MILL CREEK — After about 9:30 p.m. Saturday night, the Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball team’s biggest problem: finding a Sharpie.
Once one had been procured, the Warriors begin signing their names on a ball that Edmonds-Woodway had just used to top Mountlake Terrace 61-48 and win a 3A District 1 title at Jackson High School.
Both teams advance to the regional round of the state tournament and find out their opponents from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association late Saturday night or early Sunday.
“It’s the best feeling in a long time,” said Edmonds-Woodway head coach Robert Brown. “You have to savor it. Everybody says, ‘I want to get to Tacoma,’ but you have to enjoy this. You have to enjoy the journey. These kids are fantastic. Phenomenal. I’m just happy they have this memory, no matter what else happens. They cut down some nets.”
Edmonds-Woodway was in control most of the way, leading by as much as 17 in the contest. The Hawks made it interesting, getting to within five late in the third quarter.
But Edmonds-Woodway started the fourth period with a 6-1 run to recapture momentum and begin to pull away from Mountlake Terrace.
“That last spurt, that was the secret to our success,” Brown said. “Just flying around, rotating, being in passing lanes.”
Terrace struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 3 of 13 from the field. The Hawks had 14 turnovers — compared to four by Edmonds-Woodway as the Warriors raced out to a 32-18 halftime advantage, leading by as much as 17 in the contest.
Senior David Woodard led Edmonds-Woodway (21-2) with 22 points in the contest. The O’Dea transfer has been an offensive force for the Warriors all season.
“He’s a great talent,” said Mountlake Terrace head coach Nalin Sood. “He’s been consistent all season. I thought there were some times where we had good defense on him and he just makes some really good plays. They’ve got some other players also who you can’t leave. That’s why they’re district champs.”
Along with Woodard, junior guard Tre’var Holland scored 17 points and Noah Becker added six for the Warriors, who finished the season 2-1 against Mountlake Terrace (16-7).
“Tre makes us go,” Brown said. “He’s special.”
Edmonds-Woodway suffered a scary moment in the first quarter when Warriors senior Jordan Rice went to the floor hard after going for a loose ball. Rice remained on the floor for a few minutes before limping off.
Rice, who had his left knee worked on by athletic trainers, did not return to the game.
“I think he banged his knee really good on the floor and it went numb and I think it just scared the hell out of him,” Brown said. “Being a senior, his first thought was his season’s over. I think a week off will do him good. It’ll be purple tomorrow but we’ll see what happens from there.”
Derek Anyimah led Mountlake Terrace’s second-half surge, scoring 10 of his team-high 15 points in the second half. Anyimah, who was out last season with an injury, is one of four Mountlake Terrace seniors who are heading back to the regional round of the state tournament after going 6-14 last season.
“We’re not excited right now but we will be tomorrow,” Sood said. “We’ve played in this game a lot. If you win you’re really excited, if you’re disappointed it stays with you. But the right type of kids won’t want to lose again. We’ve lost this game and come back and done really well in the state tournament.”
At Jackson H.S.
M. Terrace7112010—48
Ed.-Woodway16161316—61
Mountlake Terrace—Gabe Powter 3, Daniel Johnson 8, Joey Gardner 4, Khyree Armstead 0, Gabe Altenberger 8, Derek Anyimah 15, Shimron Masih 10, Carson Dallas 0. Edmonds-Woodway—David Woodard 22, Uchenna Acholonu 0, Tre’var Holland 17, Brady Edwards 2, Kam Eck 0, Edikal Seare 3, Ali Gaye 4, Jordan Rice 1, Ryan Peterson 6, Noah Becker 6, Joe Cooper 0. Records—Mountlake Terrace 16-7 overall. Edmonds-Woodway 21-2.
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