TUALATIN – No. 4 Barlow seized control in the first quarter and never let go for an impressive 79-72 win at No. 2 Tualatin in a nonleague game between 6A boys basketball powers Thursday night.
The host Timberwolves (10-3) were looking to avenge a 93-87 triple-overtime loss at Barlow on Dec. 14, but the Bruins (10-1) were up to the task, opening a 13-point lead early in the second quarter and never letting Tualatin get closer than six points the rest of the way.
“That's as well as we've played all year,” Barlow coach Tom Johnson said. “I'm really pleased with how we were able to play tonight against a good team.”
Senior guard Jalen Atkins showed the way with 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals, making three three-pointers. Senior forward Brayden Barron had 21 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Senior forward Mason Bierbrauer added 17 points.
The Bruins expected Tualatin to be motivated for revenge from the first meeting, but they gained the upper ground early and held it.
“You beat some team in a close game like that, of course they're going to come out a little fiery,” Atkins said. “But we're not going to back down against any team.
“This is one of my favorite groups I've ever played basketball with. To come into a hostile environment like this and just play a great game of basketball like we did, this is the best it gets.”
Atkins, the target of jeers and chants from the Tualatin student section, seemed to thrive under fire.
“Every time somebody talks to me, it doesn't usually go good for them, because I use that,” said Atkins, a fourth-year starter who is scoring a team-high 19.9 points per game this season.
The Portland State-bound Barron, Barlow's No. 2 scorer with a 16.7 average, liked how his team responded to the challenge.
“The crowd, I think it got to come of our players' heads, but we just played through it,” Barron said. “It was one of our best games this year. We just pushed through.”
Barlow showed its veteran poise in quashing Tualatin rallies. Atkins, Barron and Bierbrauer are returning starters from last season, when the Bruins lost to Tualatin 62-46 in the state quarterfinals.
This week has revealed improvement for Barlow. Tuesday, the Bruins defeated No. 7 Jesuit 62-58 at home to avenge their only loss of the season, a 67-58 defeat to the Crusaders in the Les Schwab Invitational.
“I'm really pleased with how our kids have come together,” Johnson said. “It certainly helps to have the senior leadership we have. These guys have all paid their dues.”
Barron said the Bruins have made strides since the first game against Tualatin.
“That was one of our first games of the season, so we were all just getting adjusted to each other,” Barron said. “I think today we were more comfortable with each other on the floor. Everybody was making shots, and we played better D.”
Tualatin got a big game from junior guard Jemai Lake, who scored 28 of his season-high 36 points in the second half. But sophomore guard Pat Vialva Jr., who scored 36 points in the first meeting, finished with eight points.
“They had our number tonight,” Timberwolves coach Bubba Lemon said. “They had a different plan for us. I think we probably could have utilized our weapons a little bit better. We're still learning ourselves. I'm hoping we peak at the end of the year.”
Johnson said Tualatin is a “scary team.”
“They have a lot of offensive weapons,” he said.
The Timberwolves drew within 46-40 in the third quarter, but Barlow answered with a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 55-40. Atkins had a three-pointer and a jumper in the surge. Down the stretch, Atkins kept Tualatin off balance with his drives and passes.
“We saw Jalen has been doing a better job of facilitating this year,” Lemon said. “He's been doing a phenomenal job of passing the ball. He just took over tonight.”
Atkins, committed to Eastern Arizona, has played the season with a partially torn MCL. It has caused him to alter his game.
“I'm definitely not 100 percent,” Atkins said. “My thing is finding consistency. Tonight was one of the best games I've played because I let the game come to me. For the rest of the year, I'm going to be like this.”
jerryu@osaa.org
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