By Terry Mosher<\/p>\n
Editor, Sports Paper<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
BREMERTON \u2013 Post-game, Bremerton senior Deonte Dixon leaned against a lockeroom wall leading to the showers and posted that the goal of the Knights was state. And after the six-foot-one senior guard poured in 26 points Tuesday night in a 72-57 rout of Black Hills and the return of the Gallaghers to Bremerton, who would argue?<\/p>\n
Dixon scored nine points and the Knights just about blew out the Wolves in the first quarter with an outburst that led to a 23-3 lead over the visitors from Tumwater.<\/p>\n
Bremerton led 17-0 after five minutes before Zack Grate got coach Jeff Gallagher\u2019s Wolves on the scoreboard with a four-footer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are so athletic,\u201d said \u00a0Jeff Gallagher, a Bremerton High School graduate who is assisted by his dad, Larry Gallagher, a 1968 East Bremerton High School graduate and former Bremerton coach and athletic director. \u201cDown 23-3 and then you are just battling back all the time. But I was pleased with our kids after playing last night (an 87-66 blowout at home against Klahowya), and then showing some resolve in coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bremerton coach Darren Bowden put in his bench to start the second quarter and the Wolves finally got warmed up from the cold drive north and trimmed the lead to 31-19 at halftime<\/p>\n
The outcome, though, was never really in serious doubt, although the Wolves cut the margin to 67-57 with 1:11 left. Dixon then hit two free throws to close out his game-high scoring and guard Tarez Mason gunned in a three to put a cap on his 15 points off the bench.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like we worked hard in the beginning, and then we let them come back,\u201d said Dixon, who hit four treys. \u201cWe have to work on keeping the score up instead of letting them get back in the game.”<\/p>\n
A big reason why the Wolves stuck around and got close at the end was the play of point guard TJ Mickelson, a 5-11 freshman.<\/p>\n
Yes, a freshman.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you he was good,\u201d said Larry Gallagher.<\/p>\n
Mickelson scored a team-high 24 points on an assortment of drives and pull-up jumpers after beating his man off the dribble.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe played well tonight,\u201d Jeff Gallagher said. \u201cSometimes you forget that he is 14 playing against 17-year-olds. We are going to go as far, probably, as he takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Wolves also got some late help from six-foot-three post player, Casey Duff, who finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.<\/p>\n
The Knights have an inside presence that makes them extremely tough. That would be six-foot-three post Marquis Gurske (son of Olympic College coach Michael Gurske), who claimed 14 rebounds and added 12 points for a double-double.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told Gurske at the beginning of the year that one of my expectations is that he leads the league in rebounding,\u201d Bowden said, \u201ccause he\u2019s a big body and has a nice instinct for the ball. He also has good hands, and knows the game. \u201c<\/p>\n
Gurske\u2019s goal is to average a double-double for the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty (points) and 15 (rebounds), He said.<\/p>\n
And helping Dixon outside is Mason, who Bowden is extremely happy with the development he\u2019s shown.<\/p>\n
\u201cMason had a great off-season in our summer league and tournaments, and he really has emerged,\u201d Bowden said. \u201cHe lifted hard over the summer. He played well. I am really happy with the way he has developed. Yeah, we are petty good. Tarez and Deonte are probably two of the best guards in the whole state, actually. I\u2019m lucky to have them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both teams pressed each other and that created an early-season cart full of turnovers, 24 by Bremerton and 20 by Black Hills. But those mistakes will likely take care of themselves as the two teams get deeper into their seasons. For Bremerton, deep into the season is a chance to challenge rival Olympic for the Olympic League championship and to get where Dixon believes they belong \u2013 to the state 2A tournament.<\/p>\n
We are good, really good,\u201d said Dixon, who in the off-season has played with the Bremerton Wildcats and Total Package, as well as lift weights. \u201cWe are state bound. That is our main goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bowden was pleased to get a win in his team\u2019s season debut.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first game, they did a nice job and were able to handle their pressure and outside shooting,\u201d Bowden said. \u201cThey (the Wolves are well coached. The Gallaghers do a great job, always have. But I was just glad to get the win.”<\/p>\n
Bremerton 72, Black Hills 57<\/p>\n
Black Hills 3 16 16 22 \u2013 57<\/p>\n
Bremerton 23\u00a0 8 24 17 \u2011 72<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Black Hills (57) \u2013 TJ Mickelson 24, Casey Duff 11, Tremarcus Hackney 7, Zack Grate 8, Kyler Noyen 2, Jason Underhill 2, Ryan Jones 1, Jaydon Troy 2.<\/p>\n
Bremerton (72 \u2013 Deonte Dixon 26, Tarez Mason 15, Marquis Gurske 12, Terrick Sims 6, Casey Winderl 3, Wayne Ayers 6, Beau West 2, Calvin Cardwell, Tavontay Carter, Marcellous Gans 2, Skyler Lewis, Hudson Kolb.<\/p>\n
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