In the midst of a game-ending 10-0 run, fueled by deafening cheering sections inside Skyview’s packed gymnasium, Jovon Sewell turned to longtime friend and teammate Alex Schumacher after the junior point guard’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 1 minute, 9 seconds to play, and shouted into his left ear.
Celebrating, of course.
This is what great players do, he said: step up in a game’s biggest moments.
“That’s definitely what he just did,” Sewell said. “It was an amazing thing to see.”
And so was the final 2 minutes in Skyview’s 59-55 victory over Union Friday night to remain undefeated, now at 14-0.
Schumacher scored the Storm’s final eight points in Skyview’s final run after Union did what it does best — hit outside shots to regain the lead for the first time since its opening possession of the game.
Part of Schumacher’s final eight points of his game-high 23 was a corner 3 that put the Storm up for good at 57-55, which followed a basket off a steal after Union led by as many as 55-49 with 2:11 to play.
This victory, moving to 2-0 in 4A Greater St. Helens League play, is what they Storm called a signature win against a team that’s owned the 4A GSHL the past six seasons.
And owned Skyview, too, entering Friday with a 14-2 all-time record over the Storm. Sewell even went a step further, calling the win a stepping stone.
“We needed to prove to everybody,” he said “… and this was a great way to do it.”
Union, though, didn’t go down without a final fight. After all, the defending 4A state runner-up (9-4, 0-1) knows a thing or two — or six straight — about winning league titles.
In the game’s final minutes, each team had an answer for the other.
Union hit six fourth-quarter 3s, fueled by Tyler Combs’ three straight to open fourth. Those shots weren’t falling early; at one point, Union went 6 of 21 from 3, which in part led to Skyview’s first double-digit lead in the first half. Jason Franklin, Jr., had 10 of his 15 points in the first half for Union.
Those outside shots, though, began falling when it mattered most.
Combs led Union with 16 points, and was part of the Titans run that gave the visitors their first lead since their opening possession of the game at 3-2. The two teams traded leads five times the final 4:05 of the game.
And when Union’s lead was 55-49, the Titans didn’t score again the final 2:11.
And Skyview did.
First, it was Sewell’s basket to make it 55-51, and then Schumacher for the final eight. The only blemish might be his only miss at the free-throw line Friday with 5.3 seconds to go, unable to complete a 3-point play.
But it didn’t matter because Skyview is 2-0 in the 4A GSHL to cap an impressive week 48 hours after a road win at Camas.
Cole Grossman added 11 points and six rebounds and Samaad Hector had 10 and nine rebounds for the Storm.
This undefeated deal, Skyview is far from being tired of it. In fact, the Storm say, they feel there’s a lot more in the tank.
No Storm team has been unbeaten at this stage of a season, now 14-0 overall. The Storm also are 2-0 through the first leg of the 4A Greater St. Helens League season.
What does this week say about Skyview?
A lot, Schumacher said.
“We have a lot to be proud of,” said Schumacher, who also had six rebounds and four assists.
“We trust each other, especially when we’re down. When we’re down … we’re just us.”
SKYVIEW 59, UNION 55
UNION — Tyler Combs 16, Jason Franklin, Jr., 15, Zach Reznick 6, Quinn Lamey 5, Dustin Nettles 3, Ethan Smith 3, Alishawuan Taylor 2, Brad Lackey 2, Houston Combs 1, Aiden Nellor 0, Josh Reznick 0. Totals 20 (11) 4-7 55.
SKYVIEW — Alex Schumacher 23, Cole Grossman 11, Samaad Hector 10, Jovon Sewell 8, Kyle Gruhler 7, KB Fesehazion 0, Squeeky Johnson 0, Chris Webster 0. Totals 23 (8) 5-12 59.
