It was 37 degrees outside in Springfield on Tuesday night, but none of that mattered once the doors to the gym closed. The heat came from the hardwood, where first-place Thurston arrived riding momentum and unfinished business. The Colts entered the matchup at 12–4, unbeaten in Midwestern Conference play and winners of every game since Dec. 18, while Churchill stood at 7–6, sitting just behind them in the standings and bringing the biggest lineup Thurston had seen all season.
Thurston has been red-hot recently, fresh off a 75–25 road win at Mountain View and an 83–20 blowout of Springfield, powered by a trio responsible for nearly 70 percent of the team’s offense. Senior point guard Lukas LaBounty set the tone as the Colts’ engine, sophomore Trayson Hill continued to impress after earning a varsity role as a freshman and holding the school record for assists in a game, and Leofatu Filipe dominated the paint with the same physicality he brought to the football field. On the other side, Churchill countered with size — and lots of it — led by 6-foot-6 junior center Madison Bradshaw. With only one Lancer under six feet tall, it was easily the tallest team Thurston faced all year.
The matchup carried extra weight beyond conference positioning. Just two months earlier, Churchill ended Thurston’s season in the OSAA 5A football quarterfinals, and several Colts remembered that night. Friday’s game wasn’t just about basketball — it was about pride, momentum, and a chance for the school to respond on its home floor.
As much energy as there was at tipoff, the offenses couldn’t match it early. After one quarter, Thurston held a slim 8–4 lead as both teams shot under 20 percent from the field. It wasn’t simply poor shooting — it was defense. Possessions regularly featured the ball swinging around the perimeter 10 or more times, yet clean looks were hard to come by as both defenses swarmed passing lanes and closed space quickly.
The defensive pressure neutralized the stars on both sides. LaBounty was held scoreless in the opening quarter, missing all three of his attempts, while Filipe managed just three points on a single made field goal. Every basket felt earned, and the tone was clear early: this game was going to be decided by physicality, patience, and who could eventually break through the defensive wall first.
But the defensive slugfest ended there. Coming out of the break, both offenses found their rhythm, and Thurston in particular began to open the floor with tempo. Fast breaks created space that simply wasn’t there in the first quarter, and that freedom finally unleashed LaBounty. The senior point guard took over in transition, scoring 10 points in the second quarter and jump-starting the Colts’ attack.
Churchill’s offense improved as well, but it struggled to match Thurston’s early second-quarter intensity. Over the first three minutes of the period, the Colts poured in 10 points in a flurry that quickly stretched the margin and shifted control of the game. Although the Lancers responded with a late surge before the break, Thurston carried a comfortable advantage into halftime, leading 29–18.
In the second half, the tempo slowed, but the baskets didn’t. Both teams settled in offensively, showing more patience on the perimeter and consistently generating quality looks. Thurston head coach Blaine Liberatore adjusted to get Filipe deeper touches in the paint, and the junior made the most of them, converting through contact and anchoring the Colts’ interior offense.
Churchill continued to find ways to score, but Thurston’s offense never flinched. Each Lancers push was met with a steady response, preventing any real momentum from building. The Colts maintained a consistent 10-to-15 point cushion throughout the half, controlling the game with poise. When Thurston’s shooters caught fire in the final five minutes, the result was sealed, as the Colts pulled away for the “dominant win” they sought, closing out a 60–39 victory, extending their winning streak to 11 games.
“We trust our identity,” Liberatore said when asked about the confidence in his team heading into the final stretch of the season. “When we defend like that and share the ball, we’re hard to beat. This group understands what it takes, and they’re playing for each other. If we keep bringing that energy every night, we like where we’re at.”
Thurston heads south near the border for its next test, traveling to face 10–5 Ashland on Friday as the Colts look to carry their momentum into another key non-conference matchup.