Proficient free throw shooting from the charity stripe propelled the Bellevue Wolverines boys basketball team to a fourth place finish at the Class 3A state tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

The Wolverines went 18-for-25 from the free throw line in the second half, capturing a 54-51 win against the Cleveland Eagles in the fourth place/sixth place game on March 5 at the Tacoma Dome. The Wolverines were 0-for-13 from beyond the arc in the game but cashed in at the free throw line in the final eight minutes of action. A staggering 17 of Bellevue’s 21 points in the fourth quarter came at the line. Bellevue head coach Chris O’Connor wasn’t surprised in the least bit by his team’s ability to knock down free throws down the stretch.

“We didn’t start out shooting free throws very well (third quarter) but like we have been doing all year we kept our composure and we had a lot of confidence at the end of the game. We hit our free throws when it mattered. It is just kind of a signature of our season,” O’Connor said. “We had one heck of a season. This is a special group. They play for each other and to go 26-3 it is just a great year.”

Bellevue senior Sharif Khan, who will play basketball for Seattle Pacific University next season, went 9-for-10 at the free throw line and scored 13 points in the final game of his high school career. The senior team leader will look back on his high school days at Bellevue with the fondest of memories.

“We all love each other as a family now. It’s been wonderful playing with them all,” he said. “The Bellevue tradition is nice and everyone on the team is close together.”

Bellevue senior Mikey Henn had a team-high 20 points in the win against Cleveland.