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By Jason Chatraw
NAMPA — When Wendell junior guard Jonathan Swainston tore his left ACL, he lost his freshman season. A meniscus tear cost him his sophomore year.
On Saturday afternoon with the Wendell season on the brink in the Class 3A boys state championship game, Swainston wasn’t about to lose a shot at a state title in his first fully healthy season.
Swainston scored all 13 of the Trojans’ points after third quarter, leading Wendell past top-seeded Declo 53-50 in overtime.
“I didn’t want to know what it felt like to lose, so I made sure we won,” said Swainston, who finished with a game-high 20 points. “I didn’t want to be sad or have any regrets.”
Wendell (20-6), which won its first title since 2004 and its fourth in school history, avenged two regular-season losses to its district rivals.
Declo (25-2) entered the tournament as the top seed and No. 1 team in the final regular-season 3A media poll but fell just short of finishing a near-perfect season.
The Hornets couldn’t match Wendell’s grit in overtime after grinding out a 52-51 win over Ambrose on Friday in the semifinals.
But they still had a chance to tie the score and extend the game.
After Swainston hit a pair of free throws to put Wendell ahead 53-50 with 5.4 seconds remaining in overtime, Declo took the ensuing inbound bass down the court and ran a play to get Gavin Rasmussen open beyond the arc.
Rasmussen, who had hit on a pair of 3-point attempts earlier in the game, watched his shot bounce off the front of the iron as time expired.
Wendell coach A.J. Kelsey pumped his fist as the final horn sounded and watched his team storm the court, enjoying the transformation of his young team.
“We lost a game midway through the season by 24 to Westside,” Kelsey said. “And we challenged these boys to make some sacrifices and changes both off and off the court, to make better decisions and practice a different way and prepare a different way—and they did.
“I’m really proud of these boys because they’ve given everything, and it’s awesome.”
Both teams fought through some first-quarter jitters with Declo grinding its way to an 8-5 lead.
But in the second quarter, both teams settled into a rhythm offensively, though both struggled to pull away until just before halftime.
Sparked by Rasmussen, the Hornets went on a 7-0 run to take a 25-20 lead with 10 seconds left.
But Swainston drilled a 3-pointer with one second remaining to pull Wendell back with 25-23 at the break.
In the third quarter, Wendell heated up from the outside and outscored Declo 19-11 to build a 42-36 lead heading into the fourth.
With its season slipping away, Declo turned to its defense and physical inside game.
Carter Robinson spurred the fourth-quarter comeback, tallying six points including a clutch 3-pointer with 2:30 left in the game. The Hornets surged ahead 47-44 and appeared primed to sneak out with the victory.
But Swainston hit a 3-pointer with 1:20 left to tie the game.
Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the final minute of regulation but couldn’t find the bottom of the net, forcing overtime.
Jordan Swainston and Borges added 12 points each for Wendell, while Jett Jasper pulled down nine rebounds.
Rasmussen led Declo offensively with 16 points. Emmett Gibby added 10 points along with 12 rebounds. Robinson contributed 15 points and seven rebounds.
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