No slowing down

Red-hot Davis shoots 64 percent in victory||

YAKIMA, Wash. — For a kid with a bum wheel, David Trimble looked pretty darn good Friday night.

For someone battling a surly mood, Cooper Kupp turned in a performance to smile about.

Davis' David Trimble (24) shoots betwen Richland defenders Colter Quick (30) and Tyrell Turner during Friday's CBBN 4A basketball game at Davis Gym.||ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic

It was a night for Davis’ second-ranked boys basketball team to look the part and the Pirates did exactly that, offensively at least, racing to a 90-71 victory over Richland in a duel for sole possession of the CBBN 4A lead.

Despite his questionable status because of an ankle injury suffered last week, Trimble gave himself the green light just before the game and he responded with his all-state form — a season-high 26 points on 10-for-12 shooting.

“My teammates were wondering if I was a go because I basically missed the whole week of practice,” Trimble said. “I wanted to try it because I felt I could plant on the foot and drive off it. I didn’t want to wait for tomorrow’s game and I’m glad I didn’t — we really clicked on offense.”

Clicked to the tune of 64-percent shooting — 39 of 61 overall — and a season-high outburst that was triggered by a 34-point second quarter.

Kupp inspired that breakout frame with eight of his 13 points, hitting four consecutive shots, and then went on to record a fierce double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds. Still trying to find a consistency in his game, this effort was clearly his best of the season.

“I always work my hardest, but I haven’t been in a very good mood lately,” he said. “I’ve been stressing about football (he has visited Idaho State and plans to visit Eastern Washington this month) and I’ve been frustrated about not playing as well as I should. But this was better.”

Devonte Luckett struck for 19 points, also a season high, and was a sharp-shooter alongside Trimble, connecting on 9 of 15 shots. LeVonte Allen kicked in 10 points and six rebounds.

Davis' Devonte Luckett drives past Richland's Casey Malone during Friday's game.||ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic

“We’re getting our offensive rotations settled and we’re getting more diverse,” noted Davis coach Eli Juarez. “David showed what kind of player he is tonight and he’s still probably only 85 percent. Devonte was strong, and it was nice to see Cooper’s game — that was well deserved.”

While the offensive numbers surpassed anything the Pirates had done in their previous 11 games, the same could be said of the defensive effort. Giving up five 3-pointers and 42 points in the first half was a sour result, but the Pirates did buckle down in the second half allowing 29 points and one trey in the waning moments of the game.

“Richland’s a good team — they always are — but we shouldn’t need 90 points to win a game,” Kupp said. “At halftime you look up and see 42 points, we shouldn’t be giving up that much. I tell the guys that’s the part of the game we always have to work on.”

Richland’s fourth 3-pointer of the first half put the Bombers up 32-31 in the second quarter, but Davis responded by scoring on six straight possessions for a 12-2 run. Both Deion Wright and Nikhil Lizotte came off the bench to hit 3-pointers in a blistering second period that saw the Pirates hit 14 of 18 shots.

“We were moving the ball around, finding the open man and hitting our shots,” Trimble said. “The offense was good, but our defense … well, it was better in the second half.”

Davis (5-0, 10-2) will conclude the first half of conference play tonight at home against Wenatchee.

RICHLAND — Fuller 0, Tyrell Turner 17, Adam Baker 17, Hilty 5, Radliff 7, Eiden 2, Streufert 5, Colter Quick 11, Malone 2, Wheeler 5. Totals 26-57 13-17 71.

DAVIS — Cooper Kupp 13, Navarro 8, Devonte Luckett 19, David Trimble 26, Wright 5, Perea-Vijarro 2, Lizotte 5, Jones 0, LeVonte Allen 10, Knox 0, Gasseling 2. Totals 39-61 7-13 90.

Richland 25 17 12 17 — 71

Davis 22 34 20 14 — 90

3-point goals: Richland 6-19 (Turner 2-4, Baker 2-5, Radliff 1-5, Hilty 1-2), Davis 5-10 (Navarro 2-4, Trimble 1-1, Wright 1-2, Lizotte 1-2). Rebounds: Richland 29 (Streufert 8, Radliff 6), Davis 31 (Kupp 10, Allen 6). Turnovers: Richland 24, Davis 19. Total fouls: Richland 17, Davis 19. Fouled out: None.