LAKE STEVENS — Senior guard Kevin Smith nailed a 17-foot jumper with 1 second to play as Lake Stevens narrowly escaped with a Wesco North win over Monroe 68-67 on Friday night at Lake Stevens High School.
Smith, who was in foul trouble in the first half, finished with a game-high 20 points.
“He scored nine in the first, and then we weren’t able to play him in the middle of the game,” Lake Stevens coach Mark Hein said of Smith. “He came into the fourth quarter with four fouls and just played with confidence.”
Lake Steven trailed for much of the game, but with 12 seconds remaining Christian Gasca hit two free throws to give the Vikings a one-point lead.
One the ensuing Monroe possession, Nicota Stevenson hit a layup to regain the lead for the Bearcats.
Hein quickly called timeout.
“We had a defensive breakdown on that previous possession,” the Lake Stevens coach said. “I told the team that we needed to mentally move past that and realize there was still a chance to win the game.”
And the Vikings came through. Junior guard Dakota Tomson penetrated and kicked the ball to Smith for the game-winner.
With the win, Lake Stevens (3-1, 5-1) remains in second place in the Wesco North standings.
Terrance Day and Tony Peloquin had 13 points each to pace Monroe (1-3, 2-3).
“I give credit to (Monroe), in many ways they outplayed us,” Hein said. “We made some timely plays, were really resilient and kept fighting. We dodged a bullet tonight.”
At Lake Stevens H.S.
Monroe19121818—67
Lake Stevens16131425—68
Monroe—Bunge 7, Stevenson 4, Jones 4, Turner 5, Day 13, Peloquin 13, Price 6, Cochran 1, Trujillo 10, Houmann 4. Lake Stevens—Smith 20, Stoen 14, Rahn 0, Tomson 11, Gasca 11, Sanoh 0, Pahukoa 5, Rothgeb 7, 3-point goals—Bunge, Turner, Price 2, Smith, Stoen 2, Tomson. Records—Monroe 1-3 league, 2-3 overall. Lake Stevens 3-1, 5-1.
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