The following is a breakdown Thursday's State 2A Quarterfinal game with the Lindbergh Eagles vs Clover Park Warriors:
Lindbergh Eagles
Head Coach - Robert Graham
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Record - 15-12
Last state appearance - 1991
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Colors - Red, White, Blue
Regionals - Upset No. 2 Squalicum 67-64 2OT
Players
Colin Malone, junior 6'2" power forward; averages 10.2 points a game, he was held to seven points in the Clover Park loss.
Casey Huppe, senior, 6'1" forward; averages 7.7 points a game.
James Keum, senior, 6'0" shooting guard, averages 19.4 points a game. His fast ability to drive the ball around Clover Park guards and shoot before the Clover Park's Big Three could give him more than 20 points.
Key to winning - The Eagles have the best draw out of the seven other teams in the field. They have played both Clover Park (defending state champions) and White River earlier in the West Central District tournament. Both losses were by small margins, in factor all but one loss of the 12 were by 10 points or less all season.
If Lindbergh can stop Clover Park's Ahmad Rorie who scored 34 points, mostly at the free throw line and continue their zone defense attack to move Clover Park back and out-rebound, not allowing any second chance points in the paint, Lindbergh can win. As seen with Squalicum, free throws will be key again, along with shooting abilities from all players not just James Keum. A win here, sets the Eagles against White River/Ellensburg winner (most likely White River).
Clover Park Warriors
Head Coach - Mel Ninnis
Record - 21-1
Last state appearance - 2011 (state champion)
Colors - Kelley Green, White and Gold
Regionals - Beat Mark Morris 71-55
Key Players
Clover Park continues to play without star David Crisp, a 6'0" guard who broke his right foot last month against Evergreen. He averaged 20 points a game. This has force Coach Ninnis to changeFilling the hole is Ahmaad Rorie, 6'0" sophomore guard who scored 24 points in their win over Mark Morris. The other attack is Isom Brown, 6'5" junior wing/power forward, Dwayne Crawford, 6'5" senior, wing; and Xavier Means, 6'4" senior center provides inside dominance to block out any second chance points for Lindbergh.
2A Hardwood Classic Schedule
Thursday, March 1 at SunDome in Yakima
Game 1 - Kingston (22-5) vs Anacortes (18-6) at 3:45 p.m.
Game 2 - Pullman (21-2) vs Lynden (19-5 at 5:30 p.m.
Game 3 - Clover Park (21-5) vs Lindbergh (15-12) at 7:15 p.m.
Game 4 - White River (22-6) vs Ellensburg (19-4) at 9 p.m.
Friday, March 2
Game 5 - loser game 1 vs loser game 2 at 12:15 p.m. (loser out)
Game 6 - lose game 3 vs loser game 4 at 2 p.m. (loser out)
Game 7 - winner game 1 vs winner game 2 at 7:15 p.m.
Game 8 - winner game 3 vs winner game 4 at 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 3
Game 9 - winner game 5 vs winner game 6 at 9:30 a.m. (winner 4th place, loser 6th place)
Game 10 - loser game 7 vs loser game 8 at 1 p.m. (winner 3rd place, loser 5th place)
Game 11 - winner game 7 vs winner game 8 at 3 p.m. (winner state champion, loser 2nd place).
To print out your own brackets here.
Complete coverage of Lindbergh's state championship run will continue all week long, including game coverage. Follow Patch at Facebook or Twitter.
Game day webcasts with stats are available by clicking the game number above.
For those traveling to Yakima, the WIAA has provided a fanlink for information.
