LONGVIEW — Of Kaden Perry’s four dunks on the night that drew rave reviews from the crowd at Mark Morris High School’s Ted M. Natt Court, the last one slammed Battle Ground’s way into the Class 4A Hardwood Classic with authority.
Perry’s game-high 31 points and 16 rebounds helped the Tigers to a 72-57 4A boys regional-round win over Inglemoor on Saturday night.
Battle Ground was the final Clark County basketball team to play a regional game Saturday, but it joins the 4A Greater St. Helens League party of teams playing at the Hardwood Classic next week. All three of the league’s playoff-bound teams to begin the postseason two weeks ago at bi-districts — Battle Ground, Skyview and Union — are all part of the 12-team tournament field at the Tacoma Dome.
The Tigers play a first-round game at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.
It’s the second straight year the program will play at the Tacoma Dome, a feat that is special yet again, guard Nate Millspaugh said.
“We wanted to get back here,” MIllspaugh said. “It’s pretty exciting — not a lot of teams get to, a very small few. We’re not lucky, but we’re lucky at the same time to get here.”
Millspaugh, with 13 points, was one of four Tigers to score in double figures Saturday. He heated up with his second-half scoring behind two NBA-range 3s as part of an 8-2 run that took a one-possession lead early in the fourth quarter to a 53-46 advantage by the 5:30 mark. From there, Brendan Beall gave the Tigers their first double-digit lead at 58-47 with 4:07 to play. Beall finished with 12 points, and David Reed — with his perfect 3 for 3 on 3-pointers off the bench — added 11.
Like he’s done all season, Perry dominated inside facing a double, and at times, a triple team, from the Vikings. He scored 19 of his 31 points in the second half when BG got its momentum for good. He scored six straight BG points that gave them their second lead of the third quarter.
It’s Perry’s second 30-plus-point this postseason … and four dunks Saturday.
“(Perry’s) dunks were really a confidence booster …” Millspaugh said, “and gave us momentum on our side.”
—
BATTLE GROUND 72, INGLEMOOR 57
INGLEMOOR — Zach Shimek 17, Brady Casto 12, Tim Donahue 8, Peter Hansen 7, Zach Hedge 6, Dawson Tucker 7. Totals 21 (8) 7-12 57.
BATTLE GROUND — Kaden Perry 31, David Reed 11, Max Ramirez 2, Cole Billingsley 3, Nate Millspaugh 13, Brendan Beall 12. Totals 23 (8) 18-23 72.
Inglemoor 18 9 14 16 – 57
Bat. Ground 14 13 18 27 – 72
