullman; Kyle Vermeulen, Nooksack Valley; David Brittinen, Hoquiam; Andy Hudkins, Ilwaco.

Second team — Phil Silves, Nooksack Valley; Josh Williamson, La Center; Andy Belzer, Chewelah; A.J. Hoekema, Lynden Christian; Greg Smith, Lakeside.