ARLINGTON – The surprising, meteoric start to their season long ago gave way to a humbling descent. But Tuesday Katie Holloway and the Lake Stevens Vikings returned to orbit just in time to clinch another postseason voyage.
Lake Stevens went on a 15-0 run in the first half to build a commanding lead, and star post Holloway scored a team-high 15 points and had a game-high 20 rebounds Tuesday in a Western Conference North Division girls basketball game at the Arlington High School gym.
With the 58-36 victory, Lake Stevens (8-7 in Wesco North, 12-7 overall) clinched a Class 4A Northwest District tournament playoff berth.
For a team with a new coach and only one returning starter – Holloway – from last year’s team that advanced to the Class 4A state tournament, that’s quite an achievement. And one that Holloway once thought out of reach.
“At the beginning of the season it didn’t seem like we could,” said Holloway, who blocked three shots and handed out three assists, “but … when we started we really built our confidence.”
The Vikings began the season 6-0 but since then they had won just five of 12 games until Tuesday’s clincher. Despite facing double teams every game, Holloway has keyed the turnaround.
“A great team leader,” first-year Lake Stevens coach Tom Tri said of Holloway. “I’m really proud of her effort tonight. That was a huge game for us and I thought she came through all the way around.”
An enormous rebounding edge and an intensity level that matched Arlington on the Eagles’ senior night helped Lake Stevens recover from a 28-point loss to Snohomish last Friday. Sophomore forward Kiana Fisher and senior point guard Brittni Estes scored 12 points apiece for the Vikings.
Lake Stevens will battle Marysville-Pilchuck (9-6 in league) and Oak Harbor (8-8) for the league’s third, fourth and fifth district spots. The fifth seed will play a district-qualifying game 7:30 p.m. Monday at the South No. 4 seed. If victorious, the North No. 5 then faces the North No. 1 Feb. 25.
Even though they are assured at least one playoff game, the Vikings, who already lost at home to M-P earlier this season and lost twice against Oak Harbor, will treat Thursday’s regular-season finale at Marysville as a must-win.
Besides, Holloway has a grudge to settle with the Tomahawks.
“It’s going to be huge,” she said. “I think we definitely owe them because they beat us on our home court.”
Strong rebounding will be the key, said the 6-foot-3 senior Holloway, who received a scholarship to play basketball at Cal State-Northridge.
The stakes don’t get much bigger, she said: “It means confidence going into the postseason.”
Arlington (5-10, 7-12) has lost six of its last seven games. Sophomore guard Randi Richardson scored a game-high 26 points for the Eagles, who were eliminated from postseason consideration. Arlington concludes its season 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Cascade.
L.S.-Holloway 15, Estes 12, Fisher 12, Fraser 2, Mace 4, Housden 6, LaPlante 2, West 5. Arlington-Richardson 26, Hodgson 2, Cort 3, McCormack 5. 3-point goals-Estes 1, Richardson 2. JV score-Arlington 46, Lake Stevens 45, 2OT. Records-Lake Stevens 8-7 in league, 12-7 overall. Arlington 5-10, 7-12. |
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
