Community Sports

Gig Harbor boys rally from 16-point deficit to stun Timberline

The Gig Harbor boys basketball team rallied from a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to win a thrilling South Sound Conference boys basketball showdown against Timberline, 58-57, on Tuesday, Dec. 19.

A large crowd watched the Tides refuse to lose on their home court, as Gig Harbor pulled off the largest fourth-quarter comeback in the 11-year tenure of coach Billy Landram.

Third-quarter collapse

The Tides (7-0, 4-0 South Sound Conference) played well in the first half before foul trouble and turnovers allowed Timberline (3-4, 2-1) to gain a five-point advantage at halftime.

The Blazers used their press and three-point marksmanship to claim a commanding 14-point lead after the third quarter, then expanded it early in the fourth. Their win-loss record is deceiving, as the Blazers played a tough non-league schedule that included close losses to Class 3A powers Rainier Beach, O’Dea and Auburn.

Gig Harbor went on an unbelievable 19-2 run in the final period to win by one point in a comeback that won’t soon be forgotten by local hoop fans.

The Tides were led by shooting guard Cole Browne, who scored 15 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter. The junior buried a pressure-packed free throw late in the game to give the Tides the decisive 58-57 lead.

Cole Browne scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to help Gig Harbor defeat Timberline, 58-57. Photo by Mason Hasslinger

Fourth quarter heroics

In the fourth quarter, Browne scored at the free throw line several times and twice in the open court on pretty Euro-step lay ins. A whirling bank shot after a difficult, left-handed spin dribble gave the crowd hope and then he drained consecutive deep 3-pointers late in the game.

The last bomb with under two minutes to play was off a tricky Tide out of bounds play. Browne set a screen and then made a curl cut before sprinting to the corner where he caught a quick pass and instantly turned and fired a shot with a Timberline player in his face.

“Cole played huge,” Landram said. “We are asking him to do a bit of everything, which puts a lot on his plate, but he handles it well. When we needed him most in the fourth quarter, he stepped up and hit several big-time shots.”

Browne’s three-pointer brought the Tides to within 57-55 with under two minutes to go. The large home crowd chanted “D-Up!, D-Up!” on the ensuing Blazer possessions.

Tides senior Logan Parrish was listening and got a baseline steal. Michael Masini followed with another steal at half court to keep the Blazers from scoring.

Comeback complete

Gig Harbor then went to Masini on an isolation play. The talented power forward drove for a pretty bucket through contact to tie the score at 57 with under a minute to go.

Masini scored six big points in the fourth quarter off attacking moves and finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds. “Masini played very well as he is improving every game he plays,” Landram said.

“I found the open space on the court and saw it was only my man between me and the basket,” Masini said of his key fourth-quarter basket. “He closed out hard on my pump fake, so I attacked. It was a cool feeling with the crowd going crazy but I knew the game wasn’t over yet and we needed to get a stop.”

The Tides’ 2-3 zone defense smothered Timberline’s shooters and limited their 6-foot-6 post scorer Darrell Gipson in the final quarter. Gig Harbor’s defense held for their ninth stop out of Timberline’s final 10 possessions with guards Ty Buchanan and Browne defending shooters at the top of the zone while Drake Matthies, Masini and Parrish battled for boards on the back line.

Gig Harbor completed its comeback when Browne was fouled after a offensive rebound. He made the first free throw to give the Tides their first lead since the second quarter: The eventual final score of 58-57.

Gig Harbor forward Michael Masini grabs one of his 14 rebounds against Timberline. Photo by Mason Hasslinger

‘Butter’ not in stock

Veteran Timberline coach Allen Thomas called two timeouts in the final 20 seconds to try to get the Blazers a clean look against the Gig Harbor defense. They ended up with a desperation 3-pointer by Gipson, who yelled “butter” when he launched but ended up with margarine when the shot clanged off the backboard.

Landram said it was the biggest comeback he can remember during his Tides tenure, and that the home crowd — which included several former Gig Harbor players home on break from college — helped.

“The crowd support is huge,” the coach said. “The kids love it, and it creates such a good environment for them to play in. It is always special for me when all the players come back to support the next generation. I love that part of this job.”

The coach praised the play of Buchanan, who started at point guard and handled the Blazer pressure well.

“Ty played very tough. He did a lot of the little things last night that go unnoticed but win games,” Landram said.

Gig Harbor heads out on the road on Saturday, Dec. 23, for a game versus Juanita of the King-Co League before traveling to the Bay Area the day after Christmas for a holiday tournament against some impressive California teams.

Gig Harbor coach Billy Landram directs his team’s comeback against Timberline. Photo by Mason Hasslinger