1A Boys State: Despite Season-Ending Loss, Blaine Makes Memories

The Blaine boys basketball team enjoyed an historic season. The Borderites just wish they’d enjoyed it a little while longer.

Blaine ran into a hot Quincy team and fell in the loser-out opening-round game, 69-51, at the Class 1A state tournament Wednesday afternoon, March 2, in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

The loss ended the season for the ninth-seeded Borderites, who brought the glory back to the orange and black by winning a state regional game and returning to Yakima for the first time since 2004.

“I am so incredibly proud of our players for the journey they took us on this year,” said Blaine coach Brett Farrar, whose team finished the season with a 14-7 record. “While we are disappointed with our outcome today, the memories made will last a lifetime.”

Eighth-seed Quincy proved its record (now 21-4) was no fluke. The Borderites seemingly had control in the first half, taking a four-point lead into intermission. But the Jackrabbits ran away from Blaine with a pair of 20-point quarters in the second half.

Senior Cole Thomas led the Borderites with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Fellow seniors Scott Baldwin and Jaxon Kortlever had 8 points each. Junior Matthew Russ added 8 rebounds for Blaine. Unfortunately, Blaine had no answer for Quincy’s TreyVaughn Bierlink, who had 31 points.

While no team likes to end a season on a loss, it’s hardest on seniors, whose high school careers also come to an end.

And Blaine had an outstanding 2022 class: Baldwin, Kortlever, Thomas, Avery Dohner, and Anden Holley.

“I’m eternally grateful for their willingness to be coached, great teammates, and friends,” said Farrar, speaking of the whole team but especially the senior class, which started as freshmen when he started at Blaine. “They will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Quincy will face Whatcom County power Lynden Christian in a quarterfinal contest on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Quincy 69, Blaine 51

Blaine 13 20 8 10—51

Quincy 17 12 20 20—69

Blaine: Lucas Smith 3, Matthew Russ 5, Ethan Koreski 2, Jaxon Kortlever 8, Cole Thomas 20, Scott Baldwin 8, Avery Dohner, Carson Lehnert 5, Anden Holley, Alex Censale, Noah Tavis, L. Creasey Pulphus.

Quincy: Jalen Spence 19, TreyVaughn Bierlink 31, Aidan Wallace, Aidan Bews 4, Andrew Townsend, Saul Alvarez 10, Sebastian Valdez, Reid Thomsen, Aidan Heikes 5, Tim Bensch.