Davis motivated by alum Cooper Kupp in run to Big 9 regular season title: Washington boys basketball notebook

Lummi craves big crowds, games after stops and starts; Gig Harbor's Luke Browne sets 3-point record; Seven-loss Mariner focused on 'end goal.'

Davis basketball recently won its first Columbia Basin Big 9 league title since 2018, but it’s hardly the biggest story at the Yakima school of late.

Davis alum Cooper Kupp, the L.A. Rams’ prolific wide receiver, is playing in the Super Bowl Sunday. The whole city — and many around the state — are buzzing with support.

That includes Pirates basketball players, who have taken a page out of Kupp’s book as they finish out league play and enter the 4A District 6 tournament.

“I think we’re taking the tip from Cooper,” Davis coach Eli Juarez said. “We’re still business-like and trying to just work hard because we still have to get through our districts.”

REWIND: Davis boys secure signature win at West Valley

Davis (16-1, 10-0) is led by a dynamic backcourt. Senior Robert Galindo rode a breakout junior season into a strong final campaign, and is averaging 15 points, 4.8 boards and 3.1 assists per game. More attention to Galindo has allowed for the emergence of standout freshman guard Cesar Alfredo Hernandez-Delgado, who is averaging a team-high 17 points per game.

And the Pirates, winners of 15 straight, have really started to hit stride as 6-foot-6 load-bearing center Dhantaye Bennett-Joe, a three-year starter, has found his footing down low. 

“We’re starting to feed him more, feed him a little better,” Juarez said. “Our inside play has been a little more dominant the last few games than in the past, which is what you need.

“He’s so big - when (a defender) is hanging on him, you don’t always see them.” 

On and off the court, the Pirates are respectful of one another, which Juarez thinks is the key to their cohesion. And it’s hard for him not to see them with a ball in hand or playing pickup year-round.

“They’re just a group of kids who are basketball-focused and oriented, there’s no other way to put it,” Juarez said.

There’s plenty more basketball to be played. Davis wraps up league play against Moses Lake Friday and West Valley Saturday, the second and third place teams, respectively.

The Pirates play a winner-to-state 4A District 6 tournament game against the No. 2 seed on Friday, Feb. 18. If they lose, they face the loser bracket winner the next day for the second bid.

Before all of that on Sunday, the basketball-crazed Pirates will tune in and cheer on one of their own in the Super Bowl.

Lummi postseason gives new focus after stop-and-start season

Lummi coach Jerome Toby doesn’t know what his team’s true potential is, but he’s hoping his Blackhawks will reach it. 

Lummi, No. 2 in SBLive’s 1B power rankings, completed 12 of its 20 games in a stop-and-start regular season. 

“Our team could have used the full season,” Toby said. “I think we’re still growing.”

First, flooding inn Whatcom County shut the program — and all of Lummi Nation — down for a week. Then came another pause on all activities during Christmas break, which forced Lummi to back out of a holiday tournament at Blaine. 

Upon return, two games were canceled. Finally, the program went on another weeklong pause due to COVID-19 before returning to play with a no spectator policy on Jan. 17.

All that to say, the Blackhawks are craving competition. 

A win over Mount Vernon Christian in the District 1 playoffs gives the Blackhawks a home matchup with the winner of Muckleshoot Tribal and Orcas Island on Tuesday.

Their two senior leaders, forward Tyran Lane (21 points, 11 boards, 2.5 blocks per game) and point guard Duncan Toby (12 points, eight boards, six assists and two steals) also yearn for another shot at a state title. 

They led the team to a fifth place finish in 2020.

Gig Harbor’s Luke Browne breaks single-game 3-point record

(Photo courtesy of Dennis Browne)

It was only a matter of time before junior wing Luke Browne broke Gig Harbor’s single-game 3-point record with 11 in a lopsided win over North Thurston Monday.

“He’s hit seven or eight and I’ve benched him,” Tides coach Billy Landrum said. “Him and Will Landrum, I’d bet half our league games haven’t played in the fourth quarter.”

Browne finished with 37 points in the 88-38 win, sending the Tides (19-1, 13-1) into a 3A bi-district opener with its toughest game of the season: Auburn, SBLive’s No. 2 team in the state.

Browne made an immediate impact as a freshman at Peninsula before transferring to Gig Harbor for the COVID-shortened sophomore season. He’s averaging a team-high 20.3 points per game, and is also shooting 42 percent from 3 and averaging 6.1 boards.

It’s his outside stroke that gets his coach gushing.

“He’s the best shooter I’ve coached in my 16, 17 years,” Billy Landrum said. “He’s just very smooth. You know you can get a bucket out of him. He’s very confident, but frankly, he should be.”

After tumultuous start, Mariner has new focus in the postseason

As predicted by coaches polled by The Everett Herald before the season, Mariner is the 4A Wesco champ and won seven straight to do it, also claiming the 2-seed entering the Wes-King District tournament.

To get there, the Mauraders (12-7, 7-1) weathered a bumpy road. Many nights, COVID caused them to roll out incomplete lineups. 

Head coach Tevin Dillon feels his team is prepared for a postseason run despite the obstacles. The key?

“Playing games,” Dillon said. “Not canceling. We took those losses, but it was better in the long run getting out there to play, getting those minutes.

“We’re focused on the end goal, not about being undefeated.

After losing five times in seven games in December and January, they turned a gear and rattled off a seven-game league win streak, which was snapped by Glacier Peak (12-4) Tuesday after Mariner had clinched the league.

Of its seven losses, Mariner has not lost a game at full strength. Its strength is in its balance. Dakota Joseph, a 6-5 forward, junior forward Makai Bloomfield and senior guard and captain Naser Motley are all averaging double-figures scoring. Three different players have scored 27 or more in a game. 

The Mauraders are also deep — and had its depth tested throughout the season.

“There are guys who can step up and fill those position,” Dillon said. “I’m confident going into mid-February.”

Mariner hosts Jackson Saturday at 7 p.m. in the first round and will vie for one of four state berths.

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Statewide basketball rankings

SBLive’s Washington boys basketball power rankings (Feb. 7)

SBLive’s Washington girls basketball rankings for week of (Feb. 7)

SBLive’s Washington boys basketball coaches polls: Toppenish, Curtis climb (Feb. 7)

SBLive’s all-classification Top 25 Washington boys basketball power rankings: Curtis, Rainier Beach surging (Feb. 7)

SBLive’s all-classification Washington girls Top 25 basketball rankings: Buckle up as postseason play ready to hit another gear!

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(Lead photo by Brenda Hartline Juarez)