E-W goes on a tear to start second half and beat Stanwood

EDMONDS — More often than not, close basketball games are decided by what transpires at the outset of the second half.

To illustrate the point, consider Edmonds-Woodway’s 56-46 victory over Stanwood in a non-conference boys basketball game Tuesday night.

Led by slashing guard James Conti, the host Warriors (2-1 overall) started the third quarter with a blistering 16-2 run to erase a three-point deficit and stagger the Spartans.

E-W notched its second straight non-conference victory despite the noteworthy effort of Stanwood’s Zack Johnson, a sophomore post, who showed an array of inside moves to tie Conti with a game-high 19 points and lead all players with 15 rebounds.

Pressure defense led to steals by the ever-rotating E-W guards — Conti, Kyle McCartney, Antoinne Wafer, Max Ortiz and Sean Laue — and fueled several easy fast-break baskets in the opening minutes of the third period.

Conti, a senior who scored 12 of his team-high 19 points in the second half, drilled a mid-range jumper off an assist from Laue (13 points, six rebounds, two steals) to provide E-W with a comfortable 37-26 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the pivotal period.

“The winner of the first two or three minutes of the third quarter often times decides a ball game,” E-W coach Gail Pintler said. “Playing pressure defense is one of the things we want to do.”

“There was definite increase in defensive intensity (at the start of the third quarter),” first-year Stanwood coach Zach Ward said. “That (E-W) backcourt is tough, very experienced … those are guys who played in the state tournament last year.

“We have kids who haven’t been in that situation before,” Ward continued. “You can tell them what it’s going to be like, you can try to simulate it in practice … but they have to understand they have to answer that bell after halftime.”

E-W’s lead grew to 42-29 when Wafer drove the lane and fired a pass to Ortiz who knocked down a 3-pointer from deep in the left corner as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter.

Led by Johnson, Stanwood (1-1) dominated the boards in the first half, out-rebounding E-W 20-5, and led 24-21 at the break.

“We were standing around,” Pintler said. “As if we forgot why we were there.”

“Coach (Pintler) gave us a little talk about rebounds at the half and it gave us motivation,” said Conti, whose stat line included four assists and three steals. “Connor (Donaldson) and Oliver (Enquist) stepped up big.

“We didn’t want to lose twice to North guys,” Conti continued, referring to a heartbreaking defeat against Lake Stevens in E-W’s season opener. “We wanted to get one back after that tough loss.”

The Warriors benefited from a 15-for-19 effort at the foul line. Stanwood was 7-for-12 on free-throw attempts.

E-W also enjoyed a balanced attack. Ortiz had six points and three assists. McCartney tallied four points and added three rebounds and a trio of steals. Donaldson finished with eight points.

After trailing by 13 through three quarters, Stanwood twice crept within eight points of the lead in the late going — both times on buckets by Johnson — but could draw no closer.

“I’m happy with the kids’ effort,” Ward said. It would have been easy to fold the tent, but they battled and showed they’re a resilient group of kids.”

Kyle Klempel had eight assists for the Spartans. Kale Schmidt scored six of his eight points on a pair of 3-pointers. Jordon Solvberg added eight points.

Stanwood fell behind 6-0 to start the game, but closed to within three by the end of the first quarter and used an 8-0 run to snare a 20-15 lead midway through the second period.

At Edmonds-Woodway H.S.

Stanwood1212517—46

E-W1562114—56

Stanwood — Klempel 3, Schmidt 8, Orcutt, Edlund, Williams 2, Cook, Solvberg 8, Zipp 2, Johnson 19, Zweber 4. E-W — Ortiz 6, Wilson, McCartney 4, Conti 19, Wafer 2, Enquist 2, Laue 13, Donaldson 8, Polovina 2. 3-point goals — Klempel 1, Schmidt 2, Ortiz 1. J.V. result — Stanwood 62, E-W 44. Records — Stanwood 1-1 overall. E-W 2-1.