ROYAL CITY — Royal kicked off the 2024-25 season with an appearance at the Pro Image Sports Holiday Classic, going 3-0 in its bracket to begin the season on a successful note. 

With all but three players on Royal’s basketball team having wrapped up their football season less than a week prior, it left little room for a turnaround between the two sports. 

“We had three practices, and then three games,” Royal head coach Greg Jenks said. “From my perspective, it was a little stressful, but I think from the player’s perspective they loved it – why mess around, let’s just go play.” 

The Knights played at the tournament last season as well, going 1-2 with a win over Homedale (Idaho) and losses to Lapwai (Idaho) and Melba (Idaho).  

“It was run really well; last year at the tournament, there was a kid headed to UCLA, one to Arizona, one to USC, one to Utah State, one to BYU. This year they had three brackets with high schools from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Nevada. It’s just a really cool basketball experience,” Jenks said.  

Royal opened the tournament rematch from last season’s game against Melba, going on to win 66-36 while being led by sophomore Grant Wardenaar’s 19 points. Jenks attributed the win to players preparing for the season during the off-season, leaving little rust to be shaken off in the first game of the year. 

“They’re ready year-round,” Jenks said. “We could play a game in October and they’re going to be ready. We can play a game in May and they’re going to be ready.” 

The Knights moved on to play West Side (Idaho) in the semifinals Friday, defeating the Pirates 66-51 to reach the tournament’s championship game. Wardenaar again led the Knights with 22 points, followed by senior Lance Allred with 11 and sophomore Manny Ruvalcaba with eight. 

Jenks noted both team’s history on the football field, and how it served as a motivating factor ahead of the game; West Side has won state championships in Idaho in five of the last six seasons in the 2A and 3A classifications, while Royal just won its fifth straight 1A title in Washington and eighth in the last nine seasons. 

“We saw some similarities just looking at them – that was kind of fun. Obviously, the boys relate to other teams that dedicate themselves to more than one sport, so that was motivation there,” Jenks said. “We just have a group that loves basketball and loves competing.” 

In the bracket’s championship game against The Ambrose School (Idaho), Royal battled back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Archers, going on a 14-3 run to retake the lead late in the game. Royal later won the game in overtime, winning 65-63 to cap off the tournament with a win and a 3-0 start to the season. 

Senior Ezra Jenks’ 19 points were a team-high, with Wardenaar closely behind with 18 points. Ruvalcaba also reached double digits with 10 points. 

“That was fun, that the boys showed some fight,” Greg said. “We committed a foul when it was tied that sent them to the free throw line, now we’re down two with just under 20 seconds left and end up putting it into overtime with a put-back.” 

Royal opened its league schedule Tuesday night against Wapato, but scores were not available in time for press deadline. The Knights travel to Wahluke on Friday at 7:15 p.m. 

“A lot of things to work on – we've got to move our feet better on defense, we’ve got to not go for so many shot fakes, we’ve got to do a better job on the defensive rebounds,” Greg said. “Things we took away (was) we can win even on bad shooting nights. When we’re moving the ball if when we’re best on offense.” 

    Royal senior Ezra Jenks (3) dribbles the ball up the floor against Annie Wright last season. Jenks led the Knights with 19 points in Saturday’s bracket championship game against The Ambrose School (Idaho).
  

    Royal senior Lance Allred keeps his eyes on an Annie Wright player during last season’s regional game in Tacoma. Head Coach Greg Jenks noted Allred has stepped up on the defensive end of the court for the Knights this season.