Panthers double up on Kamiak
Published 11:26 pm Wednesday, February 13, 2008
SNOHOMISH — This is the kind of playoff game Snohomish seniors Brad Low and Zach Wilde could get used to.
Low scored scored eight of his 14 points in the first half and the Wesco North No. 1-seeded Snohomish Panthers used their length to dominate the underdog Wesco South No. 4 seed Kamiak Knights 48-24 in the opening round of the 4A District 1 playoffs Wednesday at Snohomish High School.
Snohomish (18-3) moves on to play Stanwood in a winner-to-state semifinal at 6 p.m., Saturday at Jackson High School. Kamiak (8-13) plays a loser-out match against Mariner at noon, Saturday at Jackson.
Stanwood handed Snohomish, ranked No. 8 in state by The Associated Press, its only Wesco loss of the season a few weeks ago.
“(It would) be good to play them,” Wilde said, speaking before the matchup with Stanwood was set. “We didn’t have four of our guys with us last time. All I know is to get ready for Saturday, 6 o’clock.”
The Panthers held Kamiak scoreless for the first five minutes of the game Wednesday, running out to a 9-0 lead. That lead came thanks in no small part to some aggressive drives by Low, a 6-foot-2 guard.
Kamiak’s Sam Ruppel hit a 3-pointer with 3:01 remaining in the quarter to get the Knights on the board, but Low answered by grabbing an offensive rebound on the other end and flipping up an easy lay-up to make it 11-3.
By the time the dust had settled, the Panthers held an 18-7 lead after the first period.
“We wanted to come out and give (Kamiak) no hope,” Wilde said. “We knew they they were coming off a big win Saturday to get into the playoffs.”
The Knights rallied behind senior post Jared Parcells to pull within five points in the second quarter.
Parcell’s grabbed an offensive rebound and hit Andrew Makori for a 3-pointer, then following a Panther turnover, made two free throws to make it 20-15.
Kamiak’s Meka Este-McDonald then stole the ball, but Wilde and teammate Clayton Johnson teamed up to block Este-McDonald’s layup and end the threat.
The play was symbolic of the Knights’ troubles. Kamiak struggled to penetrate throughout the game, frustrated by a Panther team that boasts seven players 6-4 or taller. Este-McDonald forced several turnovers throughout the game, but Kamiak was unable to capitalize on the offensive end.
“The post is usually a strong point for us,” Wilde said. “We knew Kamiak’s big guys were physical and tough, though.”
Snohomish put the game away with a devastating 17-0 run that stretched from the middle of the third quarter until well into the fourth. The run was highlighted by Low’s jumper as time expired in the third quarter to make it 36-19 Snohomish and ended after Wilde scored inside to hand Snohomish a 44-19 advantage.
At Snohomish H.S.
Kamiak1841412—48
Snohomish7845—24
Kamiak — Brown 1, Dremlyuga 2, Este-McDonald 0, Houghtaling 2, Ju. Glenn 4, Makori 3, Parcells 4, Ruppel 4, Stormo 4. Snohomish — Cummins 0, Jeffries 2, Johnson 9, Klop 0, Kummins, Leahy 2, Low 14, McGee 2, McGinnis 2, Pecha 0, Shaw 8, Wilde 11. 3-point goals — Makori, Shaw, Johnson. Records — Kamiak 8-13 overall. Snohomish 18-3.
