Community Sports

Gig Harbor opens with back-to-back league wins

The Gig Harbor Tides won their second straight Puget Sound League Narrows Division boys basketball conference contest on Dec. 9, a convincing 71-53 victory over Capital in Olympia.

Senior guard Cole Browne led the Tides (2-1, 2-0 PSL) with 25 points and 10 rebounds while junior forward Michael Masini contributed 22 points and six rebounds.

Capital played with inspiration behind high-flying 6-foot-5 center Marcus Sledge, who opened the game with seven quick points. The Cougars finished the first quarter with a 12-9 lead.

Changing defenses

Tides coach Billy Landram pulled his team out of their match-up zone and went to a man-to-man defense with the 6-foot-4 Browne on Sledge. It proved to be one of the game’s turning points.

Browne relentlessly pressured Sledge, stayed in front of his combo moves and rebounded his misses while holding him scoreless into late in the third quarter.

“I think it comes down to going out there and playing hard in every part of the game while believing in my teammates’ help-side defense if needed and staying true to the defense I’ve always played,” Browne said.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-8 Masini displayed polished offensive moves that resulted in several midrange jump shots that swished through the net. It is apparent that he expanded that part of his game on the summer AAU circuit.

“Oh absolutely. I’ve worked hard this off-season, expanding my game and building confidence in my shot,” Masini said. “Being able to knock down shots and being a threat from anywhere on the floor opens up the court for my team.”

Perfect at the line

While Masini was smooth, Browne was rough as he attacked the hoop and continually drew fouls at the rim. The senior cashed in at the line, going 8-8 in the second quarter and 14-14 during the game.

Cole Browne made all 14 free throws in the win over Capital. Photo by Dennis Browne

“Sometimes when your first couple threes don’t drop, you have to look elsewhere to get yourself going,” Browne said. “And that ended up with me getting to the rim and the free-throw line which allowed me to expand my game from there.”

Browne also turned in a Gig Harbor first, as he completed a rare seven-point possession in the second quarter.

He made two free throws, then two more after officials called a technical foul on Capital. The Tides retained possession after the technical foul, and Browne buried a corner 3-pointer as the Tides stretched the lead from two to nine points on one trip down the court.

Backcourt contributions

Gig Harbor got consistent play from a trio of guards.

Juniors Quentin Bockhorn buried a couple of long shots on his way to 10 points. Bockhorn also turned in the hustle play of the night when he poked the ball away from a player and dove head-first to save it, leaving multiple layers of skin on the Cougar court.

The Tides’ 5-foot-11 junior point guard, Ty Buchanan, played physical defense and was solid bringing the ball up quickly.

The Tides are athletic and have guys who run the lanes. Buchanan found those players and delivered the ball on time while taking what the defense gave him. He splashed a top-of-the-key 3-pointer in the third quarter and had a couple of hustling put backs after bogarting offensive rebounds on his way to 11 points.

The Tides also got nice complimentary games from juniors Jack Johnsen, a 6-foot-4 junior who looked smooth dropping in three 3-pointers and scoring 11 points. Junior DJ Darling, who just ran off the football field, bird-dogged opposing guards while contributing positive plays that don’t always show up in the stat book but surely help win games.

Disaster averted

The Tides pulled away in the second half but also narrowly averted disaster.

Masini stole a pass and raced for the hoop on Sledge and another Capital player. But instead of going for a pull-up jumper, Masini tried to dunk on both players. Everyone involved was way above the rim.

Gig Harbor’s Michael Masini stretches above Marcus Sledge for 2 of his 22 points versus Capital. Photo by Dennis Browne

Masini’s dunk attempt failed as he got fouled hard and all three players crashed to the floor, luckily un-hurt. The play demonstrated the junior’s aggressive style.

“Being able to be strong with the ball and attack the hoop is very important,” Masini said. “It opens up opportunities for myself and my teammates as well as giving us a lot of energy.”

The Class 3A Tides suffered a tough non-league opening loss against Class 4A Woodinville, but probably benefitted more by playing that game instead of scheduling a cupcake opener. Gig Harbor bounced back to knock off 2023-24 South Sound Conference champion North Thurston, 49-42, at home on Dec. 5.

Lakes visits Gig Harbor at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11.