PUYALLUP — Clearly, this came down to a lack of coaching.
The Evergreen boys basketball team looked flat-out confused. Players didn’t know what spots to be in or even where to look.
Obviously, they hadn’t worked on how to take celebratory pictures after qualifying for the Class 4A state playoffs.
As for the game itself? That was about as seamless as it gets. Behind the performances of Warren Edmondson and Caleb Dressler, the Plainsmen cruised past Rogers of Puyallup 66-49 in a loser-out game in the bi-district tournament.
Evergreen will play Olympia on Monday in Auburn for state seeding.
“This is for everyone who said we couldn’t do it,” said Dressler, who finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds. “There were so many people who said we didn’t have the talent. We played through a lot of adversity this year and showed we can play together.
Dressler’s presence inside forced Rogers to try to beat Evergreen (17-6) from the perimeter, but the Rams never really threatened.
The Plainsmen’s nine-point lead through the first quarter blossomed into a 15-point lead at halftime. And despite a Rogers run that trimmed the deficit to seven midway through the third quarter, Evergreen never relinquished control.
Of course, it helps to have a player like Edmondson.
The senior poured in a game-high 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds, scoring off “ooooh”-inducing spin moves as well as jumpers from beyond the arc. It was just Friday that his team lost to Auburn, forcing the Plainsmen to win Saturday. Was it ever in doubt? Not if you asked Edmondson.
“We never thought we weren’t going to make it,” Edmondson said after the game. “We’re going to state. This is what the goal has been since preseason.”
Enhancing the victory was the fact that the Evergreen girls team qualified for state just a couple hours earlier by knocking off Emerald Ridge. The girls were on hand to support the boys, and Edmondson posed alongside Sydney Holland after the game.
Evergreen coach Kelly Blankenship said that both teams advancing was good for the school, but you have to think that most of his post-game celebration was due to his own team’s victory.
“It’s pretty neat to see the guys work hard and actually get rewarded,” Blankenship said. “We’ve really stuck together.
Dressler also had four blocks for the Plainsmen. Trey Clard added seven rebounds.
