YAKIMA – Brant Heppner hit a foul shot with 33.8 seconds to go, which ended up being the game-winner as the Lions beat the Knights 53-52 in the semifinal round of the 2A boys state basketball tournament.
The Lynden victory allows the Lions to go for their third straight state championship, something that has never been done in the stories Lynden basketball history. They have won back-to-back state championships four separate times, including the last two years.
A dunk by senior guard Anthony Canales gave his team a 47-46 lead with 4:15 left in the game, and some good momentum. However, at every turn, there was Bremerton freshman Jalen Davis. The 6-foot-2 guard hit 12-of-15 shots and scored 33 points, and hit final shot of the game was a three-pointer to tie it up at 52-52 with 45 seconds left in regulation.
Canales led Lynden with 24 points, six rebounds and three steals, and Heppner added 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Lions outrebounded the Knights 37-18.
Lynden will face either North Kitsap or Grandview tomorrow at 3:00 for the 2A state championship.
Lynden 53, Bremerton 52 BRE 19 9 13 11 - 52 LYN 19 16 9 9 - 53 Bremerton: Davis-McWhorter 1-2 0-0 2, Sellers 0-1 0-0 0, Bulmer 4-10 3-6 13, Anderson 0-2 0-0 0, Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Davis 12-15 5-6 33, Matthews 0-1 0-0 0, Cadengo 0-2 0-0 0, Allen 2-4 0-0 4, Christian 0-0 0-0 0. Lynden: Elsner 0-3 0-0 0, VanDalen 1-3 0-0 2, Ayres 2-5 0-0 6, Bowler 0-0 0-0 0, Holleman 2-4 0-0 4, Canales 9-21 3-6 24, Heppner 4-9 2-4 11, Stapleton 2-6 2-6 6. Percentages: FG - BRE 19-38 .500, LYN 20-51 .392; FT - BRE 8-12 .667, LYN 7-16 .438. 3-point goals: BRE 6-13 (.Davis 4-6, Bulmer 2-3, Davis-McWhorter 0-1, Sellers 0-1, Anderson 0-1, Matthews 0-1), LYN 6-17 (Canales 3-8, Ayres 2-4, Heppner 1-2, Stapleton 0-1, VanDalen 0-2). Rebounds: BRE 18 (Cadengo 4), LYN 37 (Holleman 7). Assists: BRE 12 (Bullmer 8), LYN 9 (Heppner 5). Steals: BRE 4 (Bulmer 1, Anderson 1, Davis 1, Allen 1), LYN 5 (Canales 3). Blocks: BRE 5 (Allen 4), LYN 0.
