Lynnwood falters down the stretch

Published 11:50 pm Wednesday, March 11, 2009

TACOMA — Titanic pressure made things unravel in a flash.

For most of the game, the Lynnwood High School boys basketball team did a decent job against the Union Titans’ full-court defensive attack. But everything changed down the stretch.

Making its debut appearance at the Class 3A state basketball championships, Union High used a 26-11 fourth-quarter surge to put away the Lynnwood Royals 60-41 in a first-round clash Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome. Unranked Lynnwood (14-13) got within 37-32 with 5 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the game. But Union (19-6), a second-year school from southwest Washington, closed the contest with a decisive 23-9 scoring run.

Asked about Union’s persistent pressure, Lynnwood senior Aaron Matzen said: “We handled it pretty well throughout most of the game. We knew they were going to press us the whole length of the court. And then the last 6 minutes it got to us.”

Matzen (16 points, four rebounds, two steals) and post Simi Fajemisin (13 points, eight rebounds) were the top scorers for Lynnwood, which plays 10th-ranked Foster (16-8) at noon today in a loser-out, consolation game. Led by forward Alex Schrempf’s 28 points and eight rebounds, Bellevue routed Foster 69-49 Wednesday.

In addition to their late struggles against Union’s full-court press, the Royals shot poorly. They were just 15 of 50 (30 percent) from the field.

First-year Lynnwood head coach Darrell McNeal stared at the post-game scoresheet for several minutes. The numbers painted an unpleasant story for his squad, which last made it to state in 2006.

“We got some shots in the paint and that’s what we wanted (but) we couldn’t hit them,” McNeal said. “We didn’t hit the easy baskets.”

The Tacoma Dome can be a rough place for shooters. It was flat-out dreadful for Lynnwood.

The Royals missed their first seven field-goal attempts and were one of 11 in the first quarter. Jared Milne’s jump shot with 1:28 to go in the period finally ended Lynnwood’s drought from the field. Making matters worse for Lynnwood: It committed five turnovers.

“I didn’t feel like they were nervous,” coach McNeal said. “Maybe they were just trying too hard.”

Lynnwood played better in the third quarter, outscoring Union 12-7 and getting within four points (34-30). Matzen scored eights points in the period.

Very little went right for Lynnwood after that.

Smooth-shooting guard Caden Skelton (24 points, nine rebounds, four assists) led the way for high-energy Union, ranked No. 4 by the Tacoma News Tribune. Union plays second-ranked Bellevue (24-2) in the quarterfinals today.

One key for Union was limiting Fajemisin, Lynnwood’s massive junior post. The 6-foot-9 Fajemisin was 3 inches taller than the tallest Titan (6-6 reserve Mitch Saylor). But Fajemisin was largely held in check on offense and blocked only one shot on defense.

“I thought we did a really good job (on Fajemisin),” Union coach Maco Hamilton said. “Our job was to collapse the paint and really make him work. I thought we did that, for the most part.”

Fajemisin scored more than half of his points at the foul line, where he hit seven of eight. From the field, he was just three for 12.

“He’s tough,” Hamilton said. “He’s a big body.”

At the Tacoma Dome

Lynnwood4141211—41

Union1215726—60

Lynnwood—Bryant 5, Evans, Milne 4, Elder, Daniel 1, Wilson 2, Meinken, Matzen 16, Alexander, Fajemisin 13. Union—Morgan 12, Skelton 24, Spiegelberg 5, Speyer, Ingram-Holmes 6, Sowe 2, Sparks 5, Oslund 4, Saylor 2. 3-point goals—Morgan 1, Skelton 4, Spiegelberg 1, Sparks 1. Records—Lynnwood 14-13. Union 19-6.

Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.