Wolves improve to 4-1 with strong performances from unexpected names

There always has been a dramatic element when it comes to basketball for the Curry brothers.

And even though Tionne Curry wasn’t directly involved with the game-changing play, it’s no surprise there were many theatrical moments during Friday’s Narrows League Bridge Division game against Wilson.

The final one came with a scramble for the ball in the second overtime before South Kitsap’s Mike Longmire recovered it past the three-point line and threw it from the ground toward Tre Haslom’s waist.

Haslom, a sophomore, scored on a layup with 2.2 seconds left to give the Wolves a 67-65 win.

“I had to make up for the other play I messed up,” said Haslom, referring to his foul on wing Desmond Trufant that gave Wilson the lead late in the first overtime. “I saw it and I just wanted the ball. It was a crazy, wild game.”

The wackiness wasn’t over at that point, though.

Haslom was fouled by Mikey Hope, but his free throw was negated because of a lane violation.

That gave the Rams (3-1 overall, 2-1 league) one final possession with 1.3 seconds remaining.

The inbounds pass hit Trufant — brother of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant — in the hands downcourt, but he struggled to recover it.

An underhand attempt by Trufant that went in was waved off by the officials because time had expired, and South (4-1, 2-1) preserved the win.

The Wolves might not have been in that position without a strong second half by the 6-foot-1 Longmire. He had 18 of his game-high 24 points after halftime.

“It’s my 18th birthday tomorrow (Saturday),” Longmire said. “It had to be something special. It was the best game of my high-school career.”

South had an eight-point lead at halftime, but was outscored 23-10 in the third quarter as the Rams built a 40-35 advantage.

But after Trufant, who had a team-high 17 points for Wilson, scored a layup with 7:44 left in regulation, the Wolves went on an 8-0 run to retake the lead. A pair of free throws by Longmire gave South the edge with 6:12 left.

That’s when the Wolves’ offense went stagnant again.

Wilson broke off a 9-0 run capped by a pair of free throws by wing Jordan Coby, who had 16 points, to give the Rams a 49-43 advantage with 3:57 left.

But Wilson couldn’t finish off the Wolves, who cut their deficit to 52-51 on a pair of free throws by Longmire with 48.7 seconds left. Hope missed a jumper on the ensuing possession, and Curry made a pair of free throws to give the Wolves a 53-52 lead.

Wilson post Kyle Peart missed an open 10-foot shot on its next possession, which forced the Rams to foul. That sent Longmire to the free-throw line, where he extended the Wolves’ lead to 55-52 with 12.8 seconds left. That left enough time for Coby to hit a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left and send the game into overtime.

Neither team seemed prepared to take advantage of their next opportunity, though. Wilson turned the ball over during its first three possessions of the four-minute overtime and the Wolves couldn’t make a shot.

The Rams finally took a 57-55 lead on a Coby field goal. But Hope missed a pair of free throws on their next possession, which left the Wolves with an opportunity. It was one they took advantage of when Curry found an open Haslom to tie the game on a jumper with 39 seconds left. Haslom, who moved to Port Orchard last year from Oak Harbor, had a career-high 19 points.

“He’s a hard worker, talented and loves the game,” South coach John Callaghan said. “That was the best he’s played. I was happy to see him bust out.”

Trufant and Curry both split free throws during the next possessions for both teams, and Jibreel Stevens’ final shot fell short for Wilson to send the contest into a second overtime.

It was the first double-overtime game for the Wolves since a 94-86 loss on Jan. 5, 2007, at Bellarmine Prep.

This time, the Wolves controlled the quarter from the start. Curry scored an early jumper and then split a pair of free throws to give the Wolves a 61-58 edge with 2:20 left.

South increased its lead to 64-58 when Joey Osinski made 1 of 2 free throws and Longmire followed with a jumper with 1:20 left.

But Stevens cut the Rams’ deficit to four points seconds later, and Curry, who was just 7 of 16 at the free-throw line, split a pair to give the Wolves a 65-60 lead.

After a putback by Trufant to cut South’s lead to 65-62 with 55 seconds remaining, the Rams took advantage of the Wolves’ mistakes. After a turnover, Coby made 1 of 2 free throws.

Curry then missed two free throws and Osinski was called for a foul while attempting to grab the rebound. That sent Jordan Dam to the free-throw line, where he tied the game, 65-all, with 17 seconds left. That’s when Haslom came through and saved the Wolves from consecutive league losses at home.

The Wolves lost 55-39 on Wednesday against Foss and even though it’s early in the season, Callaghan acknowledged that getting swept at home during the week would be difficult to overcome.

“You’ve got to play well at home and take care of business,” he said. “You know how hard it is to win in this league at home. It’s even more difficult on the road.”

And with just one more home game before the new year, South will find that out shortly.

At South Kitsap 67,

Wilson 65

Wilson 11 6 23 15 3 7 — 65

South Kitsap 16 9 10 20 3 9 — 67

Wilson—Jibreel Stevens 7, Jordan Coby 16, Desmond Trufant 17, Mikey Hope 11, Demetrius Smith 2, Jordan Dam 5, Anthony Gray 2, Xavier Cooper 0, Kyle Peart 5.

South Kitsap—Isaiah Davis 0, Ivan Rybachuk 0, Tionne Curry 9, Austin Siegel 7, Tre Haslom 19, Joey Osinski 1, Leon La Deaux 5, Mike Longmire 24, Ricky King 2.