Foster scores 28 points to lead Eagles over Union
Hudson’s Bay completed an impressive run through the Class 3A boys basketball district tournament Friday, defeating Union 82-76 in the championship game.
With wins over Camas, Prairie and Union in the span of four nights, the Eagles earned the Greater St. Helens League’s No. 1 seed to the bi-district tournament, which will determine berths to the state tournament.
That’s quite an improvement over the No. 3 seed they earned for the district tournament.
“I think we just had to believe in ourselves,” senior Gabe Foster said, after scoring a game-high 28 points. “Nobody expected us to win.”
That likely was the case after the first quarter against Union, as the host Eagles trailed 20-13.
But Hudson’s Bay put together a 33-point second quarter behind 14 points from Foster, seizing control of the game.
“We got off to a pretty slow start,” Hudson’s Bay coach Andy Meyer said. “Then we went to our press and turned it up a bit. I don’t know how much it affected them, but it energized us.”
Sophomore Derrick Brooks scored 15 points for the Eagles, one night after tallying 25 against Prairie.
But the evening belonged to Foster, who finished 13 of 13 from the free-throw line.
“We knew they would press,” Foster said. “We wanted to attack their press.”
Meyer said: “It was nice that Gabe had a big one for us, All year, somebody different every night has stepped up.”
Union was led by 24 points from Kyle Holmes and 15 points from Caleb Whalen.
But the Titans spent most of the second half playing catchup.
Hudson’s Bay, Union and Prairie will advance to the 16-team bi-district tournament.
Meyer credited his players for putting Hudson’s Bay into this position.
“That is the reason for our success,” he said. “Them buying into what the coaches are telling them.”
