MILL CREEK — District championship games were never much fun for Dexter Griffen’s teams. Until Saturday, that is.
After finishing as district runnerup at least twice since Griffen became its head coach, the Mariner High School boys basketball team broke through and placed first, at long last. Guard Michael Minor scored 11 of his game-high 17 points in the pivotal second half, leading Mariner to a 59-44 triumph over the Mountlake Terrace Hawks in the Class 4A District 1 tournament championship at Jackson High.
“We finally got it. I’ve been in like three or four of them and we never showed up. Tonight we showed up,” said Griffen, Mariner’s 11th-year coach. The Marauders (19-4) outscored Terrace 35-23 over the final two quarters and earned the program’s first district crown since the mid-1980s.
“It feels good, especially because Dexter’s been at Mariner a long time,” said Minor, who hit two deep 3-pointers in the third quarter, “and we just had to get him a district championship before he leaves.”
Both teams had already qualified for the upcoming 4A state tournament at the Tacoma Dome. Posts Nick Malysheff and Damascus Purnell scored 12 points apiece for Mariner, which earned the district’s No. 1 seed; Terrace, led by Ryan Sells’ 15 points, is the No. 2 seed.
Mariner is part of the 16-team state field for the third consecutive season. Terrace (17-6) hasn’t gone since 2005, when it placed third.
During the regular season, Terrace beat Mariner twice (57-48 Jan. 6 at Mariner and 40-39 Feb. 3 at Mountlake Terrace). The teams were 15-3 in league games and part of a three-way tie atop the Wesco South with 3A Meadowdale.
“They got us the first two times so we had to come out and get them this time,” said Malysheff, who along with Purnell helped Mariner dominate the rebounding battle.
Today Mariner, Mountlake Terrace and Lake Stevens (the district’s other 4A state-bound boys team) will learn their first-round opponents at the tournament draw in Renton. The 4A championships begin Wednesday.
Posts Karsten Strieby and Tyler Stracener scored eight points each for Terrace. The Hawks won their previous two district games by average margin of 21.5 points. They will bounce back at state, the 6-foot-8 Stracener said.
“Our ultimate goal is a state championship and we’re still on track to do that,” he said. “We’re just focusing on having fun in the T-Dome. We’ll use this as a stepping stool.”
After being whistled for three fouls in the first half, Minor played smart at both ends and erupted for eight points in the third quarter, including two 3-pointers from the left wing. He helped Mariner outscore Terrace 17-13 in the period.
“That was huge for him to be able to stay out there and not get in (more) foul trouble and be able to help contribute. Mike is instant offense,” coach Griffen said.
Leading by as many seven points in the second quarter, Mariner had a three-point cushion at the intermission. Minor had six points but was whistled for his third foul in the final minute of the half and went to the bench.
Terrace suffered a scoring drought of 3 minutes, 2 seconds in the second period and fell behind 21-14. But Strieby and Jaykob Sells helped the Hawks get back in it, combining for the first two baskets during a 5-0 scoring run.
In the first half, the Hawks committed 10 turnovers and shot 8 of 16 from the field. Mariner had just three turnovers and shot 10 for 23.
At Jackson H.S.
Mariner1591718—59
Mountlake Terrace11101310—44
Mariner: Minor 17, Doerscher 8, Dillon 5, Malysheff 12, Purnell 12, McCulloch, Yusuf, Kiehl 5, Zerahaimanot, Coles. Mountlake Terrace: J. Sells 3, Clingan 7, R. Sells 15, Strieby 8, Stracener 8, Champoux 3, Estrada, Lechtenberg. 3-point goals-Minor 2, Doerscher 1, Kiehl 1, R. Sells 1, Champoux 1. Records-Mariner 19-4. Mountlake Terrace 17-6.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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