Vikings again must rally to win

Published 11:28 pm Friday, January 15, 2010

ARLINGTON — The Lake Stevens girls basketball team appears, collectively, to be a group of thrill seekers. For whatever reason, the team has consistently struggled at the start of basketball games, frequently digging themselves into big deficits.

The second half? That’s when the Vikings have been at their best.

It makes for exciting finishes — but it isn’t doing Lake Stevens head coach Randall Edens any favors when it comes to creating a stress free environment.

Friday night, Lake Stevens put its coach through the ringer again, falling behind by 11 points in the first quarter. But thanks in large part to a standout performance from freshman guard Brooke Pahukoa — and some clutch free throw shooting from her teammates — the Vikings rallied to take a 43-37 Wesco North victory at Arlington High School.

Pahukoa finished with a game-high 17 points. Her layup off a steal and assist by junior Corinne Burke handed Lake Stevens the lead for good with 5:08 remaining in the third quarter. Pahukoa also scored eight points in the fourth quarter, including six straight points after Arlington drew within 28-29.

Pretty impressive for a freshman.

“She was just outstanding,” Edens said of the 5-foot-9 guard.

“Athletically she brings a different dimension. We were able to mix her in in the third and fourth quarters. … We kind of have a learning curve for freshmen, and she’s a little a head of the rest.”

In a battle between two of the hottest teams in the Wesco North, Lake Stevens needed every bit of Pahukoa’s performance to edge Arlington and take an eighth consecutive win.

Especially when the Eagles, who saw a seven-game winning streak snapped, started the first quarter with a 15-4 run behind an impressive offensive rebounding performance. In the first quarter, offensive rebounds by the Eagles led to field goals or free throws five times. Offensive rebounds also accounted for all of the Eagles’ field goals (two) in the second quarter.

The Vikings’ slow start was a big concern for Edens, and it wasn’t the first time his team has fallen into big holes this year. So far, his team has been outscored 165-133 in the first quarter.

“I don’t like that habit, it’s a bad habit,” Edens said about the team accumulating big deficits. “… I’m not getting any younger.”

Luckily for Lake Stevens, it was easy to identify what needed improvement.

At halftime, Arlington still led 19-13 and the message was clear: if the Eagles continued to accumulate second chance opportunities, they would win.

“That was our number one key for us,” Edens said. “We had to rebound the ball. Frankly, they wanted it more than we did (in the first half).”

Pahukoa handed Lake Stevens its first lead of the game in the third quarter off Burke’s steal. After an offensive rebound and put-back by Arlington’s Alisha Murrin in the fourth pulled Arlington to within 29-28, Pahukoa scored six straight points. She got a basket in the paint, then scored off an offensive rebound and finally converted a layup off another outlet pass from Burke.

Burke and Stephanie Schumacher (seven points) then combined to go 4-for-5 from the foul line in the closing minute to preserve Lake Steven’s slim lead.

It was another heartbreaker for Arlington, which also led Lake Stevens in the first game the two played in December, before being outscored 36-17 in the second half.

“We did a good job of rebounding (in the first half) and we struggled in the second,” Arlington head coach Nathan Davis said. “Give credit to them. … They were pretty physical. It was good experience for (our young) team.”

Pahukoa was a little calmer than her coach when it came to discussing her team’s woes in the first quarter:

“It’s kinda how we play,” Lake Stevens third-leading scorer said. “… We know we have to pick it up.”

At Arlington H.S.

Lake Stevens671614—43

Arlington154711—37

Lake Stevens — Goddard 0, Peterson 4, Bostwick 2, Warbis 5, Burke 4, Schumacher 7, Molstre 0, Brooke Pahukoa 17, Wilson 2. Arlington — Abdo 0, Sarver 4, Duncan 3, Van Loo 2, Kesselring 6, Murrin 6, Grogan 0, Daggett 3, Ferro 0, Schmuck 6, Wilson 7. 3-pointers — Schumacher 1, Burke 1, Duncan 1, Schmuck 1. Records — Lake Stevens 6-3 conference, 9-4 overall. Arlington 5-4, 8-5.