The Evergreen boys basketball team brought its defense and just enough scoring Wednesday night to get one game closer to the Class 4A state tournament.
Warren Edmondson scored 17 points, and reserve Derrick Pleasant made a huge impact in limited minutes, leading the Plainsmen to a 53-43 victory over Gig Harbor in the opening round of the Class 4A bi-district tournament at Evergreen High School.
Evergreen (16-5) will face Auburn on Friday in a winner-to-state game. The bracket has that game being played at Auburn High School, but it could be changed.
“I’ve always dreamed of going to state. I’m glad we have only one more game to do it,” said Edmondson, who had three 3-pointers. “We just need to win. So that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
With Wednesday’s victory, the Plainsmen gave themselves two more opportunities to advance. If Evergreen loses Friday, the team will play in another winner-to-state game Saturday night.
Right now, the Plainsmen have a positive vibe. They understand they did not play to their best Wednesday, but they still only trailed for the first couple minutes of the game.
“We’ve got to play much better to move on,” Evergreen coach Kelly Blankenship said. “We can’t float through a game and expect to win when we go up north. But our kids stuck together and they brought the defensive effort.”
Richie Townsend had five steals, while Edmondson and O’Shay Piper each had three for the Plainsmen. Gig Harbor was held to 10 or fewer points in three quarters.
Still, the Tides had their chances. Until Pleasant sparked his teammates late in the third quarter.
“He’s a hype man,” Edmondson said. “He makes the plays that gets us going.”
The Tides had cut a 10-point deficit to four when Pleasant buried a 3-pointer with 1:37 left in the third. On Evergreen’s next possession, Pleasant grabbed an offensive rebound and in one motion put up a shot as he was fouled. The score counted and his free throw for the three-point play gave him six quick points and gave Evergreen another 10-point lead.
“I was just kind of in the moment,” Pleasant said. “My teammates needed me at that time. I knew my team was very down at the time. I knew we could come through, step up, and play like we know how to play.”
Gig Harbor never got closer than six points in the fourth quarter. The Plainsmen made eight free throws in the final minute to keep the Tides away from them.
Stefan Foulstone had 10 points for the Plainsmen, and Caleb Dressler scored eight points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked three shots.
Dressler, a 6-10 post, was matched up with University of Washington football recruit Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who is listed at 6-6, 260 pounds. Seferian-Jenkins had 12 points and five rebounds.
Troy Castle also had 12 points for Gig Harbor. It was Castle’s hot hand in the third quarter that got the Tides to within four.
Edmondson had 13 of his points and all of his 3-pointers in the first half for the Plainsmen. He also scored the first two points of the second half, in the middle of an 11-2 Evergreen run.
This was Evergreen’s last home game of the season. The rest of this bi-district tournament and any potential state games will be played outside of Clark County.
“To get a playoff game at home was a blessing,” Edmondson said. “Our fans make it more comfortable. We didn’t want to lose at home.”
Now it’s time to hit the road. Pleasant said the Plainsmen would take only a little time to celebrate Wednesday’s win.
“We’re not going to take a break. We’ll be ready to go,” Pleasant said.
