Meadowdale goes low to take fifth place
Published 10:10 pm Saturday, March 8, 2008
SEATTLE — The Meadowdale Mavericks reached a new low Saturday.
Playing its 29th game this season, the Meadowdale girls basketball team scored fewer points than it did in all 28 previous outings.
Guess what? The Mavericks could care less.
Despite generating a season-low point total, Meadowdale had more than enough offense to beat Lakeside 39-30 during the Class 3A state tournament at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
With the victory, Meadowdale (24-5) earned the fifth-place trophy, achieving its preseason goal of finishing in the top five.
“It feels so good not finishing a state tournament on a loss or on a bad note,” said Meadowdale senior guard Eryn Jones, who didn’t shoot well but had a solid all-around performance (eight points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals).
The past two seasons Meadowdale placed eighth (4A, 2006) and sixth (3A, 2007), but both times the Mavericks were defeated in the consolation finals.
This time after losing a first-round game Wednesday against Lakes, Meadowdale ended with victories over Bainbridge, Fort Vancouver and Lakeside. It’s the first time Meadowdale coach Dan Taylor capped a season with a win in his basketball coaching and playing career.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Taylor.
Jones, who was 1-for-13 from the field, gave Meadowdale a 26-24 lead with a three-point play late in the third quarter. She also had a key assist to Danica Coronacion (seven points, eight rebounds) that set up Coronacion’s pivotal three-point play in the final minute.
Taylor, who called Jones’ rough shooting day an anomaly, praised her for battling fatigue and contributing in a variety of ways. Jones, a Portland State University recruit, does a lot of the dirty work many top-notch guards avoid, he said.
Meadowdale started the game by scoring seven consecutive points. Four different Mavericks scored at least a point during the spurt. Meanwhile, Lakeside (23-7) started 0-for-11 from the field and didn’t score until late in the quarter. Madeline Barnes’ 3-pointer from the right corner got Lakeside within 7-3 with 1:39 to go in the period.
For fans of high-scoring hoops, the first half was difficult to watch.
Meadowdale led 15-14 by the intermission. Through two quarters the teams were a combined 8-for-41 from the field (19.5 percent).
For the game, Meadowdale was just 12-for-45 from the field (26.7 percent). Jones, who averaged 23 points per game the first three days of the tourney, connected on only one field goal.
She didn’t let it ruin her day, though.
“It was frustrating,” said Jones, “but I did not want to get down on myself, especially when my team’s doing good.”
That, she said, would have been selfish.
The third quarter featured six lead changes. Jones’ hustle helped give Meadowdale a 26-24 lead entering the final period. A few seconds after misfiring on a 3-pointer, she ran into the lane and got fouled on a putback. Her free throw made it 26-24. Lakeside never led again.
In addition to the efforts of Jones and Coronacion, two of the team’s three seniors, Meadowdale got decent production from senior Alli Streit (eight points, two assists) and sophomore Gabi Beyer (seven points, three boards).
After playing with a high ankle sprain all week, Meadowdale junior Hanna Fjortoft (four points, four boards) was happy to win but excited to be done.
Said Fjortoft, “Right now, I’m just ready for a little break.”
At Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Meadowdale781113—39
Lakeside59106—30
Meadowdale — Coronacion 7, J. Fjortoft 2, Jones 8, Carlow, H. Fjortoft 4, Molitor 3, Beyer 7, Streit 8, Nugent, Lillquist, Zickefoose, O’Neill. Lakeside — Ray, Best 2, Merriman 10, Fisher 1, Barnes 9, Nordstrom, Mackay 2, Lavine, Velling 2, Carlsen, Burleson 4, Gordon. 3-point goals — Beyer 1, Streit 1, Barnes 2. Records — Meadowdale 24-5 overall. Lakeside 23-7.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
