Mountlake Terrace knocks Oak Harbor out of district tourney

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, February 17, 2007

MARYSVILLE – Mountlake Terrace took control and survived to play another day.

The Hawks’ girls basketball team defeated Oak Harbor 52-44 in a consolation game of the 4A District 1 tournament Saturday at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

The Hawks did it by playing good defense and controlling the tempo of the game.

“We (made) them have to play our game,” Mountlake Terrace coach Deidra Ducheane said.

After being outscored 14-12 in the first quarter, the Hawks switched from a pressure man-to-man defense to a 2-3 zone and forced Oak Harbor to turn the ball over.

The Hawks then went on a 12-5 run to end the second quarter to take a four-point lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Melissa Horton, Mountlake Terrace’s leading scorer with 13 points, went on a 7-0 run to pad the Hawks’ lead.

Then the only problem Mountlake Terrace had went wild.

Mietra Smollack scored all 10 of Oak Harbor’s points in the third quarter to keep her Wildcats close at 41-37.

Smollack continued her charge, scoring the first five of Oak Harbor’s seven fourth-quarter points, to finish with 22.

However, her efforts weren’t enough. After staying close through the first part of the fourth quarter, Oak Harbor, behind 49-44, had to begin fouling in the final minute.

Emma Fritz made three of four free throws in the closing seconds to ice the victory for Mountlake Terrace.

The Hawks finished clean after having some foul trouble earlier in the game. After having nine fouls in the first half, they had only two more the rest of the way.

“Overall I’m pretty happy with it,” Ducheane said of the playoff game.

Cori Pingul added 13 points off the bench for the Hawks, who move on to play Monroe at 8 p.m. Wednesday, at Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.

At Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.

Oak Harbor1413107-44

M. Terrace12191110-52

Oak Harbor-Thiel 7, Smith 1, Russell 4, Henricksen 4, Smollack 22, Baeyen 6. Mountlake Terrace-Fritz 3, Schrock 3, Annissipour 9, Horton 13, Pingul 12, Hinson 3, Heck 9. 3-point goals-Smollack 1, Anissipour 1, Pingul 2, Heck 1. Records-Oak Harbor 15-7 overall. M. Terrace 13-9.