Shorecrest holds off Everett to advance to district semifinal
Published 9:52 pm Tuesday, February 11, 2014
EVERETT — The Shorecrest boys basketball team has been a streaky bunch this season.
Losers of its first five league games, Shorecrest won its final eight league games to end the season and wrap up a district playoff game against Everett.
Weathering that early storm helped the Scots develop steely nerves they used Tuesday night in a 68-60 win over Everett. The Seagulls hit big 3s down the stretch, but good time management and clutch free-throw shooting helped the Scots hold on for the win.
“We decided early on in the season whether we won or lost we’d handle it the same way,” said Shorecrest head coach Brian Fischer. “The guys kept their heads up and kept battling. We have really good team chemistry and plays really well together. Every night we have different guys step up. Tonight was no different.”
Two 3-pointers by Everett’s David Popach and a pair of free throws by Jace Chacon cut Shorecrest’s lead to 60-55 late in the fourth quarter. But Shorecrest chewed up over a minute of clock with a possession that saw it grab two offensive rebounds and finish with a pair of free throws from Masambe Njadoe.
It was the start of a successful run from the charity stripe that saw Shorecrest go 8-for-10 from the free-throw line to hold off Everett.
“Free throw shooting was huge for us tonight,” Fischer said. “That kept them at arm’s length and that’s why those 3s don’t hurt us late.”
Njadoe led Shorecrest with 19 points.
Everett was led by Popach’s 20 points and Chacon’s 19.
Shorecrest advances to play Marysville Pilchuck on Friday at Jackson H.S. in a winner-to-state game. Everett travels to Glacier Peak in a loser-out consolation game on Thursday.
At Everett H.S.
Shorecrest12181721—68
Everett12131520—60
Shorecrest—Conin Oishi 10, Drew Magaoay 0, Connor Hyppa 3, Daniel Ghebremichael 13, Benny Ortega 6, Zach Lawson 7, Alex Hofstrand 8, Aaron Kelly 2, Masamba Njadoe 19. Everett—Jace Chacon 19, David Popach 20, Nate Tuck 3, Nick Kopp 6, Paul Larson 0, Noah Juarez 12, Dominic Barashkoff 0. 3-point goals—Hyppa, Ortega 2, Lawson, Chacon 2, Popach 2, Tuck, Kopp, Juarez 2. Records—Shorecrest 15-6 overall. Everett 9-12.
