MARYSVILLE — Ferndale’s bus was running a little late on its way to the Golden Eagles’ 3A District 1 playoff opener at Marysville Pilchuck.
After Ferndale turned up, its offense took a little while to arrive against the Tomahawks.
But the Golden Eagles got things rolling in the second quarter and pulled away late in a 71-56 win over the Tomahawks at Marysville Pilchuck High School Friday night.
Ferndale will play Edmonds-Woodway in a 3A District 1 semifinal at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at Jackson High School. Marysville Pilchuck hosts Shorewood in a loser-out game Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“It was a really interesting game,” Tomahawks head coach Bary Gould said. “I felt like the shots that we’ve been hitting lately, we didn’t. Part of being a good basketball player is being able to bounce back and be resilient and I felt like some things that normally go our way in games weren’t.”
Marysville Pilchuck previously defeated Ferndale 62-61 on Dec. 28 for its first win of the season after starting the year 0-6.
“I think we just had it in our minds that we’re just going to come in and beat them and that wasn’t happening,” Gould said. “No matter how many times you say it as a coach — ‘we can’t underestimate them; we can’t look past anyone’ — we felt like while we weren’t very good early on in the season we were able to beat them. We’ve gotten better and, obviously, they’ve gotten better as well.”
Ferndale starting guards Sky Freeman and Riley Hunt missed the first contest against the Tomahawks. The duo combined for 16 points in the rematch.
“That made a big difference,” said Jason Owens, Ferndale’s first-year head coach. “So, (Marysville Pilchuck) didn’t know what they brought to the table.”
Ferndale struggled in the first quarter, putting up just five points. The Golden Eagles had the score tied at 30 by halftime and opened the second half with an 11-3 run.
Marysville Pilchuck countered with an 8-2 run of its own and trailed by two heading into the final period.
But Ferndale, which struggled at the free-throw line early in the game — and throughout the season, according to Owens — made 15 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
Ferndale’s size posed a problem for Marysville Pilchuck. All but one of the 12 players listed on the roster is taller than 6-feet, including 6-foot-4 senior forward Austin Honeycutt, who led the Golden Eagles with 26 points and eight rebounds.
Dane Larsen scored 10 points for Ferndale and John Weg added six points and 14 rebounds.
“They do have size. Even their guards are big,” Gould said. “They’re tough to guard.”
Ferndale, 13-8 in the Northwest Conference this year, relishes the role of being unknown in the district playoffs. As the lone 3A team in the NWC, the Golden Eagles travel down to compete with Wesco teams in the district playoffs.
“It’s an advantage because these guys play each other all the time — they don’t see us live,” Owens said. “They see tape, but that’s different. Obviously, the disadvantage is that we don’t get to see them either. People can agree or disagree, but the Northwest Conference is tough. There are five teams in the top 10 in their (classification). It’s tough, but we love the competition.”
Josh Bevan led Marysville Pilchuck (9-11) with 16 points. Hunter Whitney finished with 14 and fellow senior Nate Heckendorf scored six of his nine points early in the fourth quarter and added 13 rebounds in the game.
“He’ll be huge for us. Nate is a catalyst for our success,” Gould said. “He’s definitely a role player that can do some really great things.”
Added Owens: “That kid is tough.”
Owens said he was incredibly impressed with the way the Tomahawks have bounced back after a tough start to the season.
“They started 0-6. I said to Bary, ‘That is amazing, of you as a coach, to keep their heads up, to keep them focused, to keep them excited,’” Owens said. “And they’ve won seven of the last nine. That just says a lot about what he’s created here, the confidence he’s created and what he’s trying to do from a family perspective. I’m trying to do the same thing.”
At Marysville Pilchuck H.S.
Ferndale 5 25 17 24 —71
M. Pilchuck 13 17 15 11 —56
Ferndale—Sky Freeman 9, Garett Holmes 9, Kyler Lagerway 0, John Weg 6, Riley Hunt 7, Jackson King 2, Austin Honeycutt 26, Dane Larsen 10, Carson Genger 2. Marysville Pilchuck—Hunter Whitney 14, Josiah Gould 5, Josh Bevan 16, Tommy Haefele 0, Erik Lind 2, RaeQuan Battle 2, Freddy Brown 8, Tyler McDonald 0, Nate Heckendorf 9, Isaiah Valera 0. Records—Ferndale 13-8 overall. Marysville Pilchuck 9-11.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
