PORTLAND – Andrew Hutchins scored 12 points but the Forest Grove boys basketball team lost its final non-conference game of the season Monday night, falling 57-51 to David Douglas in the Rose Garden.
Both teams entered Monday’s game with eyes the size of dinner plates – Forest Grove players walked around before the game quipping about making a big dunk or hitting an “NBA-range” three-pointer. Both teams entertained the crowd during pre-game warmups by trying to dunk during layup drills.
“Our main goal was that everybody plays,” said Forest Grove head coach Doug Hofmeister. “This is a special game for a lot of these boys. They don’t often get to play on an NBA court.”
Hofmeister shuffled in all 13 players for Forest Grove (2-8) during the game, including five-player, hockey-style line changes on two separate occasions.
“This game wasn’t about getting the win,” Hofmeister said. “It was about the experience. And I’m proud of my kids for how hard they played.”
David Douglas (5-5) over-matched the Vikings at almost every position – the Scots had size, strength and speed on their side.
“We were definitely underdogs,” Hofmeister said.
The scoring began when Hutchins took the ball in for two points off the opening tip. The Scots answered with a lay-up and a deep, NBA-range three-pointer by Richard Seamster. A nice dribble-drive by Forest Grove’s Blair Davis cut the David Douglas lead to 7-6 with 2:24 to go.
The Vikings played from behind for most of the quarter but utilized set plays, sure defense and a bit of luck – a tip-in at the buzzer by Joel Calvillo off a missed three-point shot from Tylor Brekke – to end the quarter with a 13-9 lead.
Calvillo opened the second quarter with a steal and an easy two points. The game pulled even at 17-17 with 5:58 remaining in the first half when Cole Jamieson hit a jumper off an inbound pass.
The rest of the way, however, David Douglas outscored the Viks by a 2:1 ratio. Seamster led the Scots into the locker room leading 31-24.
“They were a lot faster than us,” Hofmeister said. “Speed is not one of our strongest attributes.”
The Scots continued to build on their lead in the second half. Forest Grove was held scoreless until Hutchins hit back-to-back jumpers with around four minutes to play in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter Brekke came on strong, but it was too late. He finished the game scoring the Vikings’ final four points before fouling out.
Forest Grove will look to build on the experience when it opens Pacific Conference play at home this Friday against McMinnville.
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