If there was any doubt as to who would be The Herald’s 2015 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Lynnwood junior Mikayla Pivec erased it with her performance in this year’s Class 3A state championship contest.
In the biggest game of her career, Pivec delivered her finest performance. Her 31 points and 17 rebounds helped the Royals beat two-time defending champion Cleveland 54-42 to claim the first girls basketball state championship in school history.
“Counting her offensive rebounds and her all-around game, for that stage I guess I would have to say that is her most dominant game,” Lynnwood head coach Everett Edwards said of Pivec, who was named the tournament MVP.
Pivec had other big games this season. She scored a career-high 33 points in a regular-season victory over Wesco 3A South foe Edmonds-Woodway on Jan. 9. She recorded the first triple-double of her high school career on Jan. 26 in a 67-26 win over Shorewood, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals. And in a loser-out state-regional game against Central Kitsap on Feb. 28, she scored 24 points and grabbed 24 rebounds to lead the Royals to a 71-39 win.
Still, the Cleveland game stood out above the rest.
“My shooting percentage, rebounding, handling the ball and making good passes, I would say Cleveland is probably best overall game I’ve played — except for my free throws,” Pivec said.
Pivec shot just 33 percent (3-for-9) from the free-throw line in the championship, well below her season average of 74 percent. Fortunately for the Royals, they didn’t need those free throws as they were able to pull away late in the fourth quarter.
“In the championship game, she really stepped up,” junior teammate Jordyn Edwards said. “That really, really helped us in the game. Her scoring 31 points and 17 rebounds. … She just really helped us to be able to win the game.”
Winning a state championship together was a special moment for Pivec and Edwards, who have played together since before middle school.
“She’s always been an amazing teammate,” Edwards said. “(She’s) always positive and just loves the game. In middle school, I’m pretty sure we were undefeated both seventh- and eighth-grade year. It was just awesome to share that glory with her.
“Actually getting to go to the Tacoma Dome (the past two seasons) with Mikayla has been amazing. It’s like our life story together and it’s awesome.”
The Royals fell short of their goal of winning the state championship in 2014, losing to eventual 4A champion Gonzaga Prep in the state semifinals and eventually placing third.
“It was more motivation — especially at the state championships,” Pivec said of last year’s loss to the Bullpups. “Last year, we got knocked out in the semifinals and we know how long it can take to get back there.”
Despite playing the game of her life on the biggest stage, Pivec’s favorite moment from the title game didn’t even involve her.
With Lynnwood up 10 points with just over 13 seconds to play in the game, Edwards put in senior forward Monty Cooper, who injured her ankle in a semifinal victory over Bellevue the day before. Cooper found a spot on the left baseline, Jordyn Edwards got her the ball and Cooper made the final shot of the game with six seconds to play.
“To hobble out on the court on an injured ankle and then to get the ball and take the shot and have it go in, it was just amazing,” Pivec said. “Someone said it was like the Disney moment of the movie.
“The crowd just erupted and we went over and hugged Monty — carefully.”
Several colleges have shown interest in Pivec, with Seattle University, Washington, Washington State, Nebraska, Oregon State and Stanford at the top of her list. Each of those schools, except Stanford, has offered her a scholarship, though Stanford has asked her if she would like to make an official visit.
Pivec said she won’t rush into a decision on where she will play after high school.
“I just want to take my time and get as much information as possible to make the right decision,” she said.
Before Pivec starts her college career, she’s got one more season at Lynnwood and a chance to win another state championship.
“The ultimate goal would be to repeat,” Pivec said. “We have to work hard to get there and not just rest on our laurels. Even though we’ve achieved the biggest prize, there is always stuff we can work on just to stay hungry and try to win it next year.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
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