Sports

Auburn hands Gig Harbor boys only second setback of year in district playoffs

Gig Harbor let a halftime lead slip away in a district playoff-opening battle of once beatens, falling at Auburn, 78-66, Saturday night. The 21-1 Trojans clinched a regional berth while the 19-2 Tides host Lincoln in a loser-out contest on Wednesday. The Abes routed Kent-Meridian, 75-55, on Saturday.

Three Tides players — Will Landram, Christian Parrish and Parker Born — picked up their third fouls in the second quarter. Coach Billy Landram was forced to rotate minutes among them to try to stay in the game while protecting them from further whistles. And yet Gig Harbor managed a 36-34 halftime advantage.

“Kids came off the bench and did a great job of playing, but that’s a lot of your real players in foul trouble,” Landram said. “We made some shots and were able to keep them off the glass.”

Auburn forged ahead, 54-49, after a tough third quarter for the Tides.

“They hit some shots and we had some turnovers,” Landram said.

The Trojans bumped the deficit to 10 in the fourth quarter and kept Gig Harbor at arm’s length the rest of the way. Thirty-eight fouls were called on the Tides, with Landram fouling out.

“It’s hard to play aggressive when you don’t know what’s going to be called,” Coach Landram said.

“It was hard to get over the hump. We’ve got to cut down some of the errors and obviously not be in foul trouble, and we’re right there.”

Auburn has averaged 86 points in demolishing all but two of its foes, and eclipsed the century mark a couple times. The Trojans lost to top-ranked Garfield and O’Dea hung within six points. They full-court press the entire game and force turnovers that lead to runouts.

“They’re very good,” Landram said. “Their half-court defense is very good. They’re very lanky and good athletes. They like to get out and run.”

Asher Raquiza led the Tides with 17 points. Luke Browne and Parrish each added 15. Maleek Arington, a 6-foot-3 guard, and Tre Blassingame, a 6-foot-5 guard, paced the Trojans with 19 and 15.

Should Gig Harbor get past Lincoln Wednesday, it will need to win just one of two ensuing games to qualify for state.