Glacier Peak romps past Ferndale 65-52
Published 10:39 pm Thursday, February 9, 2012
SNOHOMISH — Glacier Peak knew what Ferndale was going through. But that didn’t keep the Grizzlies from taking it to the Golden Eagles.
Last year Glacier Peak made the journey to Ferndale for a 3A District 1 playoff game. This year Ferndale returned the favor. The result was the same, with Glacier Peak winning 65-52 Thursday night.
“Last year we had to go up to Ferndale,” Glacier Peak head coach Brian Hill said. “It’s an hour-and-a-half, two-hour bus ride there. When you get there you’re kind of sleepy.”
Ferndale looked a little sleepy at the start, with Glacier Peak jumping out to an early 11-3 lead. The Grizzlies continued to pile the points on and by halftime were up by 10.
Glacier Peak’s aggressive, full-court defense forced the Golden Eagles to throw the ball out of bounds six times in the first half. Ferndale also lost the ball due to several steals by the Grizzlies.
“They battled and battled,” Hill said. “… We tried to put a lot of pressure on them.”
On offense, Katie Hawkins led the Grizzlies with 27 points. She continuously split defenders while driving to the basket. When she didn’t make the layin, she drew a foul, helping put the Grizzlies in the bonus 31 seconds into the fourth quarter.
At the free-throw line, Hawkins was just as effective, making 12 of 14 attempts. Half of her 16 second-half points came from the line.
“She did really well at the free-throw line,” Hill said of Hawkins. “She dictates the flow of the game.”
That flow, at times, was frantic. Glacier Peak kept the tempo fast the entire game, constantly subbing in players with fresh legs. Ten different Grizzlies played and all but one made at least a basket.
Ferndale got to within eight, 60-52, with about two minutes remaining but looked exhausted, throwing the ball hard in the direction of the hoop and hoping it got close. The Golden Eagles couldn’t bridge the gap as Glacier Peak converted free throws at the end to seal the victory.
“I have a deep bench,” Hill said. “Anybody I put in there can do the job.
“As a team, I thought we played pretty well. I love my team. It’s a fun group of girls and they work hard.”
Taylor Rasmussen had a good all-around game for the Grizzlies. She scored nine points and stole the ball twice. The 5-foot, 3-inch senior guard also grabbed five rebounds.
In the first half, Rasmussen twice passed to a wide-open Hawkins for easy baskets. Hawkins reciprocated on two Rasmussen baskets, including one deep 3-pointer that would have counted in the National Basketball Association.
India Smith scored eight points and Julianne Gere grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Allie Weathersby grabbed six boards for Glacier Peak, which outrebounded Ferndale 33-22.
The Grizzlies advance to play at Lynnwood — 60-47 winners over Shorewood — on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a district semifinal game. After the game, Hill didn’t know who his team’s next opponent would be, but said Glacier Peak will be ready come Saturday’s contest.
“We just gotta prepare for our game on Saturday, for whoever we’re playing,” he said.
Hill was excited to get that first playoff win. The Grizzlies’ coach says the playoffs are like a new season, and no game is easy to win.
“It’s always nice to get your first district win,” Hill said. “Everybody’s record is 0-0 at the start of the playoffs.”
The Ferndale team Glacier Peak saw this year was significantly different from the squad it faced in the last district tournament. The Golden Eagles, who will play host to Shorewood in a loser-out game on Saturday, graduated several of its players. This season they have half as many seniors (two) as Glacier Peak.
“They’re a young, newer team,” Hill said. “They’re gonna be good next year.”
This year the Grizzlies are hoping to make it back to the state tournament, a feat the school accomplished for the first time in its short history last season. Hill says that if his team continues to play well together, and takes it “one game at a time,” that’s a goal it should be able to accomplish.
“Our goal is to win obviously,” Hill said. “We want to play as a team. I feel we’re going to win if we play as a team.”
At Glacier Peak H.S.
Ferndale816208—52
Glacier Peak13211813—65
Ferndale—Bodger 5, Burgler 0, Tay. Knutson 3, Reid 5, Benson 9, Weidkamp 7, Bannerman 0, Carlson 5, Brudwick 0, Tar. Knutson 8, Honeycutt 10. Glacier Peak—Hawkins 27, Mensing 4, Rasmussen 9, Gaffney 4, Hill 6, I. Smith 8, S. Smith 0, Gere 3, Fausey 2, Weathersby 2. 3-point goals—Reid 1, Weidkamp 1, Benson 1, Hawkins 1, Rasmussen 1. Records—Ferndale not reported. Glacier Peak 16-5 overall.
