Community Sports

Ty Buchanan the hero as Gig Harbor squeezes by Peninsula

Gig Harbor guard Ty Buchanan scored with just three seconds left on the clock on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to lift the Tides (10-5, 7-3 Puget Sound League) to a 56-54 boys Fish Basket win over Peninsula (4-11, 2-8). It was Gig Harbor’s 10th consecutive win over their crosstown rivals.

The teams were seemingly headed in different directions entering the game. The Tides had won seven of their last eight games, while the Seahawks had lost four straight.

But you can usually throw the records out of the window in a rivalry game. The desperation to win in front of your community pushes players past the ordinary levels of intensity and determination, causing almost anything to happen.

Duel between seniors

Senior guard Cole Browne led Gig Harbor in scoring, rebounding and assists. The 6-foot-3 guard scored 18 points, pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and had four assists with one turnover. He also made six straight free throws during a pressure-packed fourth quarter.

Peninsula forward Isaac Schultz-Tait was equally impressive, leading his team with 20 points, 8 rebounds and three blocked shots. The 6-foot-5 senior scored from all over the court and splashed a couple of three pointers while showing his athleticism with an emphatic chase-down block on a shot by a Tide in the first quarter.

The Tides came out sharp in the opening period, with their full-court press forcing turnovers. Browne gave the Tides their biggest lead of the game at 21-8 after twice dribbling through defenders for athletic finishes on his way to six points in the opening period.

Schultz-Tait scored the Seahawks’ first six points of the game on a couple of contested driving lay ups and a difficult corkscrew jumper from the free throw line that softly bounced before falling.

Tides’ role players step up

Seahawk coach Sean Muilenburg’s game plan was to contain Browne and 6-foot-8 Gig Harbor forward Michael Masini and see if the other Tide starters could step up in a big game. Point guard Buchanan certainly did, scoring 18 points — including six in the decisive fourth quarter.

With a starting front line that averages 6-foot-5, the Seahawks used offensive rebound opportunities in the second quarter to claw their way back into the game. Masini, strapped with two fouls, spent much of the second quarter on the bench.

A key moment came with five minutes left in the second quarter, when Peninsula sophomore Talen McDonnell was fouled on a made 3-pointer. He missed the free throw, but Seahawk AJ Alexeev grabbed the rebound and scored for a five-point possession that trimmed the score to 25-20.

A Gig Harbor turnover and a Schultz-Tait 3-pointer trimmed the lead to two. Peninsula ended up with a 28-27 halftime lead.

Tides head coach Billy Landram walked calmly to the locker room, but steam was coming out of his ears.

The teams traded baskets during the third quarter, with the Tides’ efforts hurt by Masini’s continuing foul trouble. The junior was never able to really get untracked until the fourth quarter as he scored 12 points with seven rebounds and a couple of key buckets in the fourth quarter.

Colin Nelson, a 6-foot-7 forward, filled in for Masini and contributed three blocks.

Ty Buchanan of Gig Harbor. Photo by Christi Adams

Last minute of the game

The score was tied at 51 with 56 seconds remaining in the game.

The Tides took a 53-51 lead with 20 seconds remaining on Browne’s lob pass to Masini. Peninsula tried to go to Schultz-Tait on their next possession, but Browne was draped all over him. The ball ended up in the hands of guard Carson Zimmerman, whose 3-pointer snapped the net and almost the Tides’ win streak. The Seahawks led, 54-53.

With 13 seconds to go, Buchanan dribbled over a Masini screen and saw an opening to the hoop. The junior attacked it and lofted the best five-foot shot of his life that rattled home for a 55-54 lead with 3.6 seconds on the clock.

Peninsula turned the ball over on a desperation long pass. The Seahawks fouled Buchanan, who hit one of two free throws to make the score 56-54.

But just when you thought the game was over, it wasn’t. Peninsula got the ball to Royal Charles, who rose for an open 17-footer to tie the game. Buchanan raced back and leaped to block the jumper just as the buzzer finally sounded.

The Seahawks played hard all night in a game where it was a shame that someone had to lose. But the Tides were more than happy to leave the court victorious with their 10-game win streak over their rival intact.

Landram praised the play of his guards, who combined for 36 points.

Browne “is a two-year captain. I have immense trust in him,” Landram said. “He knew what was at stake and stepped his game up when we needed it most.”

When asked about Buchanan’s game-winning shot Landram said: “That was a big-time shot. He also made one of the better plays I’ve seen in that gym the past decade when he tipped the final shot at the buzzer. Great effort.”