As a journalist I have to know when to admit when I’m wrong. Friday night in the second quarter of the girls basketball game between Meadowdale and Marysville Pilchuck, I couldn’t help but think it was one of the more uneventful games I had seen this season.
But it got a whole lot better.
In fact, it wound up being the closest game I have covered all season with the most exciting finish.
Somehow, despite Marysville Pilchuck leading for most of three quarters and overtime, the Mavericks found a way to win, 52-51.
As always after the games I cover, I try to give my thoughts on how I feel about each team.
First, the winners. Meadowdale is a streaking team of late and at moments look very good. Julianne Kossian has a great three-point shot, she hit five on Friday, and Mackenzie Bretz and Alyssa Reuble appear to be very high quality players as well. The Mavericks also have a strong surrounding cast that will serve them well late in the season.
The biggest problem that I saw with Meadowdale, was its inability to keep the same focus throughout the game. The Mavs got it done when they needed to, but went through times where they struggled to score and had defensive lapses.
The Mavericks also have another thing going for them. They are a team that is hot and has a very impressive record, but I’m not sure if they are getting the attention that they deserve. Flying under the radar might serve this team very well. This could be a team that by the end of the season has 15 wins and nobody is quite sure how it happened.
Marysville Pilchuck was also quite impressive in defeat. Of the players who played in the game for the Tomahawks, none of them were seniors. This team is young and learning how to be competitive, but they are picking it up fast.
I saw four players for MP that are true threats to score: Jenika Anglim, Jordan Bengen, Carlee Pilon and Marley Reynolds.
The Tomahawks are a team that intrigues me because I think they will be much better than their record says by season’s end. I think they can give a few teams a run for their money at districts.
I also think the Tomahawks have the right coach to do it. Sitting at the scorer’s table I was right next to the Marysville bench for the entire game and got an up-close and personal view of how head coach Julie Martin talks to her team. As a young basketball team this is a team that needs a coach who will support them and help them improve. I was very impressed with the way Martin encouraged her players rather than yelling at them. It seemed pretty clear that the players like playing for Martin and that coupled with the young talent they have could be a recipe for success.
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