3A state quarterfinals, Thursday, 12:15 p.m. at Tacoma Dome
Records: Stanwood 23-1; Bellevue 22-3
AP rank: Stanwood 2nd; Bellevue 3rd
Scoreczar rank: Stanwood 5th; Bellevue 2nd
How they got to Tacoma
Stanwood beat Foss 73-55 in a state-regional game at Kent-Meridian H.S.. Bellevue beat Lincoln 60-55 in a state-regional game at Mt. Tahoma H.S.
Common opponents
None
Players to watch
Stanwood—Josh Thayer, Sr., G; Drew Stang, Sr., F; Ian Zipp, Sr., G; Brady Garcea, Sr., G; Skout Roberson, Jr., W.
Bellevue—Gunther Klimes, Jr., F; Kyle Foreman, Jr., PG; Sharif Khan, So., G; Dylan Foreman, Sr., G; Jack Walton, Sr., P.
Breakdown
Stanwood and Jackson have been the top two Snohomish County basketball teams all winter, with both teams having lost only once. They didn’t face each other this season, but, in Bellevue, the Spartans get possibly the closest team to Jackson in 3A. Like the Timberwolves, Bellevue is loaded with senior talent and is battle-tested, having traveled to the same MaxPreps Holiday Tournament as Jackson back in December. With all but one player on their roster over 6-feet tall, the Wolverines are long and athletic and could pose problems for a Stanwood team that has four players who play significant minutes under 6-feet. The Spartans counter with three senior guards in Thayer, Garcea and Zipp who all create problems for opponents on both ends of the court. In the regional win over Foss, Thayer shut down Falcons star player Armond Davis in the second half to help Stanwood cruise to a state berth. All three will be asked to play big against the larger Wolverines guards in today’s quarterfinal matchup. In the paint, Stang is going to have to control Walton down low on the defensive end and contribute easy baskets and putbacks to aid the Spartans offense.
Radio: KRKO, 1380 AM
Twitter: @swaney_aaron79
Prediction: Stanwood, 67-65
Aaron Swaney, Herald Writer
The Spartans’ road to Tacoma
Drew Stang spent his summer playing with some of the state’s best
Stanwood destroys eventual SPSL 3A champ Enumclaw
Spartans pull away late to beat rival Arlington
Big fourth quarter leads Stanwood past 4A-power Union
Stanwood beats Jefferson at ShoWare Shootout
Stanwood beats Glacier Peak in first Wesco 3A crossover test
Stanwood defeats Mountlake Terrace in Wesco 3A showdown
Stanwood finishes regular season unbeaten for first time since 1948
Stang records triple-double in win in district opener
Spartans beat Mountlake Terrace in district semifinals for regional berth
Stanwood loses to Shorecrest in district championship game
Stanwood outlasts Foss in second half to punch ticket to Tacoma
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
