Grizzlies maul Mavericks
Published 10:25 pm Tuesday, January 18, 2011
SNOHOMISH — Here’s great news for the Glacier Peak Grizzlies and horrible news for their foes: 7-foot Payton Pervier gets better every day.
Pervier, a much-improved senior forward, had his way in the paint on Tuesday and helped lift the Glacier Peak High School boys basketball tea
m to a key league victory. Pervier scored 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half and grabbed 17 rebounds, and the Grizzlies rolled to a 60-40 Western Conference 3A triumph over the previously scorching-hot Meadowdale Mavericks.
With teammates continually passing the ball to him from a variety of angles, Pervier scored eight points in the third quarter, when Glacier Peak outscored Meadowdale 13-6. The Grizzlies turned their seven-point halftime lead into a 14-point cushion (44-30) by the end of the third quarter.
Pervier, always an intimidating force on defense, helped prevent Meadowdale from coming back in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points in the final period before he subbed out with a minute to go. Glacier Peak fans roared with appreciation as Pervier proudly strolled to the bench.
Pervier “was really focused. That’s two games in a row. He just played a super game (on Friday) against Shorecrest — really inspired — and (Tuesday night) was no different,” Glacier Peak coach Brian Hunter said.
A few years ago Pervier, who slammed two thunderous dunks and blocked two shots against Meadowdale, was extremely raw. But the Northwest Nazarene recruit has improved by leaps and bounds, Hunter said.
“He’s just getting better and better. I’m excited to see in a month what he’s like,” Hunter said.
Senior forward Jack Bonner (seven points, seven rebounds), senior guard Tanner Southard (seven assists) and senior guard Dylan Vargas (eight points, two 3-pointers) also made important contributions for league-leading Glacier Peak, which improved its record to 9-0 in Wesco 3A action, 13-3 overall. The Grizzlies won their seventh consecutive game, clinched a District 1 playoff berth and expanded their lead over second-place Meadowdale (7-2, 9-6) to two games.
Junior guard Spencer Linton scored 15 points — 12 in the first half — and made two 3s for the Mavericks, who saw their winning streak end at eight. Before Tuesday, Meadowdale had not lost since a 61-57 defeat on Dec. 14 in Lynnwood.
“Glacier Peak is one of the best teams in the state,” Meadowdale coach Chad McGuire said, “so we can’t let this bother us. We need to go out and prepare for our next game.”
Both teams play home league games on Thursday: Mountlake Terrace is at Glacier Peak and Lynnwood is at Meadowdale.
Even though Glacier Peak has the inside track on the Wesco 3A championship and the top seed for next month’s District 1 tournament, there’s a chance the Grizzlies could play Meadowdale again in the playoffs, which happened last season. If a rematch occurs, Meadowdale needs to find a way to slow down Pervier — easier said than done.
“He’s tough to stop. I don’t know how you defend him,” McGuire said. “He does a great job of going after offensive rebounds. They don’t just come to him. He works really hard to get them and put himself in position.”
In fact, consistent effort is the key to Pervier’s vast improvement, Glacier Peak’s Southard said.
“He’s starting to work hard and realizing how good he can be,” Southard said. “It makes it fun. When he’s going and he’s dunking, it brings energy to us.”
At Glacier Peak H.S.
Meadowdale 10 14 6 10 — 40
Glacier Peak 16 15 13 16 — 60
Meadowdale—Linton 15, Tallman 7, Hennessey 6, Dooley 5, Buck 5, Hong, Mahler 2, A. Feldhaus, B. Feldhaus. Glacier Peak—Vargas 8, Southard 2, Pederson 7, Bonner 7, Pervier 23, Williams, Impola 7, Harris, Harrison 4, Schaub, Davelaar 2. 3-point goals—Linton 2, Vargas 2, Bonner 1, Impola 1. Records—Meadowdale 7-2 in league, 9-6 overall. Glacier Peak 9-0, 13-3.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam and follow Cane on Twitter at MikeCaneHerald.
