MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — It’s good to be a Grizzly.
For the second straight day, a Glacier Peak basketball team cut down the nets at a 3A District 1 championship game. Saturday night at Mountlake Terrace H.S., it was the boys team, which held off a late charge by Mount Vernon for a 57-
54 decision.
The victory means that the Grizzlies (21-4) will play consecutive games with the Glacier Peak girls, who captured their own district crown Friday night, at Marysville Pilchuck H.S. next Friday in the 3A state regional playoffs.
“I think it’s really exciting for our fans to watch back-to-back games in the same place and to have our boys and girls both win districts,” Glacier Peak forward Jack Bonner said, clutching the lion’s share of what remained from the already trimmed net. “It doesn’t happen too often.”
Bonner, who scored a team-high 19 points, helped stake the Grizzlies to a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter. His one-handed transition dunk was the final GP basket of the first half and sent the fans, including the GP girls team into a frenzy.
“What we saw a little bit was that they were matching up with a player that we thought we could maybe run some things against,” Glacier Peak coach Brian Hunter said with a smile. “(Bonner) is a strong player.”
In just the third game since 7-foot center Peyton Pervier, who led the team in scoring, rebounds and blocks, left the team for undisclosed reasons, the GP offense looked like it hasn’t missed a beat. Dylan Vargas had a trio of 3s and 13 points and Tanner Southard chipped in 10 points.
The defense on the other hand missed its big man in the middle.
Mount Vernon (13-10) began it’s comeback when Shane Servoss, who was second on the Bulldogs with 13 points, hit a 3 with slightly more than 2 minutes to go in the third quarter to make the score 40-31.
Servoss’ second long bomb of the game sparked an 11-2 run to close the quarter and for the first time in the game the presence of an outside threat seemed to make things easier for Mount Vernon inside.
The biggest beneficiary of the space was the tallest man on the court Saturday night, Mt. Vernon’s Jonah Cook.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore averaged less than seven points during the regular season, but reeled off a game-high 20 points. His previous best was 16 against Shorecrest in the first round of the playoffs. Cook converted every time he got the ball in position on the block except for one missed chippy in the fourth quarter.
The inside-outside Bulldog attack reached its apex when Servoss leaned in a high banker to tie the score at 44-44 with 6:16 to go in the game.
Mount Vernon tied it again at 47 all, but Glacier Peak pulled away by hitting free throws down the stretch. After missing five of their first six in the quarter, the Grizzlies made 6-for-8 to seal their second consecutive district title.
“It’s been awesome,” Bonner said. “To have two in a row is pretty lucky.”
“I’d have to say this one is probably a little better because I’m a senior. It means a lot.”
After the game Hunter wouldn’t comment on the Pervier departure in any way, choosing instead to look toward the future for his team that needs just one win to make the state quarterfinals in the Tacoma Dome.
With the loss, Mt. Vernon must travel to Bellevue Community College and win twice to advance to the Tacoma Dome.
“(The new playoff format) entered my mind,” Hunter said. “I’m not sure about the players. Being a No. 1 at districts is tremendously different. We get to play at Marysville which is close.”
The Grizzlies, who finished fourth in state a year ago, have their sights set a bit higher this time. After the game Bonner had to restrain himself from making any bold proclamations.
“I’m going to say take it one game at a time, but I think that we can definitely make a run at state and finish a little higher than last year,” he said.
At Mountlake Terrace H.S.
Mt. Vernon 8 13 18 15 — 54
Glacier Peak 12 15 15 15 — 57
Mt. Vernon—Vopnford 2, Fitzgerald 2, Conrad 0, Otos 0, Knapp 7, Servoss 13, Ness 0, White 2, McDowell 7, Oliver 0, Madkin 0, Cook 20. Glacier Peak—Williams 0, Vargas 13, Southard 10, Impola 0, Harrison 0, Harris 0, Pederson 7, Bonner 19. 3-point goals—Vopnford 1, McDowell 1, Knapp 1, Servoss 2, Vargas 3, Southard 1, Bonner 2, Harris 1. Mt. Vernon 13-10 overall, Glacier Peak 21-3.
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