The Herald’s 2020 All-Area boys basketball teams

Published 1:30 am Saturday, March 14, 2020

Eds. note: The Player of the Year and All-Area teams were chosen by The Herald sports staff based on coach recommendations, season statistics and first-hand observations.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Malakhi Knight, jr., G, Marysville Getchell

Knight averaged 26.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game while leading the Chargers to the Hardwood Classic for the first time in their program’s nine-year history. The Oregon State University baseball commit averaged 27.5 points during Marysville Getchell’s string of four consecutive postseason elimination-game wins, including a 41-point performance against Arlington in a district loser-out contest.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Brian Hunter, Glacier Peak

Despite returning just two players who played meaningful mintues the previous season, Hunter guided the Grizzlies to the best campaign in their program’s success-filled 12-year history. Glacier Peak took a 25-0 record into the Class 4A state semifinals and claimed a fifth-place state trophy. The Grizzlies also went unbeaten in Wesco 4A play and captured the 4A Wes-King Bi-District Tournament title en route to a 25-2 finish.

FIRST TEAM

Malakhi Knight, jr., G, Marysville Getchell

Tucker Molina, jr., G, Glacier Peak

Molina averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and three steals per game while helping lead the Grizzlies to a storybook season. The versatile 6-foot-5 point guard was instrumental in Glacier Peak taking a 25-0 record into the 4A state semifinals and claiming a fifth-place state trophy.

Mutdung Bol, sr., G, Edmonds-Woodway

Bol averaged 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals per game as a dynamic all-around force for the Warriors. The three-year starter recorded multiple triple-doubles and led Edmonds-Woodway to a 15-8 record.

Cameron Stordahl, sr., G, Marysville Pilchuck

Stordahl averaged 20 points and six rebounds per game while helping lead the Tomahawks to an unbeaten mark in Wesco 3A/2A play, a district title and a 3A state quarterfinal appearance. He was a big-time shot maker and hit five 3-pointers in a wild district semifinal win over Edmonds-Woodway.

Jaylen Searles, sr., G/F, Jackson

Searles averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to help lead the junior-laden Timberwolves on a postseason run to the 4A state regionals. The talented 6-foot-7 wing hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation during an overtime non-league win over Meadowdale.

Tyler Linhardt, soph., F, King’s

Linhardt led the Knights to the 1A state title and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. During the tournament, the 6-foot-7 NCAA Division-I recruit averaged 21.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He had a massive performance in the state championship game, totaling 25 points, 16 rebounds and six assists in an overtime win over Lynden Christian.

SECOND TEAM

Brayden Quantrille, sr., G/F, Glacier Peak

Quantrille averaged 12.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and two steals per game while helping lead the Grizzlies to a storybook season. The senior forward was key to Glacier Peak taking a 25-0 record into the 4A state semifinals and claiming a fifth-place state trophy.

Cort Roberson, jr., G, Stanwood

Roberson averaged 19.3 points and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 41% from 3-point range. The junior sharpshooter hit seven 3-pointers in a 39-point performance against Lynnwood and helped lead the Spartans to a runner-up finish in Wesco 3A/2A.

Taras Fesiienko, jr., G, Everett

Fesiienko averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He scored a school-record 43 points in a win over rival Cascade. Between scoring and assists, he accounted for more than half of his team’s total points in the 17 games he played.

Elijah Johnson, soph., G, Shorecrest

Johnson averaged 19.4 points, eight assists and three rebounds per game while leading the Scots to the 3A state regionals. The speedy point guard scored 20 points in a district semifinal win over Stanwood that clinched Shorecrest a state berth.

Luke Dobler, sr., G, Marysville Pilchuck

Dobler averaged 12 points, five rebounds and five assists per game while helping lead the Tomahawks to an unbeaten mark in Wesco 3A/2A play, a district title and a 3A state quarterfinal appearance. The veteran starting point guard played a key role in a golden age of Marysville Pilchuck basketball that included three district titles, two league championships and a pair of state quarterfinal trips.

Alex Jensen, sr., G, Lakewood

Jensen averaged 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and 2.3 steals per game while leading the Cougars to the 2A state regionals and the Hardwood Classic for the first time in program history. The Northwest Conference most valuable player and four-year starting point guard surpassed his coach as Lakewood’s all-time leading scorer and played an integral role in turning around a struggling program and leading the Cougars to three consecutive seasons of 13-plus wins.