Class 4A State Title Game Preview
For the 4th time this season, Cowapa League rivals Seaside & Banks will square off, this time with the ultimate prize on the line. Both teams will be attempting to make history with a victory, for the Braves it would…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingFor the 4th time this season, Cowapa League rivals Seaside & Banks will square off, this time with the ultimate prize on the line. Both teams will be attempting to make history with a victory, for the Braves it would be the first state title in school history. The Seagulls are appearing in their fourth straight title game & are aiming to becoming the first school at the 4A level to win three straight titles. Seaside has been pushed all year by senior guards Chase Januik and Payton Westerholm, both three year varsity starters who have played in virtually every big game in school history it seems. A talented and highly skilled junior class lead by wing Ryan Hague suggest that Seaside’s run of success won’t come to an end any time soon. The Gulls who have rarely played a traditional post player get the job done with tremendous half court pressure defense, with an aggressive style that rarely allows opponents to be comfortable in what they are doing. Offensively they look to space out opponents and put five players on the floor who have good basketball IQ, can shoot, and put the ball on the floor. Banks which has become a regular at the state tournament under the tutelage of head coach Marc Roche lean heavily on the play of 6’8 senior Blake Gobel, a recent football commit to Eastern Washington. The physical big man, also has the ability to step out to the three point line & knock down shots. Gobel’s top side kick is 6’4 wing Jacob Slifka a knock down shooter whose all around game has really improved this season as he has started to gain physical strength. Banks will offer multiple looks defensively & does a nice job of using their length to disrupt opposing teams, as demonstrated by three opponents this season scoring less than 18 points. Gobel is a huge part in Banks’ effectiveness on the glass, as they rarely give up an offensive rebound.
Prediction: These two teams have gone back & forth at the top of the OSAA & coaches’ rankings all season. Seaside has won 2 of 3 from the Braves’ this year, with all three being well played and tightly contested match ups. We expect most of Seaside & all of Banks (10 minute drive) to be in attendance today as well, which should create an amazing atmosphere. When all is said & done, we anticipate another game that goes down to the final possessions & just like they have done the last two seasons, we expect to see Seaside cutting down the nets & celebrating a third state title over a Cowapa League foe.