Monroe heartbreaker
Published 11:31 pm Thursday, February 7, 2008
MONROE — As Jason Waltman’s short-range shot rose through the air, two starkly different scenarios were possible.
If the ball rolled forward off the rim and into the hoop, Waltman and his teammates on the Monroe High School boys basketball team were guaranteed a postseason berth. But if the ball failed to go in, the Bearcats would likely end their season after getting so close.
Unfortunately for the massive crowd of Monroe fans, the shot missed and the Snohomish Panthers hung on Thursday for a 56-55 overtime victory.
Monroe’s loss, combined with victories by Marysville-Pilchuck and Lake Stevens, knocked the Bearcats out of the running for a Class 4A District 1 tournament berth, ending their season.
Monroe finished 10-6 in Western Conference North Division games, the same as Stanwood and Lake Stevens. But Monroe was the odd team out in a tiebreaker because it went 1-3 this season against Stanwood and Lake Stevens, which respectively were 3-1 and 2-2.
“Hats off to Monroe. They could have and probably should have won that game,” said Snohomish coach Len Bone, whose team already had clinched the division’s No. 1 district tourney seed.
Zach Wilde (15 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, five steals, three blocks) had a gigantic all-around effort for Snohomish (15-1 Wesco North, 17-3 overall), which will play host to either Kamiak or Mountlake Terrace 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
After Monroe’s Jason Wright (13 points) forced overtime with a step-back, buzzer-beating 3-point shot, Monroe built a 55-51 lead with 45 seconds remaining. But Snohomish forced a key turnover in the final minute and Clayton Johnson’s traditional three-point play — an 8-foot jump hook and a free throw — with 12.7 seconds to go supplied the decisive points.
“I feel for them because they’ve done a good job,” coach Bone said of Monroe, which rallied from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Wright (four 3-pointers), Waltman (16 points), James MacIntyre (12) and Chris Bunge (12) led the way for Monroe. The Bearcats were trying to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.
“Unbelievable. We played with a lot of heart tonight. Our goal was to stick together,” said Waltman.
The defeat won’t diminish the bonds the Bearcats have developed since they started playing together in seventh grade, he said: “Our basketball team’s a family. These guys are like brothers.”
“They left their hearts on the court and that was our goal tonight,” Monroe coach Brett Wille said of his team.
At Monroe H.S.
Snohomish18812108—56
Monroe1510617 7 — 55
Snohomish—Shaw 15, Low 9, Johnson 8, Klop 6, Wilde 15, Leahy 2, McGinnis, Jeffries, McGee 1. Monroe—Ohlsen 2, Wright 13, Bunge 12, Waltman 16, MacIntyre 12, Lucke, Macke. 3-point goals—Shaw 1, Wilde 1, Wright 4, Bunge 2, Waltman 1. Records—Snohomish 15-1 in division, 17-3 overall. Monroe 10-6, 13-7.
The back-and-forth first half included 13 lead changes and neither team led by more than four points. Snohomish took a 26-22 lead when Wilde passed to Johnson for a layin. Waltman responded at the other end by banking in a 3-pointer as the halftime buzzer blared.
Turnovers significantly hurt Monroe’s chances. They committed 21 of them, including eight in the second quarter. It was a killer against a tall, aggressive Snohomish defense that came in allowing an average of just 43.8 points per game.
Monroe, which had won six consecutive games, would have earned the North No. 2 seed with a victory. It had a seeding tiebreaker against M-P because of a preseason lottery.
The Bearcats, who have seven seniors on their roster, impressed Wilde.
“They showed a lot of heart. A team doesn’t come out and play like that unless they’ve got some character and some heart.”
Monroe coach Brett Wille said he was proud of his kids and that he’ll remember them forever.
Said Wille, “They left their hearts on the court and that was our goal tonight.”
At Monroe H.S.
Snohomish18812108—56
Monroe15106177—55
Snohomish—Shaw 15, Low 9, Johnson 8, Klop 6, Wilde 15, Leahy 2, McGinnis, Jeffries, McGee 1. Monroe—Ohlsen 2, Wright 13, Bunge 12, Waltman 16, MacIntyre 12, Lucke, Macke. 3-point goals—Shaw 1, Wilde 1, Wright 4, Bunge 2, Waltman 1. Records—Snohomish 15-1 in division, 17-3 overall. Monroe 10-6, 13-7.
