TACOMA — Arlington girls basketball players Jayla Russ, Emma Janousek, Serafina Balderas and Gracie Castaneda capped off their freshmen season by playing for the state championship.
After Friday’s 44-30 victory over Kamiakin in the 3A state semifinals, the seniors will close out their high school careers the same way.
“I’m just so happy for our seniors — all of them — because we had the four with us and the rest of the kids were on the bench and in the locker rooms with us because I knew this was going to be a special group,” Arlington coach Joe Marsh said.
In addition to the four seniors who were on the team that finished second three years ago, the Eagles have four other seniors — Sarah Shortt, Sevi Bielser, Selena Gutierrez and Olivia Larson.
“It’s really exciting and I’m just happy that we get to do it together,” Russ said. “When I first started, it was those seniors and us (freshmen). Now, I’m happy that it’s all of us as seniors.”
Arlington faces Bellevue, which upset No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Lynnwood 73-60 in Friday’s other semifinal, for the championship at 9 p.m. Saturday.
The Eagles overwhelmed the Braves, who start three freshmen and have six on their roster, jumping to a 14-3 lead after the first quarter thanks to three 3-pointers by sophomore guard Peyton Brown. The Eagles stretched that lead to as many as 25 in the fourth quarter. They trailed only once in the game, at 3-2.
Brown finished with 11 points, all of which came in the first half, to lead the Eagles.
“That’s what’s great about this team,” Marsh said. “It’s somebody every night and it’s usually multiple people every night. It’s not always the same ones. We kept talking about needing Peyton to get loose one of these games. She had a nice bounce in her step tonight. She’s another one of those kids, if she hits one she might hit multiple and she got them early tonight.”
Brown’s early offense also helped the Eagles on the defensive side of the ball.
“We talked about having a great start,” Marsh said. “For us, we need baskets to set up our pressure and then you get threes to extend that lead out and it’s even better. It puts even more pressure on them.”
Four players finished with six points apiece for the Eagles: Russ, Castaneda, Balderas and Bielser, who is also a senior.
Janousek, who played in the championship game when the Eagles lost to Mead three years ago. Is excited to close out her career with one more chance at a title.
“We’re all very jacked,” she said. “It’s our senior year and we really wanted to make this the best it could be and we’re playing in a state championship. You can’t really do much better than that.”
Despite building a 12-point halftime lead, the Eagles struggled on offense shooting just 9-for-35 (25.7 percent) from the field. The Braves actually outshot the Eagles for the game, finishing 11-for-31 (35.5 percent). The Eagles were 17-for-65 (26.2 percent).
Oumou Toure, one of Kamiakin’s three freshmen starters, led the Braves with nine points.
Thanks to Arlington’s relentless defensive pressure, it didn’t matter. The Braves turned the ball over 13 times in the first half compared to just one turnover for the Eagles. Kamiakin had 27 turnovers at game’s end. Arlington finished with eight.
“We’ve been here for four years and that experience means something,” Marsh said. “It meant something tonight. Freshman, you wonder if they’re going to be able to handle the bright lights and all of that. We just wanted to come out and put pressure on them. We did a great job last night against Lincoln and we did it tonight. The difference was last night we turned the ball over, tonight we didn’t. We took care of the ball.”
The Eagles only loss this season was an ugly one, falling 60-22 to Lynnwood in the 3A District 1 championship game. After the Royals’ loss in the semifinals, the Eagles will have to settle for Bellevue rather than a rematch with Lynnwood.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Everett Edwards and that Lynnwood program,” Marsh said. “I consider him one of the good guys in coaching and him and I have a good friendly relationship. I have a ton of respect for what they’ve done. I’m not going to lie, it’s a little sad to not see them in that championship game because I’m a Lynnwood fan.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
Arlington 44, Kamiakin 30
Kamiakin 3 7 7 13 —30
Arlington 14 8 14 8 —44
Kamiakin—Kamiakin–Symone Brown 3, Kiley Larsen 2, Kendyl Holle 2, Alex Hazel 5, Oumou Toure 9, Lexi Brown 0, Salee Westermeyer 0, Rylie Clark 3, Chanceler Williams 4, Paten Wishman 0, Jayden Williams 2. Arlington—Gracie Castaneda 6, Serafina Balderas 6, Sevi Bielser 6, Emma Janousek 4, Jayla Russ 6, Sarah Shortt 2, Selena Gutierrez 0, Olivia Larson 0, Peyton Brown 11, Abby Anderson 3, Tahlia Miears 0, Kelsey Mellick 0. Records—Kamiakin 15-11. Arlington 25-1.
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