They never gave up, they never stopped playing hard, and in the end, they accomplished things no Hazen basketball team had done in more than 10 years.
After an exceptional year, the Highlanders’ season ended with a 50-49 loss to Glacier Peak Feb. 26 in the second round of the 3A state tournament.
“These kids will flat fight until the bitter end,” said Hazen coach Gary Schaplow. “I’m really proud of them.”
Hazen (21-7) dominated most of the league schedule and won the school’s first Seamount title since 1998. However the postseason was a little more treacherous for the Highlanders.
An 81-43 loss to Lakes at sub-districts woke them up. An 85-82, overtime loss to Decatur threatened to beat them down. Five district playoffs games in seven days wore them out.
Schaplow it was those close games finally caught up with the Highlanders against Glacier Peak.
During Hazen’s trip through districts, the team beat Kelso in double-overtime, overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to Camas, and beat league rival Kennedy Catholic in a slugfest that clinched the team’s first state appearance since 2002.
The trend of close games didn’t stop once the Highlanders made it to state. In the first round against Mountlake Terrace, they were down by 12 early in the fourth quarter.
Hazen pulled back into the game as Frankie Johnson and De’Corrius Sampson kept attacking the hoop. The Highlanders pulled to within four points with just 24 seconds left.
“I told them the same thing I told them when we were down by 12 with five and a half minutes to go: You’ve got a ton of time and I know we can play better than this,” Schaplow said.
Sampson scored on a drive with 14 seconds left to cut the Hawks’ lead to two. Brandt Graybeal stole the ensuing inbounds pass and scored with just five seconds left. Hazen’s defense didn’t allow a final attempt by Mountlake Terrace.
Once Michael Dampier hit a three-pointer to open overtime, the Highlanders were rolling. The team led by at least five for most of the extra period and won easily. The win was the team’s first at the state tournament since 1998.
Hazen moved on to face Glacier Peak in the next round. Dampier scored 13 and R.J. Magar scored 10 points to lead the team, but it wasn’t quite enough.
Glacier Peak’s Dylan Vargas made two free throws with 13.5 seconds left to end Hazen’s season.