The Highline men’s basketball team is facing the last of their regular games but the playoff qualification is slipping away, as the Thunderbirds find themselves ranked fourth overall. And with South Puget Sound already qualified, there is only one spot left.
The last few games have been a rollercoaster, filled with ups and downs. An overtime loss to Green River (82-79) set the tone for a challenging week, but they bounced back with a solid 74-67 win over Pierce. However, they couldn’t keep the momentum going and fell 78-68 to South Puget Sound. Despite the setback, they outlasted Centralia in a closely contested game (75-74) and cruised to a resounding win against Grays Harbor, 81-66, showcasing their ability to dominate when everything clicks.
Against Grays Harbor, the team demonstrated offensive efficiency, particularly in the second half. The game was close at halftime, tied at 31, but a commanding 50-point second half propelled Highline to a comfortable win.
Isaiah Vargas had a stellar performance, leading all scorers with 27 points, going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc, while also contributing eight rebounds and seven assists. Cooper Aitken provided strong support with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Rylan Donovan’s all-around game included eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Highline shot an impressive 52.6% from the field and 92.3% from the free throw line, highlighting their efficiency.
Grays Harbor put up a fight, with Prashant Chouhan leading his team with 17 points and five rebounds. Josh Adamsel Jr. and Lok Kulang added 14 points each, but their team struggled to keep pace with Highline’s offense in the second half.
Looking ahead, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Next, the team hosts its final home game and the sophomore night against Lower Columbia on Saturday Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. in the Thunderdome, before closing out the regular season with an away game against Tacoma, Wednesday Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
The Highline women’s team will also be hosting its sophomore recognition game against Lower Columbia on Saturday Feb. 22 at noon at home.
With everything on the line, these final games will determine whether they can punch their ticket to the playoffs or if their season comes to an abrupt end.
