B2 • Friday, March 15, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
SEAGULLS BASKETBALL
Friday, March 15, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • B2
SPECIAL SECTION
MARCH
A sea of red greeted the
Gulls in Forest Grove.
Jeff Ter Har
REDNESS
A SEA OF RED, BUT BRAVES TOP GULLS IN TITLE GAME
By GARY HENLEY
Seaside Signal
F
Jeff Ter Har
Duncan Thompson battles for the ball.
OREST GROVE — Fifteen
minutes following the comple-
tion of the 4A state champi-
onship game — without even
knowing the score — it was
pretty obvious what the results were.
The Banks Braves were still on the
main court with their fans, jamming to
Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration.”
At the same time, the Seaside Gulls
were back in their locker room, feeling
about as low as they’ve felt in four years.
You guessed it. The fi nal score from
Forest Grove High School, for the record,
was Banks 62, Seaside 56.
The Braves overcame a 33-22 defi cit
in the opening minutes of the third quar-
ter, and rallied behind the hot hand of Bret
Cameron to score the victory, preventing a
Seaside three-peat and giving Banks a sec-
ond state championship win over the Gulls
in a four-month span.
In basketball, it was just the second
loss for the Gulls since Dec. 20. Both
losses came at the hands of the Braves. On
the plus side, Seaside (24-4 overall) also
defeated Banks (27-3), twice.
Still, “They’re feeling low,” Seaside
coach Bill Westerholm said of his players.
“These kids have come a long ways. Most
of our seniors have either played in or been
on the bench for three straight champion-
ships. So it hurts ‘em to lose.”
At fi rst — and actually through three
quarters — the game had the appearance
of just another easy win for the Gulls.
Two quick scores by Seaside’s Pay-
ton Westerholm and Ryan Hague gave the
Gulls their largest lead of the day, 33-22,
just seconds into the third quarter.
That’s when Cameron — who had no
points in the fi rst half — hit his fi rst jumper
of the second half, sparking the Braves to
a 14-4 run.
A 3-pointer from Cameron brought
Banks to within 37-36.
Dylan Meyer answered with an offen-
sive rebound score, which was followed
by perhaps the biggest play of the day.
As time expired in the third quarter,
Gobel launched a desperation shot from
half-court. The shot missed, but Gobel was
fouled in the attempt. He made all three
free throws, tying the game at 39-39.
Said Roche, “When Blake got fouled
on that 3-pointer from half court, and he
made all three free throws … it was ‘go
time.’ We knew we had a good chance
after that.”
But not before the teams traded fi ve
straight lead changes on fi ve baskets to
start the fi nal period.
Duncan Thompson’s score gave the
Gulls a 44-43 lead with 5:25 left, but little
did anyone know, that would be Seaside’s
fi nal lead of the season.
Slifka answered with a jumper to give
Banks a 45-44 advantage, and more impor-
tantly sparked a 9-0 run for the Braves.
Still, the Gulls didn’t fold.
Trailing 55-46, Beau Johnson nailed a
3-pointer (his fi fth of the game), and Hague
converted a three-point play, bringing Sea-
side to within 57-54 with 1:41 remaining.
Banks came right back with a free
throw and a fast break layup from Dakota
Bunn, which secured the Braves’ victory.
Summing up Seaside’s season, coach
Westerholm said, “You can’t fi nish fi rst
every year. We got beat by a good Banks
team. We stretched it out to 11 points in the
third, and we just got stagnant.”
Gobel — who scored the go-ahead
touchdown in the state championship
football win — said the friendly rivalry
with the Gulls was a highlight of his high
school sports career, which will fi nish this
spring in baseball.
“We have so much respect for all those
guys,” said Gobel, who fi nished with 24
points and 13 rebounds, both game highs.
“It’s been one hell of a ride, and we still
have one more sport to go. It’s been fun,
and I appreciate all their coaches, families,
players … everybody on their side.”
As for the Gulls, don’t count ‘em out
for a fi fth straight title game appearance
next year.
“It’s been a great ride with these
seniors,” Westerholm said. “We have a
good young group coming in, so we’re
going to be just fi ne. But it’s been a fun
ride, hanging with these seniors. I’ve
learned a lot from them.”
Jeff Ter Har
Chase Januik shoots over Banks’ defenders in the second-half of the championship game.
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