EVERETT — Kamiak five-foot-four junior Aliea Marrero was the biggest player on the court when she had to be.
The diminutive guard secured a rebound of six-foot-one Kylee Griffen’s missed shot with less than two seconds to play, drew the foul and sank both free throws on the other end as the Knights knocked off the Lake Stevens Vikings 50-47 Saturday afternoon in the 4A District 1 tournament at Everett Community College.
“We worked so hard to be here and I’m so excited we finally got the opportunity,” Marrero said. “I think we played good team ball. We passed the ball and we rebounded really well, especially because Kylee is so big. We rebounded really well for us.”
With the win Kamiak (15-10 overall) advances to the regional round for the first time since 2009 when the state tournament was still a four-day, 16-team event. Lake Stevens finishes its season 15-10.
Marrero sank two free throws to give Kamiak a 48-45 lead with 22 seconds to go. Griffen converted a layup on the other end, and the Vikings forced a five-second call against the Knights and Lake Stevens took over under its own basket. Griffen’s ensuing runner didn’t drop, and she fouled out while Marrero collected the rebound with less than two seconds to go.
“That’s kind of how our league has been, just a lot of close games and you just need a break here or there,” Lake Stevens coach Randall Edens said. “A ball to go in somewhere and maybe it totally changes that outcome. We had a good look late, which is what you want. I wouldn’t change anything there.”
The win also claimed the rubber match for the Knights after the team split two regular-seasons.
Facing a 27-20 halftime deficit, the Vikings made five 3-pointers — including two from Emma Smith — to take a 37-36 lead through three quarters.
“I think we shot the ball pretty well, and then we kind of let them back in it,” Kamiak coach Brian Norman said. “They hit some huge 3s despite what we try to do, which is challenge everything. But to their credit, they are a great team and we’re really excited to come out with a win because that could have gone either way.”
Kamiak didn’t take the lead in the back-and-forth affair for good until Tylor Adcock’s bucket with 2:10 to play gave the Knights a 44-43 advantage.
Lake Stevens led 13-11 through the first quarter, but Kamiak responded with four 3-pointers and held the Vikings to just two made field goals in the in the second quarter to take a 27-20 lead into halftime.
Griffen led all scorers with 18 points and was the only Viking in double figures.
Marrero scored a team-high 12 points while Jamie Beirne scored 11 and Kate Huguenin added 10.
At Everett Community College
Kamiak 11 16 9 14 —50
Lake Stevens 13 7 17 10 —47
Kamiak—Hunter Beirne 6, Sarah Payne 3, Tylor Adcock 8, Kate Huguenin 10, Jamie Beirne 11, Aliea Marrero 12. Lake Stevens—Laycie Taylor 3, Emma Smith 9, Kristen Glick 2, Anna Dominick 4, Katie Saylor 3, Kylee Griffen 18, Hailey Wilson 8. Records—Kamiak 15-10 overall. Lake Stevens 15-10.
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