The 2016 Les Schwab Invitational tournament had its David and Goliath moment as 5-9 Elijah Gonzales led the Clackamas Cavaliers to a stunning 88-87 victory over West Linn , which is going for its fifth straight state championship.
The Lions have become the team to root against after picking up four outstanding transfers to restock a roster hit heavily by graduation. They’re good, and they’re big. That point was driven home in the first half as West Linn piled up easy baskets, most of them by 6-7, 240-pound Keishon Dawkins. They were on cruise control as their lead rose to 16 points in the second quarter.
Then Gonzales came out of nowhere to take charge of the game. He helped cut the lead to two points at halftime. He did everything a little man can. He stole the ball, drained 25-foot rainbows and was unstoppable with the ball in his hands. He dribbled around and through the defense at will, then lobbed running shots over defenders who were a foot taller. West Linn fouled him repeatedly, but he was also deadly at the foul line. He finished with 38 points.
And when the Cavaliers needed one more basket to regain the lead with 29 seconds to go, he stayed on the perimeter and gave teammate Hunter Coyle the opportunity to feed Matt O’Brien under the basket for the decisive jam.
Gonzales can seemingly disrupt any game plan, and there’s no one in the state who’s more fun to watch.
