Spartans playoff hopes still alive

Published 11:34 pm Tuesday, February 5, 2008

EVERETT — Albert Einstein mastered the theory of relativity, but could he have unraveled the muddled mess that the Western Conference North Division playoff picture has become.

Four teams — Marysville-Pilchuck, Monroe, Lake Stevens and Stanwood — remain alive for the three remaining berths to the upcoming 4A District 1 tournament, and a number of different scenarios exist for each team to make it in.

Stanwood, seemingly on the outside looking in just a week ago, did its part by closing out its regular season with its third straight victory, a 51-41 triumph over the host Everett Seagulls Tuesday night.

Stanwood (10-6 in division, 11-9) did not clinch a district playoff berth, but with the win guaranteed it will do no worse than host a play-in game for the No. 4 spot on Friday or Saturday according to Spartans coach Zach Ward.

“It’s a cluster, but it’s fun,” Ward said after his team held off a second-half charge by Everett (4-11, 4-15) which will host a 3A district seeding game on Tuesday against either Shorecrest or Lynnwood.

Stanwood must now await the results of Thursday night’s games involving M-P (10-5 in division), Monroe (10-5) and Lake Stevens (9-6) to learn if it will earn a direct trip to districts or wind up in a tie-breaker scenario. A four-way tie is still a possibility.

“Our resume is out there,” Ward said. “We’re not to the dance yet, but at least we’re watching scores … and we will be practicing (today).”

On Thursday M-P hosts Oak Harbor (3-12 division), Monroe hosts first-place Snohomish (14-1) and Lake Stevens (9-6) hosts Everett.

“We’ve had three straight must-win games,” Ward said. “Now, those teams know they are all in a must-win situations.”

Stanwood led Everett by 11 points by the end of the first half and extended its lead to 32-15 after a put-back by Zack Johnson (10 points) with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Instead of folding, the Seagulls closed the quarter with a spirited 12-0 run sparked by 3-pointers by Michael Murray and Mikey Nguyen and a nifty fast-break lay-up by Flynn Mattson, who led Everett with 12 points.

“(Everett) came out and shot the ball pretty well in that third quarter,” Ward said. “I told the team ‘This is your season right here, right here in this (fourth) quarter, everything you’ve practiced and worked for all year … and they responded.”

Peter Edlund’s assist to Mike Lawrence (12 points, 10 rebounds including five offensive) provided Stanwood with a little breathing room.

The lead grew to 38-29 on a tough bank shot by Johnson with 6:40 to play.

Everett fought back and cut the gap to four points on a 3-pointer by Eric Homer.

A basket by Mattson in the lane that would have narrowed the gap to two points was waved off and instead the Seagulls leading scorer was whistled for an offensive foul.

“That really changed the momentum,” Everett coach Aaron Nations said. “That got them fired up.”

The Spartans gradually built their lead down the stretch, aided by free throws in the double bonus as time wound down.

Nations took heart from his team’s strong second half performance.

“We’re playing two games against teams that have to win (Stanwood and Lake Stevens),” Nations said. “I told the team this is our playoff preparation.”

Everett is guaranteed a spot in the Class 3A District 1 tournament.

After having been blanked for more than six minutes, Everett got its first points of the second quarter when Mattson elevated to knock down a short jump-shot.

In the waning seconds of the half, Kyle Klempel found Lawrence open underneath and the post leaned into the lane to provide the Spartans with an 18-7 halftime lead.

At Everett H.S.

Stanwood8101419—51

Everett252014—41

Stanwood — Klempel 8, Schmidt 7, Orcutt 3, Edlund 6, Williams 4, Zipp 1, Johnson 10, Lawrence 12, Hushagen. Everett — Homer 3, Gunnerson 2, Murray 7, Nguyen 6, Jones 9, Mattson 12, Hennings 2, Grim, McKinnon. 3-point goals — Schmidt 1, Murray 1, Nguyen 1. J.V. score — Stanwood 69, Everett 64 (OT). Records — Stanwood 10-6 in division, 11-9 overall. Everett 4-11, 4-15.,