MILL CREEK – From the pros down to high school, basketball coaches everywhere constantly stress how defense wins games.
Wednesday night it was defense which allowed Meadowdale to move on in the 4A District 1 tournament with a thrilling 45-41 double-overtime victory over Edmonds-Woodway at Jackson High School.
Meadowdale seniors Bryant Marsh and Robel Kidanu each had steals that led to fast break lay-ins in the second overtime, leading the Mavericks onto a winner-to-state game against Jackson at 6 p.m. Friday at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
“I’m happy for the seniors,” Meadowdale coach Chad McGuire said, “Marsh made some steals that were key.”
Oddly, it was defense that almost cost Meadowdale the game.
Edmonds-Woodway’s defense.
After falling behind 28-18, the Warriors held the Mavericks to one field goal for a quarter and a half.
The Maverick drought was what the Warriors needed to climb back into the ballgame.
Edmonds-Woodway chipped away at the Mavericks’ lead before finally tying the score at 38-38 with a minute remaining in regulation.
With five seconds remaining, Meadowdale had the ball with a chance to win, but E-W guard Kyle McCartney deflected the ball into teammate Max Ortiz’s hands and the game was headed to overtime.
Both teams were scoreless throughout the first overtime and the first two minutes of the second overtime.
“They are great defensively. Their defense plays aggressive and make shots difficult,” McGuire said.
Warriors guard James Conti’s two free throws gave E-W it’s first lead of the game at 40-38.
And after Kidanu’s offensive putback – Meadowdale’s first field goal since 2:27 to play in the fourth quarter – Marsh came up with a steal, leading to a lay-in making it 42-40 with 50 seconds remaining.
Kidanu finished with a game-high 16 points.
At Jackson H.S.
Meadowdale101113407-45
Ed-Woodway36191003-41
Meadowdale-Kidanu 16, Moncrief 12, Marsh 10, Law 3, Johnson 2, Rouse 2. Edmonds-Woodway-Conti 7, Hamlett 7, Heard 7, Ortiz 7, Greenwood 5, Donaldson 4, Vaabene 4. 3-point goals-Ortiz 1, Hamlett 1, Greenwood 1, Marsh 1, Law 1. Records-Meadowdale 15-8 overall. Edmonds-Woodway 14-9.
Jackson 80, Shorewood 69: At Mill Creek, Drew Eisinger’s 16 second-half points led Jackson to victory over Shorewood in the 4A District 1 loser-out game.
“In the first half we weren’t playing good defense,” Jackson coach Steve Johnson said. “We got stops in the second half.”
Jackson scored 44 points in the second half.
Sophomore John Allen kept the Thunderbirds in the game, scoring a career-high 28 points for Shorewood.
At Jackson H.S.
Shorewood18181716-69
Jackson21152123-80
Shorewood-Allen 20, Reddie 18, Hartman 7, Wood 7, Walker 4, Freitas 3, Perry 2. Jackson-D. Eisinger 21, Rucker 18, Wishko 17, J. Eisinger 16, Gelakoska 4, Belair 2, Markovich 2. 3-point goals-J. Eisinger 1, D. Eisinger 1, Allen 2, Rucker 1. Records-Shorewood 13-10 overall. Jackson 20-4.
Girls basketball
Archbishop Murphy 64, Meridian 30: At Mount Vernon, the Archbishop Murphy girls basketball team extended its season at least another game.
The Wildcats held Meridian to eight points in the second half and had 10 players contribute to a Class 2A District 1 loser-out victory.
Archbishop Murphy will play Mount Baker in a winner-to-state, loser-out game at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at Mount Vernon. The Wildcats beat Mount Baker during the regular season.
“It was a great team effort on both sides of the ball,” Wildcats coach John Barhanovich said. “The offense and defense really came together for us.”
Senior Lisa Coate became the all-time leading scorer in Archbishop Murphy girls basketball history, passing her sister Lauren by scoring 14 points. The Wildcats held Meridian to 2-for-16 shooting from the field in the second half.
At Mt. Vernon H.S.
Meridian13935-30
Archbishop Murphy17171416-64
Meridian-Reinke 5, Tigert 1, Norris 3, Taubinheim 1, Hurlburt 5, Suhadolnik 7, Huffman 8. Archbishop Murphy-Nelson 3, Lasswell 5, Eknes 14, Coate 14, Burns 6, Smith 1, Huggins 4, Reinig 8, Westlund 3, Shober 6. 3-point goals-Eknes 4, Nelson 1, Laswell 1, Westlund 1, Tigert 1, Hurlburt 1, Suhadonik 1. Records-Meridian 6-17 overall. Archbishop Murphy 18-5.
