The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report

Unsung heroes always seem to play a role in big games and you can add Kobe Amio’s name to that list.

The West Valley forward came off the bench Friday to step in for foul-ridden, injury-plagued superstar Malachi Bradley and provided a boost in a 44-41 victory over Monroe Catholic.

Wolfpack leader Stewart Erhart pumped in a game-high 24 points to lead his team to Saturday’s title game in the ASAA/First National Bank Class 4A boys state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Erhart gets the pub, but Wet Valley got it done because of reserves like Amio, who played key minutes in the biggest game of the season.

He only scored two points – which is huge in a one possession final score – but he also grabbed two rebounds, blocked a shot and made two steals. Not just that, Amio shadowed Monroe shooting guard Jett McCullough and helped limit the sharpshooter to a 1-for-6 clip from 3-point range.

“Kobe got his opportunity and played well,” West Valley coach Colton Growden said.

West Valley’s Malachi Bradley gets low on Monroe’s Trevor Mahler. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report

Amio, a senior, started every game last season and has willingly accepted his new role coming off the bench. It’s that kind of selfless act that turns a team from pretender to contender.

“He’s got a lot of experience on the floor and he’s bought into his role this year knowing that we have another guy that can get the job done with a little more skill,” Growden said. “But Kobe comes in and works his butt off every day in practice.”

Early in the second quarter, Bradley seemed to have tweaked his already banged up right ankle and headed to the bench in an 11-11 tie. Enter Amio, who helped the Wolfpack seize control and take a 19-14 lead they never relinquished.

“It’s just next man up,” Erhart said. “That’s what we work on. I believe in all my teammates and I’m not afraid to get them the ball.”

West Valley’s Stewart Erhart. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report

Erhart, of course, was the main force driving West Valley (26-1) to its first title game appearance since 1990.

The college-ready 6-foot-3 guard put on a showstopping performance, scoring 20 of his team’s first 33 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

Erhart’s jumper was wet as he splashed four from midrange and finished with eight points in the third quarter as West Valley held a slim 33-30 edge heading into the fourth. The Wolfpack needed him to live up to his billing.

“That’s why he’s back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year,” Growden said of Erhart. “He steps up in the biggest moments and hit shots when we need them.”

Bradley, a 6-foot-2 guard, is smooth off the dribble and hard to guard with his array of spin moves and ball fakes. He has a beautiful game but was limited because of foul trouble and a nagging ankle sprain. He eventually fouled out in the closing moments, putting Amio back on the floor at crunch time.

ASAA/First National Bank Alaska
Class 4A Boys State Championships
Friday
Semifinals

West Valley 44, Monroe Catholic 41
East 62, West 31
Consolation
Juneau-Douglas 73, Colony 64
Dimond 58, ACS 30
Saturday
Fourth Place Game

9:00am (8) Juneau vs. (2) Dimond
Third Place Game
9:00am (7) Monroe vs. (4) West
Title Game
7:30pm (3) East vs. (1) West Valley

Still, when he was in the game, Bradley delivered. He scored four of his team’s first eight points. He took a charge in the third quarter and he converted a layup on a press breaker that pushed West Valley’s advantage to 43-35 inside the final minute.

In that pivotal fourth quarter, the Wolfpack got scoring from five different guys, including a free throw by JaMari Sims with 15 seconds left.

This all-Fairbanks state semifinal was a physical, gut check game that was fun to watch.

“They played their heart out,” Growden said of his guys. “We weren’t getting into our press. Monroe did a great job. They had a great game plan, but our guys just stuck with it and found a way to get to the free-throw line and made their free throws and that’s what it takes to win a game.”

West Valley finished 7-of-9 from the foul line.

Monroe’s Williams Bast. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report

Monroe was led by guard William Bast’s 20 point. This guy is all guts and left it all out of the floor. He defended Erhart on most possessions and still had energy to score.

He put the crowd in a frenzy after canning a 24-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull the Rams within 22-19 at halftime.

He also scored or assisted on all 11 points of the third quarter. In the final 71 seconds, he drilled back-to-back 3-pointers to get his team within 43-38.

Monroe big man Trevor Mahler (11 points, 8 rebounds) cashed in on an old-fashioned three-point play with 21 seconds left to make it a one possession game.

“We let them get going, we let them come back and make the game close,” Erhart said. “That’s on us. That’s not them doing anything special.”

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