By JOSH SUMAN

Special to the Bellevue Reporter

After one of the most historic playoff runs in the history of 3A Washington prep basketball, the Bellevue Wolverines season came to an unexpectedand painful ending Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome.

Despite a game-high 28 points from senior Nate Sikma, Bellevue was unable to overcome the athletic, powerful and versatile Lakes Lancers, falling by a final count of 71-56 in the 3A boys state championship game.

The Wolverines, who were out in front 17-15 after one quarter, were taken advantage of on the glass throughout the game and especially so during a second half that saw Lakes build their lead to as many as 13 points with just under a minute remaining in the third quarter.

The Lancers finished with a decisive 47-26 rebounding advantage and both coaches spoke after the game about the importance of cleaning up missed shots and turning them into easybuckets.

“[Lakes] Out-rebounding us hurt us because we aren’t able to run if we can’t rebound,” said Bellevue coach Chris O’Connor.

The Wolverines used an uptempo offensive approach throughout the first half; moving the ball quickly up the court off misses from the Lancers and turning them into fastbreak layups.  But as the game moved along, Bellevue found it increasingly difficult to keep Zach Banner, Lakes’ 6’8 300-plus pound low post behemoth, and the rest of the Lancers away from the basket and off the glass.

Banner finished with 15 points and eight rebounds in the victory and it wasn’t just the big man causing problems for the Wolverines in the paint. It was actually junior forward Nate Guy who led Lakes in both points and rebounds, pouring in 22 on 6-15 shooting from the floor (including 3-6 from three-point range) and grabbing 12 boards.

As the Lancers surged, the Wolverines offense wilted under the bright lights of the usually hospitable Tacoma Dome.

Bellevue managed only ten points during the third quarter as Lakes moved out to a double-digit lead and scored only two points during the final three minutes of the game after clawing back into shouting distance early in the fourth and final frame.

After falling behind 57-45 with 5:55 remaining in the game, Bellevue put together a 9-2 run to close to within five points on buckets from Sikma and senior guard Will Locke.

After Locke pulled his team to within 59-54, it appeared as though the Wolverines were primed to pull off a comeback upset when they stole the ball in the back-court on the ensuing possession.

But a three-point attempt from the corner rimmed out and a putback attempt inside also refused to fall, spinning out of the bucket and into the hands of Banner.

“He’s definitely a big guy so I just tried to stay with him and be physical,” said Bellevue junior Cole Walton, who drew the unenviable assignment of dealing with Lakes’ dominate post force much of the night.

In addition to the size presented by Banner, the Lancers also possess an athletic group that creates mismatches with superior length and quickness.

“They’re not only athletic, they’re balanced,” said Sikma. “They played really well, they deserved it.”

The loss means the addition of a second-place state trophy to the mantle at Bellevue, which will sit alongside the fourth (2007), third (2009) and seventh (2010) place trophies earned in the past five seasons. It also marks the final game in the prep careers of Sikma, Locke, John Ahrens, Kendrick VanAckeren, Evian Richard and Nick Miller.

“Not many people get the chance to play their last game in the state championship,” said Sikma. “I was proud of our team’s effort…it was just really special, a special season for us.”

Both Lakes coach Jo Jo Rodriguez and O’Conner praised Sikma after the game for keeping his team within an arms-reach throughout. “I take my hat off to Sikma, he willed that team,” said Rodriguez post-game. O’Connor added, “That’s the way to go out, he went out the right way.”

For Bellevue, the defeat will no doubt leave a bitter taste. But there should be solace taken in the growth of the program since O’Connor took over. Before 2007, the Wolverines had not been to the boys basketball state playoffs since 1963. Since his arrival, they have not only been to Tacoma four times, but earned a trophy on each occasion.

“It speaks volumes about this program, just look at what we’ve done the last five years,” said O’Connor. The coach said he had a similar message for his squad in the post-game locker room, emphasizing the positive trajectory they have placed the program on for the future.

While their performance at the state tournament was impressive, it was at least equaled by the murderous stretch the Wolverines faced on their road to Tacoma. After beating Mercer Island in the KingCo final and then taking care of West Seattle to open the District Tournament, Bellevue took down three of the state’s most recognizable and successful basketball programs: Rainier Beach, O’Dea and Seattle Prep, in consecutive games to claim the top seed from the Sea-King district.

While the Wolverines will have to retool before the 2011-2012 season to replace Sikma, Locke and the rest of the senior class, they will do so as defending 3A KingCo and District champions and with the knowledge they can perform on the biggest stage the state has to offer after posting the mostsuccessful season in school history.

Game Notes

The loss means the Wolverines will finish the season with a 24-6 record…Nate Sikma filled up the stat sheet, adding 10 rebounds, two blocks and three steals to his game-high 28 points…Will Locke, who finished with 10 points, was the only Bellevue player other than Sikma who finished in double figures scoring…Isaac Winston had 19 points for Lakes…Bellevue senior John Ahrens left the game during the second half with what appeared to be a leg injury. He left the court under his own power and late returned, though he left the arena with ice wrapping an ankle…The Wolverines actually won the turnover battle with Lakes, creating 15 and giving away only 11…Only six players saw action for Bellevue, with both Locke and Sikma playing the entire 32 minutes of game action…Lakes also used a relatively short bench with a title at stake, with Taylor McAllister, Nate Guy and Isaac Winston all playing the entire game…Bellevue shot only 36.5% from the floor including 2-13 from three point range for the game…The Lancers made five of their 12 attempts from long range.