There’s a saying in basketball that it’s hard to beat a team three times in a single season. Logic follows that beating the same team four times is even more unlikely.
Try telling that to Bellevue.
The Wolverines survived early turnovers to build a big lead on Sammamish and didn’t let up, beating the Totems 66-49 in the Sea-King 3A district tournament at Bellevue College.
With the win, the Wolverines fourth this season over Sammamish, Bellevue returns to the state tournament for the second straight year.
“We knew that it would be a tough game,” said Bellevue senior Aaron Bright. “We just wanted to come out and punch them in the mouth and get the early lead.”
The Wolverines turned the ball over five times in the first quarter and Bright didn’t score a point – but Sammamish topped them by turning it over seven times, including their first four possessions.
The Totems shot just 3 of 12 in the second quarter and the Wolverines led at the half 30-14. Bellevue (22-2) denied the Totems one of their most dangerous weapons for the majority of the game – the three-point shot.
Sammamish three-point specialist John Steinberg shot just two pointers – missing both – and scored only two points in the game.
“We knew the only way they could stay with us was to hit a lot of three’s,” Bright said. “We made sure we got out to the three-ball and not let Steinberg get hot.”
“That was a big emphasis in practice,” added Wolverines coach Chris O’Connor.
The halftime deficit proved too large for the Totems (16-10). Sammamish would cut the lead to 11 points in the third quarter, but it was as close as it would get. Bright hit two three-pointers in the early minutes of the fourth quarter that put Bellevue up 20 points and sent sealed the state bid.
“We’re pumped and excited,” said Bright, who led the Wolverines with 19 points. “Hopefully we can make a better run than last year and go all the way.”
Bellevue finished third last season.
Nate Sikma added 11 points for Bellevue. Sammamish was led by Daniel Wruble and Duncan Dickerson, who each scored 12 points.
The Totems play the winner of tonight’s O’Dea/Mount Si game in a winner-to-state, loser-out game Thursday.
Bellevue will play Rainier Beach (21-3) Saturday night at Bellevue College for the district championship.
“I just tell the guys live in the moment and have fun,” O’Connor said. “You only get to play high school basketball once in your lifetime, so make the most out of it.”
