Mavericks survive late scare
Published 11:11 pm Wednesday, March 11, 2009
TACOMA — As their double-digit lead in the fourth quarter slipped to just three points, the Meadowdale Mavericks appeared to be in big trouble.
The solution: A steady diet of free throws.
The Meadowdale High School boys basketball team fended off the persistent North Kitsap Vikings Wednesday in a first-round Class 3A state tournament game at the Tacoma Dome. Meadowdale made 22 of 32 free throws in the second half and won 70-64.
North Kitsap (18-7) fell behind by 14 points with 5 minutes, 53 seconds to play. But the Vikings, ignited by guard Kyle Erickson, cut it to 63-60 with 34 seconds to go. Meadowdale (21-4) hit seven of eight foul shots the rest of the way to seal it.
“We made enough free throws to get it done,” said Meadowdale coach Chad McGuire, who guided the Mavericks — ranked No. 9 by the Tacoma News Tribune — to their 10th consecutive victory.
Junior post Connor Hamlett scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Meadowdale, which plays Enumclaw (23-2) 5 p.m. today in the quarterfinals. Hamlett helped the District 1-champion Mavericks clinch it against unranked North Kitsap. He was 10-for-11 at the foul line.
“Free throws are huge,” said the 6-foot-7 Hamlett, who shot 8-for-11 from the field. “We needed to make those to win the game.”
Erickson tallied 23 points and seven assists for North Kitsap, which plays O’Dea 10:30 a.m. today in a loser-out consolation game.
“It got a little scary there in the fourth quarter,” McGuire said. “They’re tough. (Erickson is) a heck of a player. Not only does he create shots for himself but he creates shots for teammates.”
Post Kris Larson (13 points, five rebounds), guard Roger O’Neill (14 points, five boards, four assists) and guard Khalid Surur (12 points, six assists) had solid efforts for Meadowdale. It was the Mavericks’ first opening-round state-tournament win since 2004, when Meadowdale reached the semifinals and placed sixth.
Hamlett and Larson, also 6-7, were literally huge versus North Kitsap. They combined for 12 rebounds and 39 points and were 14-for-19 field-goal shooting.
“It was a lot of fun. I was finishing well,” Hamlett said, “keeping my eyes up, and we got the ‘W.’”
Hamlett “did a great job,” McGuire said. “We wanted to go inside at (North Kitsap) and Connor did a nice job attacking and getting their post in foul trouble.”
Taylor Hoffer (16 points, five boards, two blocks), a 6-7 center, was one of three players who fouled out for North Kitsap. He was whistled for his fifth foul with 3:47 to go and his team trailing 54-45.
Hamlett was a consistent threat, but it was even more difficult for North Kitsap to defend Meadowdale when Larson warmed up. Hamlett led everyone with 11 first-half points; Larson scored just two. Then in the third quarter Larson erupted for eight points, all on close-range baskets.
“When Hamlett took a break, Kris Larson got it going a little bit. It’s hard to stop two posts,” coach McGuire said.
At the Tacoma Dome
North Kitsap1191133—64
Meadowdale1681927—70
North Kitsap — Thompson, Huggins 4, Stringer, Woodman 4, Chisholm 8, Erickson 23, Hoffer 16, Byers 2, Niles, Winkley 3, Tidball 4. Meadowdale — O’Neill 14, Johnson, Beucherie, Surur 12, Kyobe 3, Carroll 2, Hamlett 26, Larson 13. 3-point goals — Erickson 1, Hoffer 1, Winkley 1, Surur 2. Records — North Kitsap 18-7. Meadowdale 21-4.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
