Curtis wins instant classic over Mount Tahoma

TACOMA — Nine bucks for a ticket to the Class 4A state boys basketball tournament Thursday?

After the show put on by Curtis' Isaiah Thomas and Mount Tahoma's Patrick McCollum, that might be the best entertainment bargain around.

Thomas, a junior, and McCollum, a sophomore, combined for 80 points in an overtime classic won by Curtis 86-81 in the quarterfinals at the Tacoma Dome.

The other final score, the one more people will remember: Thomas 45, McCollum 35.

The 167 total points ties the tournament record set by Foss and Garfield in 2001.

After scoring only nine points in the first half, Thomas was unstoppable. He scored 10 in the third quarter as the fourth-ranked Vikings from University Place cut a 12-point lead in half.

In the fourth quarter, the 5-foot-9 Thomas scored 15 points in 3 ½ minutes as Curtis (25-2) took the lead with a 15-0 run.

With his team suddenly trailing by four, McCollum answered. First, he put back a Marice Tolliver miss and added a free throw for a three-point play. He closed the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, plus the tying jumper with six seconds left.

"This was like a duel in the desert," said Curtis coach Lindsay Bemis. "Isaiah, he's something else."

In overtime, Thomas scored seven of Curtis' first nine points, while McCollum scored five of the Thunderbirds' (18-8) first seven. Thomas' layup with 1:05 remaining gave Curtis a four-point lead, then he put the game out of reach with two more free throws after a Mount Tahoma of Tacoma turnover.

"My coach says I bring it the best when it's a big stage," said Thomas, who was three points shy of the tournament record for points in a game. "I guess I brought it the best today. I always say I do anything I have to do to help my team win, and that's what I did tonight."

Thomas has 76 points in Curtis' first two games. He needs 52 in the next two games to break the tournament record shared by Adam Morrison and Jeff Brown, both of Mead.

Both Thomas and McCollum tried to downplay their roles.

"I was just trying to come out for my seniors and get them a championship," said McCollum, a 6-2 forward.

Said Thomas: "The thing I don't do is look at it like 'he scored, now I've got to score.' I just do what my team needs me to do."

Bemis was asked if there is anyone else he'd rather give the ball to late in a game.

"On my team or anywhere?" he asked. "The answer is no for both. He's something else. He has such a competitive spirit. He started enjoying the game instead of making faces when things went bad. When he smiles and enjoys the game, I've never seen anybody better."