Classic Consolation: Higley (AZ) 63, Ketchikan 60 

By Van Williams
Classic Media Director

Jordan Irving’s putback inside the final minute proved to be the difference for the Higley Knights of Gilbert, Arizona as they held off Ketchikan 63-60 on Day 2 of the Alaska Airlines Classic at West High.

Irving’s offensive rebound and score put Higley up 61-59. Later, with his team clinging to 61-60 lead with 9.1 seconds left, freshman Noah Gloor hit two free throws to seal the deal. Ketchikan missed a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Higley advanced to Saturday’s fourth-place game and will face the Ronan Chiefs of Montana.

The loss spoiled a sensational performance by the 1-2 punch of Marcus Stockhausen and JJ Parker, who combined for 41 points.

Stockhausen scored 21 points and hit seven 3-pointers, one shy of the tournament record.

Parker cooked the Higley defense for 20 points and stood toe-to-toe with Yarell Greer, a NCAA Division I surefire signee being recruited by the likes of South Carolina State.

Greer collected 15 points, six steals, five rebounds and four assists and has a beautiful drive-and-kick game that gave his teammates a ton of open looks.  He’s also a slick ballhandler and him and Parker had their own game-within-the-game thing going.

Higley built a 32-25 halftime lead on the strength of Greer, a hard-to-guard senior who bagged seven of his team’s first 13 points and finished the first half with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting.

Ketchikan trailed 22-11 when Stockhausen caught fire, dropping in 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions – bing, bang, boom. Then Parker scored on a beautiful baseline hesitation move to tie the game at 22.

That’s when Greer took over, feeding Dabney for a 3-pointer to get the Knights back on top. Moments later he went coast-to-coast as Higley’s lead swelled to 30-22.  Parker hit a 3-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer to help the Kings close within seven.

Ketchikan will face Southeast rival Metlakalta in Saturday’s seventh-place game.

Ketchikan 9 16 16 19 – 60

Higley 21 11 18 13 – 63

KETCHIKAN – J. Lorenzo 8, Zink 2, Parker 20, Kleinschmidt 6, Massin 0, Rhoads 0, Dundas 3, R. Lorenzno 3, Scoblic 0, Stockhausen 21.

HIGLEY – Greer 15, Dabney 12, Bell 4, Danielson 4, Randall 3, Kortas 2, Irving 10, Gloor 11, Seiber 2.

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