A comeback victory unveiled by the Union Titans derailed the Issaquah Eagles bid to capture fourth place at the Class 4A boys state basketball tournament.

Union outscored Issaquah 17-7 in the fourth quarter, earning a 60-57 win in the fourth place/sixth place contest on March 5 at the Tacoma Dome. The Eagles had two chances to tie the game in the final 20 seconds. With the Titans clinging to a 59-57 lead, Issaquah post player Tanner Davis was calling for traveling on a drive to the hoop with 19.8 seconds left in regulation.

Following Union’s Cameron Cranston free throw, which extended Union’s lead to 60-57, Issaquah senior Jason Crandall attempted a three-pointer as the closing seconds of regulation trickled off the clock. There was contact from the Union defender as Crandall’s shot was off the mark but no foul was called by the officials.

Davis said his team’s inability to handle Union’s stifling defense in the fourth quarter was the difference in the game down the stretch.

“We couldn’t handle their pressure. We just weren’t mentally there at the end of the game. We started out hot but we couldn’t finish it,” Davis said.

Issaquah head coach Jason Griffith concurred with Davis’ assessment of the contest’s outcome.

“We didn’t respond to their press and we got complacent with the ball. We made some uncharacteristic decisions and it caught up to us,” Griffith said.

Issaquah finished the 2015-16 season with an overall record of 22-5 and a sixth place finish at the Class 4A state tournament.

“They are a great group of kids. Every year is special and every year is a new journey. This group accomplished a lot this year. It would had been nice to finish with a ‘W’ but we came up short,” Griffith said.

The Eagles varsity basketball team will look very different next season. Seniors Jason Crandall, Scott Kellum, Dane Mui and Jack Dellinger will graduate this June.

“I have seen this group of seniors come into our program as boys and they are leaving as men. I have watched these guys develop for four years. They have done a lot for this program and have helped put this program on the map,” Griffith said.