The Wolverines (22-5) put together a dominating performance in an 81-45 victory over Marysville-Pilchuck (20-8) Friday at the Tacoma Dome. Guard Kyle Foreman led the efficient Bellevue offense with 15 points.
TACOMA — Less than 24 hours after its most disappointing loss of the season, Bellevue made it clear there wouldn’t be a long-lasting hangover.
The Wolverines (22-5) put together a dominating performance in an 81-45 victory over Marysville-Pilchuck (20-8) in a 3A boys consolation game Friday at the Tacoma Dome.
Bellevue plays Lakeside Saturday at 9:30 a.m. for fourth and sixth places.
After beating some of the best teams in the state in the regular season and in the district playoffs, Bellevue’s championship aspirations seemed conceivable. But Rainier Beach ended the Wolverines’ season Thursday in a quarterfinal match-up between the No. 1 (Beach) and No. 2 teams in the state. Bellevue, though, still felt Friday like there was something to play for.
State Hoops 2015
Boys:- 3A, 4A boys team capsules
- Boys brackets
- Rainier Beach back in 3A state title game for fourth straight year
- Garfield claws into state title game, beats Seattle Prep in 3A semis
- Federal Way makes it interesting in 4A semifinal win over Union
- Davis ends woodinville's magical season in 4A semifinals
- Kentwood's defensive pressure key in 4A consolation win over Richland
- It's all Ty Gibson in Issaquah's 4A consolation win over Moses Lake
- Bellevue steam rolls Marysville-Pilchuck in 3A consolation game
- Isiah Brown finds his rhythm as Lakeside downs Kennedy in 3A consolation
- 3A, 4A girls team capsules
- Girls brackets
- Laura Stockton’s late three sinks Beamer in 4A semis
- Alex Hagen steps up to carry Inglemoor into 4A girls final
- Cleveland beats Bishop Blanchet, in place to claim third straight 3A girls title
- Lynnwood leaves no doubt in 3A semis, rolls past No. 1 Bellevue
- Walla Walla ends young Bothell's season in 4A consolation game
- Claire Martin's 19 points surges Bellarmine Prep past Skyview in 4A consolation
- Bigs push West Seattle to 3A consolation win over Prairie
- Arlington bounces back from opening loss, beats Moses Lake in 3A consolation
“We had a talk last night and we couldn’t end on a bad note, so we just had to bounce back as a team,” said guard Kyle Foreman, who led the efficient Bellevue offense with 15 points.
The Tomahawks scored the first five points of the game before a 24-8 run gave Bellevue an 11-point lead at the end of the first, a margin Marysville-Pilchuck would never seriously threaten.
The Wolverines shot 11 of 18 from beyond the arc and 16 of 19 from the free-throw line.
Gunther Klimes and Mikey Henn chipped in 13 points apiece for the Wolverines. The balanced offense was a hallmark all season long for Bellevue, which has five players averaging double figures.
“When we move the ball, we can all get open looks and we got it going early today,” said Foreman.
While the Wolverines’ offense was dominant, it was the defense that helped blow the game wide open. Bellevue held the Tomahawks to three points in the third quarter to end any possibility of a comeback.
Michael Painter led all scorers with 21 points, but Marysville-Pilchuck was unable to get anyone else going. Only seven of Painter’s points came after halftime.
“He’s a nice player who can score off jump shots or drives,” said Bellevue coach Chris O’Connor. “We keyed on him at halftime and did a better job in the second half.”
“We have one more day and we want to make the most of it,” said Foreman.