Eagles capture 4A KingCo title

Issaquah avenges last season's loss to Woodinville in the KingCo championship game

By Shaun Scott • February 22, 2016 3:31 pm
Issaquah Eagles post player Tanner Davis is surrounded by a bevy of Woodinville Falcons players during the Class 4A KingCo championship game on Feb. 18 in Kirkland. Davis scored the Eagles first 11 points of the game in their 75-62 victory.
Issaquah Eagles post player Tanner Davis is surrounded by a bevy of Woodinville Falcons players during the Class 4A KingCo championship game on Feb. 18 in Kirkland. Davis scored the Eagles first 11 points of the game in their 75-62 victory.

The last two seasons a Class 4A KingCo tournament championship eluded the Issaquah Eagles boys basketball team.

The Eagles delivered in their third consecutive title contest, earning a 75-62 win against the Woodinville Falcons on Feb. 18 at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland. The Eagles built a 29-14 lead at halftime and never looked back en route to the win. Issaquah’s renowned stingy defense surrendered just four field goals in the first 16 minutes of play. Issaquah senior floor general Jason Crandall, who scored 18 points, said playing proficient team defense translated into easy buckets on offense.

“Our defense is what did it,” Crandall said. “We only gave up 14 points in the first half. Our defense was playing so well and we got in transition. We knew we could make them uncomfortable.”

With the Eagles offense stalled in the first quarter post player Tanner Davis carried the Eagles. He scored the first 11 Issaquah points of the contest.

The Eagles offense scored 69 points in the final three quarters of play. Issaquah guard Trevon Ary-Turner, who scored a team-high 20 points, said it was just a matter of time until the Eagles offense got rolling. The Eagles led the Falcons 6-5 at the end of the first quarter.

“We just had to stay aggressive. We knew the shots were going to start falling. Our big guys carried us and got us some easy looks early on,” Ary-Turner said. “It gives you confidence when you see the shots go through.”

Issaquah senior Jack Dellinger said the Eagles were determined to avenge last season’s loss against Woodinville in the KingCo title game.

“We have been thinking about it all year. This is what we wanted,” Dellinger said. “Now it is just tunnel vision to state from here.”

Crandall was all smiles on the court as the final seconds trickled off the clock.

“We were just so focused. We lost the last two KingCo championships. You can imagine what it feels like but when the clock is ticking down and you know you have the victory, that is really special,” Crandall said.

Issaquah will face Timberline in a winner-to-state, loser-out regional playoff game at 10 a.m. on Feb. 27 at Bellevue College.