Ask any 3A or 4A basketball team in the state and the consensus goal will be to play four games in Tacoma come March. Do that and you’re guaranteed a trophy in the incredibly competitive state of Washington hoops scene.
Well, the 2021-2022 men’s basketball team did that – and did so in dramatic fashion by first running the table in the district post-season tournament, then battling a tough Kelso team to an overtime victory in the regional loser-out round before going 2-2 at the T-Dome.
For their incredible efforts, the Hawks earned 6th place in the state after falling to the #1 ranked Garfield Bulldogs Saturday morning, March 5 in the 4th/6th place game.
Here’s how Terrace, under Hall of Fame coach Nalin Sood (who celebrated his birthday during the tournament) earned their first 6th place trophy in school history:
- The Hawks started the season 1-1 losing their first home game to eventual district #1 seed Arlington.
- Battling COVID challenges within the team and with opponents, the Hawks seemed unfazed and finished the regular season 14-2 (10-2) with the only losses coming to Arlington and a one-point loss at Stanwood
- Entering the district tourney as the #4 seed, the Hawks ran the table with victories over Mount Vernon (61-55), Everett (71-55), Arlington (51-46) and Ferndale (58-53) in the championship game at Everett Community College.
- For reasons not fully understood, Terrace – then the District 1 champs and holding the 4th best RPI in the state as well as an 18-2 record – were seeded #9 in the state tournament and had to play a loser-out first round game vs. Kelso at Jackson H.S.
- Despite trailing much of the second half, Terrace roared back to tie Kelso at the buzzer in regulation, then took control in overtime 67-65 to move on to the Tacoma Dome.
- Facing a tough Timberline Blazer team in the first game at the Dome, the Hawks prevailed 65-62 on March 3, and earned the right to be in the quarterfinals.
- On Thursday, March 4, the Hawks faced the deep and tall Mt. Spokane Wildcats and fell to the squad from eastern Washington 70-45.
- On Friday, facing elimination from the tourney, the Hawks faced a solid Gig Harbor squad and, once again, rallied from behind to take the “W” 73-71 over the Tide.
- Finally, the win over Gig Harbor meant the Hawks would face the Garfield Bulldogs, who entered the tournament undefeated and ranked #1 in the state. Despite hanging tough in the first half, the Bulldogs hot shooting was simply too much for Terrace and the Hawks fell 80-64 earning 6th place in the state, while Garfield finished 4th.
- Key stats for the season included:
- Defense: Held opponents to just 53.5 points per game
- Offense: Averaged 60.08 ppg
- Offense: Top scorers – senior Jeffrey Anyimah 14.96 ppg; sophomore Zaveon Jones 14.33 ppg
- Rebounds: Averaged 30.13 per game; out-rebounded opponents 723-568
- Assists: Averaged 10.58 per game; Anyimah 2.17 apg, Jones 2 apg, Adison Mattix 1.78 apg
- Notable: The Hawks have made it to the post-season dozens of times in school history, but now have finished 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd and 1st in the state tourney.
- Also of note: Head coach Nalin Sood has been at the helm for three of those five trophies – and is just the third varsity head coach in program history dating back to the fall of 1960.
