MONROE — Donald Watts scored 21 of his team-high 23 points in the second half and the Snohomish County Explosion weathered numerous Portland comebacks to come away with a 118-115 victory in an International Basketball League game Saturday night at Monroe High School.
With the narrow triumph — Portland’s Brennon Martin missed a tying 3-pointer near the final buzzer — Snohomish County improved to 6-5 and proved it could hold off a relentless foe down the stretch, something it had been unable to do in recent weeks.
“We were playing .500 coming into tonight. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win a championship and right now we’re searching for that right formula,” Watts said. “We aren’t in a desperate position, but we’re in an urgent position.”
The pressure eased somewhat with a victory that featured solid team defense, a 62-47 rebounding advantage — including a team-high 12 by Watts — and balanced scoring, including 16 points apiece by Chris Weakley, Chris Keller and David White. White’s spirited return from an ankle injury included 10 rebounds.
Playing in just their second game for Snohomish County, forwards Troy Gwynn (12 points, eight rebounds) and Justin White (nine points, eight boards) made critical contributions.
Aside from his inside bucket, which provided a 116-112 margin with just over a minute remaining, Watts was the primary catalyst. He played 22 minutes of the second half — including the entire fourth quarter — and rallied the troops every time the Chinooks threatened to steal a victory as they had done last Saturday in overtime.
“That was in our mind coming down the stretch,” Watts said. “We lost a 20-point lead last time and they tried to scare us again.”
Snohomish County led by six points three times in the final quarter. Portland crept closer on each occasion, but could not overtake the Explosion, which enjoyed solid play at the point guard position by newcomer Greg Hendricks (five points, five rebounds, four assists in 23 minutes).
Trailing by double-digits, Portland roared back with a 17-4 run to take its first lead of the game, 75-74, with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter.
The Explosion regained the advantage with a blistering 12-0 run of its own over the next two minutes with all of the points being scored by Justin White (five) and Watts (seven), who capped the action with a mid-court steal and thunderous jam.
Portland stormed back again behind a trio of 3-pointers — and 12 total points — by Larry Smith (21 points) and closed to within 88-86 by the end of the quarter.
Snohomish County hammered the visitors 34-23 on the boards in the first half and — led by 13 points from Weakley, nine by Keller and David White’s eight points and six rebounds — earned a 59-50 halftime lead.
Hard work on the offensive boards by Justin James, Jackie Jones, Watts and White led to numerous second and third chances and the advantage grew to 12 points before Snohomish County settled for a 36-28 lead by the end of the first quarter.
In the second period the Chinooks crept within 36-33, but a steal and rim-rattling jam by Justin James highlighted a 9-0 run back to a double-digit lead.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Keller ballooned the margin to 59-43, but Portland used a 7-0 run over the final two minutes of the half to close to within nine at the break.
At Monroe H.S.
Portland28223629—115
Snohomish County36232930— 118
Portland — Moore 8, Tate 18, Williams 13, Stephens 26, Martin 20, Nixon 3, L. Smith 21, Fisher 4, D. Smith 2. Snohomish Co. — James 5, J. White 9, Jones 8, Miller 2, Weakley 16, Watts 23, Keller 16, Gwynn 12, Stallworth 6, D. White 16, Hendricks 5. 3-point goals — Williams 3, Stephens 6, Martin 6, Nixon 1, L. Smith 5, Weakley 4, Keller 4, Hendricks 1. Records — Portland 3-8, Snohomish County 6-5. Attendance — 829.
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