FOREST GROVE — After winning back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018, Seaside boys basketball head coach Bill Westerholm had reason to be optimistic heading into the final state tournament of his 27-year coaching career.

On March 13 and 14 in the state 4A tournament, the Seagulls defense played well, but the offense sputtered — scoring just 34 points in each of its two games — and the team left Forest Grove with two losses.

The Seagulls were hoping on Friday to rebound from a poor shooting game on March 13, a 56-34 loss to No. 1 seed Cascade. That game was essentially settled when Cascade rebounded from a 9-3 deficit with a 20-4 run to take a 10-point halftime lead.

The loss dropped the Seagulls into the consolation bracket and a March 14 game against Crook County, led by 6-foot-8 junior post player Bryce Lowenbach. Though the Seagulls had some familiarity with the Cowboys from last season, it became clear how much Lowenbach had improved since last March: On Friday, Lowenbach exploded for 18 points and 19 rebounds and dominated a game in which the Seagulls never led.

By the time the first quarter was over, Crook County led 17-4. The Seagulls rallied to cut the halftime deficit to 10 points, but were outscored 16-6 in the third quarter as the Cowboys put the game away en route to a 55-34 victory in the last game of Westerholm’s coaching career.

“I’ve had 27 years where the seniors have their last game and I have a chance to come back,” Westerholm said, “but this year I have the same feeling as them.”

“We got stuck on 34 points two days in a row,” he said. “That happens when you start playing better teams; it turns into a grind. We tried to come back in the second quarter (against Crook County), but just didn’t have any juice left in the third quarter. I’m proud of these kids; we started out the season 1-6 and pulled things together, grinded through league (play) and put ourselves in position to have a chance to play at Forest Grove.”

In fact, the Seagulls were riding a 13-game winning streak going into the 4A state tournament.

“What they showed this year is a competitive drive,” Westerholm said. “I know what those seniors feel like today and I’m proud of the seniors for keeping things together. Things in life don’t always go the way you planned it, but it’s going to be OK.”

This game closes the book on the careers of four-year Seaside players Austin Palmer, Jake White, Luis Gonzales and Jordan Westerholm, while Barett Blodgett and Zayden Anderson saw their high school careers end after transferring from Warrenton for the last two years.

“The Seaside basketball community is very strong,” Westerholm said. “Kids who have played for me all know that they‘re still a part of the Seaside basketball program and they will still be a part of it even if I’m not there.”

Lead assistant Jackson Januik will take over next year as the Seagull head coach.

The Seagulls ended the season with a 17-10 record.