Emerald Ridge runs out of magic, falls to Gonzaga Prep in state semis
· Yahoo Sports
Just when it looked like Emerald Ridge had more magic in store, the Jaguars ran out of gas.
It wasn’t long before Gonzaga Prep erased a four-point halftime deficit and seized control of Friday’s 4A semifinal, pushing the pace in transition and knocking down shots from deep. The defending champions looked the part.
Visit milkshakeslot.com for more information.
Can the Bullpups go back-to-back? Spark-plug guard Jack Pierce dropped a game-high 16 points and Gonzaga Prep roared back to beat Emerald Ridge, 52-37, punching their tickets for Saturday’s title game at the Tacoma Dome.
Pierce’s energy was palpable Friday night, the catalyst for Gonzaga Prep’s comeback. The senior kept his foot on the gas, finishing with four rebounds and two assists as the game’s top scorer.
“I have a bit of a football mentality,” Pierce said. “I get all of my energy and effort from that.
“We push each other every day, so it’s all of us. It’s not just me.”
Gonzaga Prep reached Friday’s semifinals with a dramatic, double-overtime win over No. 6 Puyallup the afternoon before, capped by Dylynn Groves’ last-second game-winner off the glass. There’s seemingly a new hero every night — just the way the Bullpups want it.
“Anyone on this team could have a big game at any moment,” Pierce said. “That’s just the love. We all love each other. We push each other to the limit. There’s never any jealousy or anything.”
Emerald Ridge’s tournament run includes an upset win over No. 1 Mount Si in Thursday’s quarterfinals. They’ll play for third place at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday.
Jaguars guard Mychal Turner paced the Jaguars with 13 points, wowing the crowd with a handful of smooth spin moves to the rim (5-8 FG). Standout forward Jamaize McGriff was limited to 10 points; Jordan Bennett and Darius Alexander added six points apiece.
“We had a great year,” Emerald Ridge head coach Pat Mullen said. “We just got beat by the defending state champs. Well-coached, great program.
“Most wins [25] in school history. It’s hard to beat.”
Gonzaga Prep’s Carter Nilson scored 12 points and guard Ryan Carney had 10. Forward Jackson Mott added 8 points and 13 rebounds.
Gonzaga Prep meets Richland in Saturday’s championship at 3 p.m.