‘Unheralded’ Jackson Mott helps Gonzaga watch the overtime gain over Auburn in quarterfinals

Tacoma – One of the unfortunate realities of the way Washington Interscholastic Activity Association conducts the state basketball tournaments is that some of the best matchups that do not regularly regularly happen at the best times.

As the top eight seeds face each other in protected games in the regional round, when disturbances happen-as boys 4a # 2 seeds Auburn fell to seventh seeded Mount SI Saturday sides we back with a blow to top seeds on a Thursday instead of later this week.

And that is why top -notch gonzaga prep played second -seeded Auburn on the second day of the tournament at. 10:30 instead of in a potential state -title game in Prime Time Saturday.

It was close to such a matchup, it was close all the way – and required an extra period to decide the result.

Junior Jackson Mott knocked in a disputed slimmer with less than 20 seconds back on overtime and Gonzaga Prep angled Auburn 53-50 in a state 4A quarterfinals on Thursday at the Tacoma Dome.

Bullpups (24-2) went on to a semi-final against the third seed glacier (23-3) at. 15.45 Friday. Glacier Peak also needs overtime to beat Camas 44-42.

“I just thank my coaches for believing in me and gave me the ball (overtime),” Mott said. “(Auburn) is a good team, you know – one against two in the first round. It was a hard five quarters of overtime. Thank you for being able to pull it out at the end. “

“I’m just very proud of the way the kids hung in there today against some real hardship,” said Gonzaga Prep coach Matty McIntyre.

Mott ended with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists inclusive a back door pass for Brogan Howell for the walk-ad bucket of overtime. Carter Nilson led G-Prep with 15 points and Howell ended with 14.

Daniel Johnson led Auburn (24-3) with 26 points.

“We really just tried to be ultra-aggressive (overtime),” McIntyre said. “We just weren’t able to make external shots consistently during the game, especially in the first half. Had just believe that they would eventually fall and we made a few big ones at the end. “

Gonzaga Prep went 2 of 14 beyond the arc and 7 of 15 at the free throwing line.

Howell, this year’s Greater Spokane League Defensive Player, played with a strongly wrapped knee.

“He’s a warrior. It doesn’t matter if he scores zero or 30, the job he performs on the other team’s best player compensates for what he scores, ”McIntyre said. “I don’t even worry about that part of it, but the job he did at MVP in their league was completely tough as nails.”

Bullpups do not have a starter higher than 6-foot-4, but McIntyre called 6-4 Mott and Nilson “Uneralded.”

“Very underrated players, and it’s time for people to start noticing what these guys are doing,” he said. “There is too much emphasis on points and numbers, but these guys are cruel, hard work horses and we wouldn’t be where we’re without these two guys.”

“I just, you know, play my role,” Mott said. “I’m not the biggest, but I just do what I can do to help this team.”

McIntyre was philosophical about the low -seed matchup so early in the tournament.

“We just knew it was going to be eight really good teams at this point. I wasn’t too worried about (seed), ”he said. “I think during the day all scores will be super close as we saw (Wednesday). So that part doesn’t matter.

“I know that every day will bring a new challenge and we’re ready for it.”

Tied to 42 late in regulation, Johnson drove to a set up with 1:15 to go, but Howell tied it with a set -up moments later.

No team scored in the remaining time, and that headed for overtime.

Johnson hit a runner at the start of the extra period, then Howell scored on a Fastbreak to tie it. Auburns Elijah Jones went to the line and made 1 out of 2 with 1:47 to go.

Nilson hit a 3-pointer from the wing to put G-PREP up with one, but Carter Hanson (10 points) answered kindly, and Auburn led 50-49 with 1:17 back.

Howell scored on a backdoor cut from Mott, then g-Prep stopped. Motts Falling Bank, which was shot through traffic, put Bullpups with three, and Auburn asked for timeout with 16.2 seconds left.

Hansen’s last second shot from the corner was short and G-Prep survived.

“I think all our close games from the beginning of the year have prepared us well for moments like this during the autumn period,” Mott said.

“It’s a lot of fun when you get out on top,” McIntyre said.