Glacier Peak girls stun top-ranked Lynnwood

SNOHOMISH — It takes a near perfect game to beat the Lynnwood girls basketball team.

Todd Beamer had been the only team able to do it this season, beating the Royals at the ShoWare Center in mid-January. No other team has even come close, as all of their 17 victories have come by at least 18 points.

Until Friday night.

After falling by 25 to the No. 1-ranked Royals earlier in the season, No. 5 Glacier Peak reversed its fortune and knocked off Lynnwood 61-49.

On her senior night, it was a victory guard Sadie Mensing will never forget.

“I’m so proud of us and so excited,” Mensing said. “It’s the best senior night I could ever ask for.”

The earlier season loss didn’t seem to bother Mensing and her teammates, who never backed down to anything the Royals threw at them.

“We were just so excited because we knew we could do better than we did last time and we just wanted to go hard and have fun and play as a team,” Mensing said. “We did and it was awesome.”

Glacier Peak head coach Brian Hill saw a team that was willing to do what it took to beat Lynnwood, which is to eliminate mistakes and play hard for a full 32 minutes.

“I saw them mature tonight,” Hill said. “I know they’re good basketball players, but I saw them mature and accept fundamental basketball. That’s all Lynnwood does too. They’re a fundamental, hard-nosed basketball team — very blue-collar. That’s what we tried to do tonight is play blue-collar basketball.”

The Royals led for most of the first half, but the Grizzlies never allowed them to pull away. Lynnwood pushed its lead up to seven points mid-way through the second quarter and it stood at six with just over a minute remaining before Glacier Peak senior Kianna Garner and sophomore Kayla Watkins connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the first half and tie the score at 29.

It was the second half that was a problem for the Grizzlies the first time around and they made sure it wouldn’t be a problem again.

“I thought we did a really good job the first time we played them in the first half,” Hill said. “One of the (reasons) was instead of backing away from their pressure we tried to handle it and keep our composure a little bit more. The first time I don’t know that we actually ran very many offenses in the second half, so tonight we wanted to make sure that we were running some offense and getting some scores.”

The Grizzlies took just their third lead of the game with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter, but they never trailed again.

Glacier Peak led 42-39 after three quarters and scored the first four points of the fourth to push its lead up to seven. Moments later, junior Natalie Rasmussen pushed it to nine with her third 3-pointer of the game.

Usually reliant on their pressure defense, it was the Royals that were getting beaten by their own game. Glacier Peak allowed just 20 points in the second half and the Royals shot just 4-for-22 in that time.

“We’ve always been a pretty good defensive team and I think sometimes we try to use our athleticism to create more than we can create,” Hill said. “Tonight, each person just had to do their job and not rely on anyone else to try to contain. But at the same time, it’s team defense too. Help out when you need to help out. I thought our defense tonight was really good. We contested outside shots and we took away some of their inside stuff.”

On offense, the Grizzlies did what most teams haven’t been able to do for the better part of the past two seasons — handle Lynnwood’s pressure.

“It’s really hard because it feels like there’s six or seven kids out there on their team when their playing defense,” Hill said. “They’re just everywhere. They’re a great defensive team and we know that their defense contributes to a lot of their points, so we had to make sure that we handled their defense and not give them the easy buckets.”

Down the stretch, Glacier Peak’s lead was too much for the Royals to overcome. A technical foul against Lynnwood for having too many players on the floor with 47.1 second remaining in the game closed the door on whatever slim chances it had left.

“For us to beat them gives us a little bit of confidence knowing what we can do,” Hill said. “It probably made them mad and stirred up the hornets’ nest a little bit, so hopefully that doesn’t come back and sting us.”

At Glacier Peak H.S.

Lynnwood 17 12 10 10 —49

Glacier Peak 13 16 13 19 —61

Lynnwood—Madison Eyer 0, Reilly Walsh 2, Monty Cooper 11, Jordyn Edwards 4, Mikayla Pivec 19, Sarah Grant 0, Kelsey Rogers 5, Kaprice Boston 4, Taylor Fahey 0, Dani Hayes 4. Glacier Peak—Paisley Johnson 9, Samantha Fatkin 9, Sadie Mensing 12, Kayla Watkins 15, Natalie Rasmussen 13, Maya McFadden 0, Charlie Sevenants 0, Sierra Nash 0, Kianna Garner 3. 3-point goals—Lynnwood: Hayes 1, Cooper 1, Edwards 1. Glacier Peak: Fatkin 1, Rasmussen 3, Garner 1, Watkins 1. Records—Lynnwood 10-1 league, 17-2 overall. Glacier Peak 9-2, 17-2.

Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27

Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.