SNOHOMISH — Two of the hottest teams in the Western Conference met up Tuesday night when Wesco North No. 2 seed Snohomish hosted Wesco South No. 3 seed Meadowdale in a first-round 4A District 1 playoff game.
Meadowdale came in riding a five-game winning streak. The Panthers finished the regular season with six straight wins.
In the end it was Snohomish that continued its winning ways with a 51-48 victory over Meadowdale in front of a packed Snohomish gym.
Tied at 48 with five minutes to go, the Panthers used a stall tactic, passing the ball for three minutes until finally finding an opening for Jon Brockman to get the ball.
With 2:30 remaining, Brockman scored on a layin, was fouled and converted the three-point play, giving Snohomish a 51-48 lead.
Meadowdale had a couple of chances to tie the score, but a desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short and the Panthers squeaked away with their seventh straight victory.
Brockman scored 21 points including three monster jams and the Panthers continue to grab crucial wins when needed.
“I think this is a confident team and I think this is a team that is getting better,” Snohomish coach Len Bone said.
This time though it wasn’t just the Jon Brockman show.
Freshmen Zach Wilde came off the bench, scoring seven points and guard Seth Follis added 10, including two crucial baskets in the fourth quarter that gave Snohomish back the lead it had relinquished after a 16-8 Meadowdale scoring edge in the third quarter.
“Both Seth and Zach came in and gave us a nice lift,” Bone said.
The Mavericks’ defense held Brockman scoreless in the first quarter, constantly double- and triple-teaming him without the ball.
Even with Brockman scoreless, the Panthers still held a 19-18 first-quarter advantage. Guard Jake Hammons drained three 3-pointers and scored all nine of his points in the quarter.
In the second period Brockman came alive, scoring 10 points, two off an alley-oop pass from Wilde.
Wilde and Brockman combined to score all of Snohomish’s 17 points in the second quarter and the Panthers held a comfortable 36-29 lead going into the half.
The Mavs struck back fast, beginning the third quarter with a 9-2 run.
Meadowdale’s Jake Linton, who scored a game-high 25 points, including three 3-pointers from NBA range, scored seven in the quarter.
“We’re glad just to come out it with a win. They’re a nice team,” Bone said.
Kevin Johnson writes for The Herald in Everett.
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