When the dust had settled in their Class 1A state quarterfinal clash, the Meridian boys basketball team was unable to prevent No.1-ranked Annie Wright from moving on, losing to the Gators, 53-22, on Thursday night, March 6, in the Yakima SunDeome.
“We worked our tails off and the guys did a great job,” said Meridian coach Shane Stacy after his seventh-seeded Trojans fell to 18-9 on the season. “They are just at a different level than us. But we stayed positive and played hard. I’m proud of them.”
The Trojans will need to bounce back on Friday when they take on sixth seed Seton Catholic at 12:15 p.m. in a consolation contest. The winner will go on to play for fourth place on Saturday but the loser’s season will be over.
“With the leadership we have … it tells me we’ll be playing well (on Friday),” said Stacy.
On Thursday, Meridian was never able to crack the Annie Wright defense. The Trojans’ 22 points were not only a season-low but about a third of their season average. The Trojans also were outrebounded, 44-22, and committed 21 turnovers.
Senior James Hedahl had a team-high 5 points but even all-Northwest Conference standouts Talon Jenkins and Jaeger Fyfe were held to 4 points each as were sophomores Trey Alexander and Pierce Brzozowski.
But the Trojans can take some solace knowing they held the high-scoring and high-flying Gators to their second lowest point total against a Washington state squad, including several 4A and 3A state teams.
Despite the loss, Stacy praised his players, not only for their effort on the court but for what they’ve meant to him and the Meridian program.
“James Hedahl … I’m so proud of his growth as a person,” said Stacy. “And Trey and Pierce are winners who won’t back down and keep fighting.” And at the mention of Jenkins and Fyfe, who have been the team’s foundation for the past three seasons, the coach got emotional.
“There won’t be two guys like them again,” said the 20-year coach of the Trojans. “They mean the world to me.”
As for the future, making it to state two years in a row will only help the young players who will return next season, said Stacy.
“We’ll get shorter, but we’ve got guys who love basketball,” he said. “I know they’d like to make this an annual event.”
Annie Wright 53, Meridian 22
Meridian 5 5 4 8—22
Annie Wright 15 18 7 13—53
Annie Wright: Noah Schow, Jeremiah Harshman 9, Tabe Walsh 8, Dewayne Anderson, Reggie Lester 8, Cale Carter, Kiente’e Caldwell, Brian Halliday 2, Will Reger 11, Martin Kaupanger 12, Dient’e Caldwell 2, Rowan McEvilly 1.
Meridian: Talon Jenkins 4, Damion Hayes, Jaeger Fyfe 4, Canyon James, Brock Haugen, Matthew Blankenburg, Daniel Larsen 1, Trey Alexander 4, Gabe Galbraith, Pierce Brzozowski 4, James Hedahl 5, Josiah Harris.
CLASS 1A BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
At Yakima SunDome
Wednesday, March 5
Seton Catholic 68, Cashmere 61 (loser out)
Meridian 65, Overlake 52 (loser out)
King’s 69, Bellevue Christian 67 (loser out)
Chelan 69, Bear Creek 51 (loser out)
Thursday, March 6
Zillah 61, Seton Catholic 59
Annie Wright 53, Meridian 22
Lynden Christian 69, King’s 4422-2), 7:15 p.m.
Royal 67, Chelan 46
Friday, March 7
#6 Seton Catholic (19-7) vs. #7 Meridian (18-9), 12:15 p.m. (loser out)
#5 King’s (19-6) vs. #9 Chelan (23-6), 2 p.m. (loser out)
#4 Zillah (21-4) vs. #1 Annie Wright (22-2), 7:15 p.m.
#3 Lynden Christian (23-2) vs. #2 Royal (25-1), 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 8
Consolation game, 9:30 a.m. (winner fourth, loser sixth)
Consolation final, 1 p.m. (winner third, loser fifth)
Championship game, 5 p.m. (winner first, loser second)
