The 16-3 Timberline High School boys’ basketball team has been building and preparing all season to peek at the right time. Now is the time.
With a win last Saturday, the Blazers are looking strong as they head into Regional State WIAA 3A play and if all goes well Thursday, the Blazers hope to land a high berth at the 2022 Hardwood Classic State Tournament March 2-5 at the Tacoma Dome.
Timberline defeated Todd Beamer High School Saturday, February 12, 2022 in Lacey 70-40 in the first round of WIAA 3A District basketball play. With the win the Blazers are guaranteed a Regional State berth. Timberline (#1 District seed) heads to Auburn High School to play Kelso (#4 District seed) at 6 p.m. in a District semifinal. Both teams have qualified for Regionals so for now winning games helps with momentum and seeding. Auburn and Mt. Tahoma meet in the other district semi-final game.
Junior standout Brooklyn Hicks led Timberline against Todd Breamer with 24 points including 16 in the second half. Miles Gurske complimented Hicks with 19 points including 2 3-pointers. Chis Hogan scored 11 to lead Todd Beamer.
For head coach Allen Thomas, the game was a chance to continue positive energy and growth. “It was very important for us to just continue working together and keep getting better,” Thomas remarked after the win against Todd Bearmer. “We had a few early nerves but once we relaxed we settled down, had steady play and then really attacked them in the second half.”
Under Allen’s leadership the team has won 14 straight games and is heading in the exact direction with momentum the coach hoped for. “The team was built to peek at the playoffs and I see regionals and state as not only an opportunity, but a strong challenge. It is important for us to continue to improve every game and we know we still have work to do each time we play especially with the Metro League ahead of us who is strong top to bottom.”
Junior Brooklyn Hicks is the foundation of the athletic Blazers offensive and defense. Hicks already has offers from several Division One schools including University of Washington, Washington State University, Oregon State, Cincinnati and Marquette. Hicks is joined by junior shooting guard Miles Gurske, junior Jackson Brown and big man sophomore Darrell Gipson.
Allen hopes the young team gains experience and composure as they head into Districts, State and future post seasons. Timberline last placed 4th place in 2018 but has a squad that has not had deep post season experience yet. “We have fought hard to be here, we trust each other and are ready to see how far we can go,” said Allen.
