West’s Julius Adlawan shoots over Malachi Casey. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Down five points with 85 second left in regulation, the West Eagles were right where they wanted to be.
Sounds crazy, but they seem to play better when the chips are stacked against them. They revel in adversity.
The Eagles were at it again Wednesday night as they rallied for a 69-63 OT victory over No. 2 Dimond in the quarterfinals of the ASAA Class 4A boys state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center.
This was West’s third playoff OT win its last four games dating back to the Cook Inlet Conference Championships two weeks ago.
“We love overtime,” said West coach Josh Muehlenkamp.
It might be a white-knuckle roller coaster ride, but you certainly can’t argue with the results. No matter the path, West finds a way to win. This was the second time the Eagles beat Dimond (23-4) this season as the teams split the season series.
“Dimond is an outstanding team. They have several kids that play very well and they are well coached,” Muehlenkamp said. “They run good stuff and they play really, really dang good, which is why they were so successful this year.
“But that’s why you play tournaments because you only have to beat them once and my kids are tough. My kids play hard, they play together and we’re starting to get better.”
West’s Des’Laone Cook. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Leading 56-51 with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, the Lynx looked good. It was a mirage.
Dimond missed three of four free throws, which opened the door for the Eagles (16-9) to storm back. Star guard Des’Laone Cook scored his team’s final four points, including a beautiful reverse layup that tied the game 57-57 with 27 seconds left.
Dimond had a chance to win at the end of regulation but Marek Hajdukovich’s corner jumper rimed out at the buzzer.
The game headed to OT, where Willie Zamora’s steal and layup put West ahead for good as the Eagles snapped Dimond’s seven-game winning streak and advanced to Friday’s semifinals.
Dimond earned an automatic berth to state after winning the CIC Championships while No. 7 seed West earned an at-large berth on the strength of its OT win over Service in the third-place game of the CIC Championships.
“I had a bunch of new kids this year and a lot of them hadn’t played varsity, so you’re growing and we’re trying to grow to become the best we can here, now,” Muehlenkamp said.
Cook led West in scoring with 21 points while Julius Adlawan added 16 points and nine rebounds. There was also Buob Marial, who scored nine of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, and Aarion Alexander, who scored all six of his points in OT.
“Aairon Alexander can play,” said Muehlenkamp. “Sometimes he’s a little … (shakes his head with a smile) but he can play and he’s a great kid. He has a great smile; he’s infectious and he’s enthusiastic.”
He’s also a second-generation West basketball player. His father Aaron played in the early 1990s alongside Antonio Wyche and Clarence Doutrive, who both had sons star on West’s 2015 state title team.
“It’s a West High family,” Muehlenkamp said.
Dimond led 27-26 at halftime. The first half was good. The second half was great, the definition of March Madness with two teams going back and forth as the third quarter featured seven lead changes.
At one point, Cook and Dimond’s Maguire Hamey (12 points, 12 rebounds) had their own game within a game, matching each other basket for basket three times. Hamey’s points came in the post, Cook’s on the perimeter.
Reigning CIC Championships MVP Xzavier Baker pumped in 21 points and all-state guard Luke Johnston scored 15. Twice in the fourth quarter, Baker hit two free throws to tie the game; once at 49-49 and again at 51-51.
Dimond’s Maguire Hamey. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Hamey’s free throw gave Dimond a 52-51 lead and he grabbed the offensive rebound off his own FT miss that led to Hajdukovich’s bucket. Moments later, Johnston canned a pair from the foul line to give the Lynx a 56-51 advantage.
It didn’t last. In OT, Dimond looked disheveled as the Lynx were whistled for a 10-second call and managed one field goal in four minutes.
Meanwhile, the Eagles were cooking and never trailed after Zamora’s go-ahead bucket to start OT.
The Eagles from Hillcrest Drive showed heart.
“We can be down 20 and we’re still in the game,” said Muehlenkamp said. “I don’t know who’s going to show up. This is what I can tell you: We’re working. We usually lose turnovers. We usually lose rebounding and we usually lose free throws, but you can’t measure heart.”
ASAA/First National Bank Alaska
Class 4A Boys State Championships
At Alaska Airlines Center
Wednesday
Quarterfinals
West Valley 60, Juneau 37
East 54, ACS 30
Monroe 54, Colony 30
West 69, Dimond 63 OT
Friday
Semifinals
6:15pm (1) West Valley vs. (4) Monroe Catholic
7:45pm (3) East vs. (7) West
Consolation
9:30am (8) Juneau-Douglas vs. (5) Colony
11:00am (2) Dimond vs. (6) ACS
Saturday
7:30pm Title Game