Mariner boys have season back on track

By Aaron Coe

Herald Writer

For the Mariner boys basketball team, home was not where the heart was early in the season.

The Marauders lost their first three Western Conference South Division games in their gym in December. A team that had state playoffs aspirations was 1-3 in the league, though those three losses were by a total of 11 points.

The new year, however, has brought a new attitude. The Marauders – authors of a current six-game winning streak – have won three in a row at home in 2002.

“We want to send a message that you can’t come into our house and expect an easy game,” said Mariner wing Josh Bollinger, who scored a game-high 13 points in Friday’s 45-33 victory over Mukilteo School District-rival Kamiak. “All the (league) games we’ve lost so far have been at home. We want to show everyone that’s a fluke, and that we’ve got a new attitude at home.”

The difference for Mariner has been defense. After allowing a season-high 58 points in a two-point home loss to Jackson on Dec. 18, the Marauders have held Edmonds-Woodway, Everett and Kamiak to 34 points or less each.

“We’ve been consistently playing all four quarters,” forward Joe Coates said. “That’s been paying off.”

The Marauders (8-3 in the division, 9-4 overall) trail tonight’s opponent Mountlake Terrace by a half-game in the standings. A victory tonight in the Hawks’ gym would complete Mariner’s journey from the cellar to first place.

Dream duals: Lake Stevens won the 4A championship in the Dream Duals wrestling meet Saturday at Spokane. The Vikings defeated East Valley of Spokane 32-28 in the championship meet.

Lake Stevens also beat perennial powerhouse Moses Lake 37-28 en route to the title meet.

The Vikings had won three straight matches between 119 and 130 pounds by Ty Human, Burke Barnes and Erik Curnett; then sewed up the victory with three more consecutive wins from 152 to 171 by Jeff Nearing, Christian Anderson and Mitch Canham.

Sedro-Woolley won the 3A championship, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) won the 2A title and Warden emerged first in Class A/B.

Balance: Mountlake Terrace dominated the South Division during the last two seasons, but just about everyone has a shot at the title this year. The Hawks were perfect in 1999-2000 and lost only one league game in 2000-2001. This year, the 8-3 Hawks lead a pack of eight teams separated by only three games. All division teams have either seven or eight league games remaining. A streak such as the six-game run enjoyed by Mariner could move anyone from near-worst to first.

Who are those girls? Why was Monroe girls basketball coach Alan Dickson smiling after his Bearcats got blown out by Snohomish on Wednesday? Because he’s got perhaps the youngest team in the North Division. The present isn’t bad and the future appears to be very, very bright.

The Bearcats, who are tied for fourth in the division with a 5-4 record (6-7 overall), lost eight players from last season’s state playoff team. Along with the departure of seven seniors, 6-foot sophomore Che Oh transferred to Seattle Prep, which beat Monroe 69-65 in the consolation bracket of the tournament in March.

Four current players were listed on the state playoff roster, but they combined for only 31 minutes, 34 seconds of play and five DNP’s (did not play) in three games. Point guard Chelsea Zimmerman, who played 19 of those state playoff minutes, has already established herself as one of the league’s best. The 5-foot-6 sophomore is part of a youthful starting lineup.

“I did look out there and saw we had two freshman, two sophomores and a junior,” said Dickson, whose team lost 56-55 to Lake Stevens on Friday. “We’re pretty good right now. We’re as good as anyone. This is a tough league, so could be anywhere from first through sixth.”

Depth: One reason the Snohomish girls were able to outscore Monroe 42-11 during the final 2 1/2 quarters of Wednesday’s 58-32 victory is the rest players get during games. Many high school rotations consist of seven or eight players, but Snohomish coach Ken Roberts regularly uses 10 players in the first quarter alone. The depth of the Panthers (7-1 in the North Division, 10-2 overall), has enabled them to put away teams in the second half.

“We’re really deep,” senior forward Anne Bailey said. “We go as deep as the JV team. (Against Monroe), when they come in they keep up the tempo.

Emily Kling began the season as a junior varsity player, but has worked her way into the varsity starting lineup. The rest of the JV team is pretty good, too. They’ve beaten many of their opponents by 30 or more points this season.

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