[ t o u r n e y t o w n . c o m -- 2009 Class 2A boys state tournament ]

Wapato -- Blodgett 16-25 3-8 38, Nickoloff 4-4 5-6 13, Alvarado 2-10 2-2 7, Garza 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 0-1 2-2 2, Truex 0-0 0-0 0, Ramos 0-6 0-0 0, Pitt 0-0 0-0 0, Reynoso 0-1 0-0 0, Howe 0-0 0-2 0, Guevara 4-9 3-5 11. Totals 26-56 15-25 71.

Clarkston -- McConnell 4-9 5-6 15, Amone 1-2 3-4 6, Brownell 5-7 4-5 14, Jones 1-3 6-7 9, Carey 1-4 0-2 2, Sobotta 2-5 3-4 9, James 3-5 2-7 8, Brown 6-12 8-10 20. Totals 23-47 31-45 83.

Wapato

Clarkston

3-point goals--W 4-22 (Blodgett 3-7, Alvarado 1-8, Reynoso 0-1, Ramos 0-6), C 6-13 (McConnell 2-4, Sobotta 2-5, Amone 1-1, Jones 1-3). Rebounds--W 27 (Guevara 8), C 43 (Brown 9). Assists--W 8 (Blodgett 3), C 11 (McConnell 3, Jones 3). Steals--W 8 (Blodgett 3), C 3 (McConnell 3). Blocked shots--W 2, C 0. Fouled out--Howe, Guevara, Amone. Total fouls
--W 32, C 19. Technical fouls--None. Turnovers--W 14, C 14.

It was neither the desired nor deserved way for Willie Blodgett to go out.

But with 19 seconds left in Wapato’s last game of the season, coach Adam Strom summoned his 5-foot-10 senior to the bench. Blodgett paused, gave a brief look to an unkind scoreboard, then walked slowly toward a subdued group of teammates.

If Wapato lost an 83-71 game to Clarkston on Friday, and with it hopes of placing in the Class 2A state tournament, Blodgett and his teammates left a SunDome throng with something to remember.

Especially Blodgett.

His 38 points had set a tournament record, eclipsing the 37 of three players and accomplished most recently by Pullman’s Fred Peete in 2003.

The total ballooned Blodgett’s three-game total to 85 and his per-game average to 28.3, just short of the record 29.5 set by Lynden Christian’s Paul Hafford in 2002.

But all of this was lost in the Wolves’ loss, which prevented an all-Yakima Valley battle Saturday for fourth and seventh places with Toppenish. Instead, the Bantams (17-10) will oppose Top-Hi at 1:30 p.m.

“It’s disappointing,” Strom said quietly. “We definitely wanted to be playing on the last day you could play in a WIAA event this year.

“We came up one day short, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. These kids have a great deal to be proud of.”

Blodgett made 16 of 25 field goals including 3 of 7 from 3-point range, and added 3 of 8 free throws. He had 22 points at halftime.

Cody Nickoloff added 13 points and Matt Guevara 11 for Wapato, the CWAC regular-season champion, which finished 17-8.

But Clarkston rode the rugged inside presence of 6-foot senior Cody Brown, who totaled 20 points and nine rebounds, plus the 15 points of Dustin McConnell and 14 of Chanse Brownell.

The Wolves trailed by 11 during the first quarter, but Blodgett led them to a 30-26 lead late in the second quarter. By the end of the third period, however, the Bantams were up 54-49 and steadily pulled away.

“It wasn’t the way we wanted our season to end,” Blodgett said, “but they’re a great group of guys. We had a great run.”

Blodgett said that despite his stellar senior season and tourney heroics, the only college coach he’s heard from so far is Yakima Valley’s Ray Funk.