Arlington shoots by Warriors
Published 11:36 pm Friday, February 12, 2010
EDMONDS — With six victories in the past seven games, Arlington boys basketball coach Nick Brown feels his team is maybe peaking at the right time.
And perhaps the same could be said for 6-foot junior guard Griffin Ginnis.
On Friday night, Ginnis scored 28 points to lead the Eagles to a lopsided 85-60 victory over host Edmonds-Woodway in a Class 4A District 1 play-in game. Ginnis scorched the Warriors from the perimeter with seven 3-pointers, and twice swished three 3-pointers in spans of less than two minutes.
“He’s a kid I believed in all year, and in the last couple of games he’s really started to play,” Brown said. “He’s just a great player.”
When Ginnis gets his shooting rhythm, Brown added, “it’s tough to stop him.”
Likewise, it was tough to stop the Eagles on Friday night. After trading early leads with Edmonds-Woodway, they pulled away with 16 straight points for a 26-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Warriors trailed by 16 points at halftime and drew within 11 midway through the third quarter, but then Arlington broke the game open for good. Ginnis gave the Eagles a spark with a three-point play, and then closed the period with two 3s in the space of 18 seconds and later added a free throw.
By then Arlington was in front 60-32 and the game was in hand, though Ginnis added his sixth 3 in the early seconds of the final quarter.
The Eagles enjoyed their biggest margin in the waning moments, a 28-point bulge of 83-55, and by then substitutes from both teams were on the court.
Blake Petersen and Andy Smith chipped in 14 points apiece for the Eagles.
“I feel we’re starting to play well right now, and it’s the right time of the year,” Brown said. “My big thing is that we need to play our best at the end of the year, and we’re starting to do that.
“We shot the ball awfully well tonight,” he added, “and when that happens things go better.”
With the victory, Arlington advances to the district tournament. The Eagles will be at Stanwood to take on the Western Conference North champion Spartans in a first-round game at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Stanwood and Arlington have met twice this season and the Spartans won both games — a 68-67 decision at home on Dec. 15 and a 77-68 win at Arlington on Jan. 22.
“We have great respect for their players and their program,” Brown said.” But if we get Griffin playing like he did tonight, anything can happen.”
Edmonds-Woodway was led by junior forward Zack Berg, who had 17 points, including three 3-pointers. Together the two teams totaled 16 3s.
At Edmonds-Woodway H.S.
Arlington26112325—85
Edmonds-Woodway8131722—60
Arlington — Carlson 6, Cooper 6, Petersen 14, Davis 3, Ginnis 28, Pineda 3, Dawn 5, Smith 14, Brummel 6. Edmonds- Woodway — Rupple 9, Bury 4, Degrazia 9, Brudevold 5, Kwon 2, Jordan 7, Choi 2, Berg 17, Willcock 3, Butler 2. 3-point goals — Ginnis 7, Pineda 1, Dawn 1, Smith 1, Berg 3, Degrazia 1, Brudevold 1, Willcock 1. Records — Arlington is 13-8 overall. Edmonds-Woodway is 6-15.
