Dean Wagenaar called it a microcosm of an up-and-down season. Which, as averages would have it, explains the 13-13 record.

Sunnyside Christian's Steven Broersma, center, and Matt Crabtree block a shot by Tulalip Heritage's James Whitebear during the final quarter of Saturday's Class 1B state tournament game.   SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic

But after a 56-52 loss to Tulalip Heritage on Saturday, Wagenaar’s Sunnyside Christian’s boys had one nice consolation prize — another chunk of hardware for a burgeoning trophy case.

The program’s fifth trophy in five years and ninth overall was for Saturday’s seventh-place finish, something of a letdown following back-to-back titles in the Class 1B state tournament but given their youth the Knights have little to grumble about.

“We were hoping to get fourth place, but I just feel blessed that we made it this far,” said senior Matt Crabtree, who had 11 points and seven rebounds. “We were so close in the games we lost, but we got a trophy. We should feel good about that.”

As Wagenaar noted, there times when the Knights were forceful and impressive on the floor against Tulalip Heritage. But there were also times when lapses cost them dearly.

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“We did some real nice things in the first half, but in the second half we had some problems — it was like a microcosm of our season,” he said. “Our offense goes through droughts once in a while, and today we had some times when we just couldn’t hit our shots.”

The Knights brutalized Tulalip on the boards in the first half — 30-13 — and held the lead throughout the second and third quarters. But the Hawks stayed even with SC on the glass in the second half, giving their offense a chance for a big finish.

Which Lesjar McKinney delivered.

The 6-foor-3 senior forward hit a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter for a lead his team would not relinquish, and he added two more baskets down the stretch — each one coming after SC had rallied with a point.

McKinney took nearly half of Tulalip’s shots, making 13 of 25 for 29 points to go with his 10 rebounds and five steals.
The Hawks made six straight free throws between 2:12 and 1:00 left in the game, but then missed three foul shots in the final 30 seconds to give the Knights hope.

Sophomore Ryker Van Belle knows all about that, stirring memories of his championship-winning 3-pointer last year with a top-of-the-arc trey with 20 seconds left to trim the margin to 54-52.

SC put the Hawks on the line with 18 seconds left, and Keith Davis made 1 of 2 to finish with 13 points.

The Knights then weaved the ball around the perimeter looking for an open look and freshman Trevor Wagenaar found one and hit the shot. But he was called for traveling just prior to releasing the ball.

“We played hard for four days and we got pretty close,” said the coach. “One loss at the buzzer (to Cusick) and then this one by, what, four points? It was a very good effort.”

Sophomore Steven Broersma made 7 of 10 shots for 16 points and eight rebounds, and Steven Bosma, another sophomore, hauled down nine rebounds.

“With all these young guys, if they put in the work during the off-season they’re going to be really good,” Crabtree said. “And for a long time.”