Arlington beats Kamiak
Published 10:41 pm Tuesday, February 15, 2011
ARLINGTON — Leading by 19 points early in the fourth quarter, the Arlington boys basketball team seemed ready to claim a lopsided victory that would extend its season for another few days — perhaps all the way to a berth in the upcoming state tournament.
For Kamiak, meanwhile, the outlook for a late comeback was bleak.
But over the final frantic minutes, Kamiak ran off 14 unanswered points to pull within five and turn a potential blowout into an absolute nail-biter. The Eagles suddenly had all they could handle, but they also had enough poise to hold on for an exciting 65-55 Class 4A District 1 tournament win on Tuesday night.
“I think we got a little bit lax in the fourth quarter,” a relieved Nick Brown, Arlington’s head coach, said later. “I think we kind of figured this thing was over. But we just couldn’t get a (defensive) stop and the lid went on the bucket (for us).
“But these guys battle,” he said. “They’re warriors. They do whatever they’re supposed to do.”
And in the closing moments, and with the game — not to mention their season — on the line, the Eagles did exactly that. Kamiak had a chance to pull within two points on a 3-point attempt by forward Ron Manchester with 2:25 to play, but the try rimmed.
Arlington countered with a short shot from the right baseline by forward Eric Carlson for a 57-50 margin. After Kamiak’s Nicholas Kussman scored with a tip-in, Arlington forward Blake Petersen dropped in a layin at the shot clock buzzer, and the Eagles were in front 59-52 as the game clock moved inside a minute.
Arlington then protected its margin with six straight free throws in the final half-minute.
The rally, spirited though it was, “was too little, too late,” Kamiak coach Cory West said.
Arlington’s victory came on the heels of a sobering 82-53 loss to Jackson in a tournament semifinal game on Friday. Heading into the new week, Brown was curious to see how his kids would respond.
“Jackson got us good, but I had no question these guys were going to bounce back,” Brown said. “We call them corks because they bounce back. We talk about being a rock or a cork in the water, and I just really felt like these guys were going to bounce back. And they did.”
Next up for Arlington is a Friday night clash with Lake Stevens, which advanced after beating Edmonds-Woodway on Tuesday. The Eagles already have beaten their nearby rivals twice this season, but can expect a difficult test from the Vikings in another loser-out contest.
“We know they’re going to bring everything they’ve got, just like we’re going to bring everything we’ve got,” said Petersen, one of seven Arlington seniors playing their final game in their home gym. “It’s going to be a battle until the very end. Those two games in the regular season, they don’t really matter because now it’s win or go home.”
“It’s tough to beat anyone three times,” Brown added. “But we just have to prepare. … I’ll put my guys against anybody. If we’re on and if we’re doing things right, we can look pretty good.”
The loss ended Kamiak’s season, but the Knights should have a rosy future. The team has just one senior on its 12-man roster, and every player who scored on Tuesday is an underclassman.
“It looks bright, but the guys have to put in the work,” West said. “Nothing’s going to be given to us just because we have a lot of guys back. They have to work in the offseason, but I believe they will.”
At Arlington H.S.
Kamiak 15 10 11 19 — 55
Arlington 19 17 17 12 — 65
Kamiak — Wisnubroto 8, Berg 8, Lee 0, Kussman 15, Manchester 15, Vicente 5, Blacksmith 4. Arlington — Carlson 18, Cooper 7, Dawn 16, Goheen 0, Ginnis 13, Brummel 5, Ladines 2, Petersen 4. 3-point goals — Manchester 2, Cooper 2, Ginnis 1. Records — Kamiak is 13-10. Arlington is 17-6.
