Everybody knows that winning even one state basketball championship is
hard enough.
But winning two, back to back. That’s an even harder thing to do.
In fact, only seven teams have done it since 1958.
The Bellevue Christian boys, winners of the Class 1A title last year,
found themselves in a dog fight with Toledo in the opening game of their
defense of the Class 1A state championship at the Yakima Valley SunDome
on Wednesday.
Led by Jeffrey Downs’ 25 points, the Vikings rallied from a 27-24
halftime deficit to capture a 56-47 victory and advance to the
quarterfinals against either Friday Harbor or Napavine.
But though they have handled the pressure of having the target on their
backs all season -- finishing 20-2 with their only losses coming to 4A
Inglemoor and Class 2A King's -- it hasn’t always been easy.
“This has been a very interesting year,” Bellevue Christian Michael
Downs said. “In the beginning of the season, everybody expected us to
win, and the kids weren’t having fun.
“I’m glad we’re past that now.”
And they sure weren’t about to let Toledo end their shot at becoming the
eighth team to grab back-to-back titles, especially after everything the
team has been through this season.
“This has been much more difficult than last year,” Downs added. “I now
understand that saying (that winning the second is always
harder).”
The Indians gave Bellevue Christian fits by playing tremendous pressure
defense and using swift backdoor cuts.
“Toledo played very hard-nosed basketball,” Bellevue Christian coach
Michael Downs noted. “They played very impressive pressure defense, and
they just played with that attitude.”
The attitude being that of a 22-2 team that knows how to win.
Nate Hendricks added 15 points for the Vikings (21-2), and Evan Haines
had 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Chad Amrine paced Toledo (22-3) with 17 points and Talon Rakoz had 11
points. The Indians will face the Friday Harbor-Napavine loser Thursday
at 1:30 p.m.
