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King’s Way takes control of Trico League boys basketball

Knights hold off second-place La Center 62-60

By Paul Valencia, Columbian High School Sports Reporter
Published: January 26, 2015, 4:00pm

LA CENTER — Some still call any basketball game on the first day of the work week Big Monday.

For King’s Way Christian, it was really, really, really big Monday.

The Knights rallied in the fourth quarter to top La Center 62-60, taking control of the Trico League boys basketball standings in the process.

Kienan Walter scored 11 of his 19 points in the second half, including the final five points for the Knights.

King’s Way (13-5, 9-1 Trico) now is a game-and-a-half up on La Center (9-6, 7-2), plus the Knights have swept the Wildcats this season.

“It’s so much fun, in the moment, I can’t even describe it,” Walter said. “The feeling is so great. I’m so proud of my team.”

Walter gave King’s Way the lead for good inside two minutes at 61-60. The two teams then turned the ball over three times, leading to a free throw from Walter with 39 seconds left.

Another turnover from La Center, and then a missed free throw from King’s Way set up the final showdown: La Center’s Wyatt Aguirre, who had made five 3-pointers, just missed his sixth with about five seconds left. A scramble for a rebound took away more time, with the ball going out of bounds off La Center with less than a second remaining. The Knights threw the ball to half court, and the clock expired.

King’s Way coach Daven Harmeling said the two keys for his squad were fourth-quarter defense and team ball with La Center focusing on Walter, the region’s leading scorer at better than 23 points per game. King’s Way held La Center to seven points in the final quarter. And the Knights had three other players besides Walter who reached double figures in scoring.

Cole Jensen’s fourth 3-pointer of the game gave King’s Way a 57-53 lead early in the fourth. He finished with 14 points. Arda Aydin added 13 points and eight rebounds. Kyle Gonzales scored 12 points.

Aguirre led La Center with 15 points. Brody Setter made his first four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Will Rice had 11 points and five assists.

Rice’s final basket came on a fast break that started when Setter blocked a King’s Way shot, then chased down the offensive rebound just before the ball went out of bounds. The home crowd went wild, and the Wildcats were hoping that would be the momentum they would need to win.

Nope.

“No one freak out about it,” Walter said.

The Knights came down the floor and scored right away to re-take the lead.

“My teammates played so good,” Walter said.

It was a big game, a big day, and a really big win for King’s Way.

KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 62, LA CENTER 60

KING’S WAY — Cole Jensen 14, Joe Mills 4, Kyle Gonzales 12, Arda Aydin 13, Kienan Walter 19, Karter Graves 0, Mikey Johnson 0, Anthony Huser 0. Totals 24-51 (5-17) 9-14 62.

LA CENTER — Chase Davison 7, Will Rice 11, Wyatt Aguirre 15, Max Hiller 2, Jake Wise 9, Sawyer Bierschied 0, Dalton Morgan 2, Brody Setter 14. Totals 20-52 (12-25) 8-12 60.

King’s Way 14 22 14 12—62

La Center 18 17 18 7—60

JV — La Center won

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Columbian High School Sports Reporter