By Bob Mortenson
Herald Writer
STANWOOD – They’re back and the scariest part is they’re even better.
The Stanwood Spartans, who placed sixth at the Class 3A state tournament last season, opened Western Conference North Division play with an impressive 92-72 victory over Marysville-Pilchuck Friday night.
M-P stayed close into the second half until Marcus Steele scored seven straight points to give Stanwood a 59-45 lead with 5:20 remaining in the third quarter. The Spartans extended that lead to 80-59 with 5:15 left to play in the game.
“We came out and challenged them more, especially in the third quarter,” Stanwood coach Nate DuChesne said.
Stanwood’s Ryan Appleby and Steele scored 24 and 23 points, respectively, to lead the Spartans, but they got a lot of help.
Back-up post Paul Zweber gave Stanwood a big lift, scoring all nine of his points in the second half and grabbing five offensive rebounds.
“He really earned some minutes tonight,” DuChesne said.
The pace was frantic througout the game. Appleby hit one of his three 3-point goals to spur a 6-0 run that helped Stanwood to a 48-39 halftime lead.
“We were just kind of content to trade baskets with them in the first half,” DuChesne said. “It’s a good thing those shots were falling.”
Both teams shot extremely well, especially in the first half. M-P hit nine shots from 3-point range, including four by junior guard Nick Harris. Harris and Charlie Soper led the Tommies with 17 points each.
Appleby, had numerous flashy assists and scored 14 first-quarter points to help Stanwood to a 24-21 first-quarter lead.
Stanwood made seven 3-pointers including a pair by Shaun Messerlie.
“He’s got a good outside shot,” DuChesne said.
Trailing by 21 late, Dom VanDaveer hit a 3-pointer to launch a 7-0 run by the Tommies that cut the deficit to 80-66 with 3:12 left in the game, but Stanwood closed out the contest with a 12-6 run.
“We knew they’d come out strong,” Steele said. “It feels good to get a nice win like this to start Wesco.”
The teams traded the lead back and forth in the early minutes. M-P took its final lead, 10-9, when Bryce Hinderman hit a 3-point goal with 5:10 to play in the first quarter.
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M-P-Siekawitch 2, VanDaveer 7, Hinderman 6, Harris 17, Soper 17, Freeman 3, Crews 2, Pittman 9, Kehler 3, Gill 2, Gibson 2, Burman 2. Stanwood-Appleby 24, Steele 23, Jamieson 4, Bodfish 2, Ali 10, Brokaw 6, Messerli 8, Whitney 2, Smith 4, Zweber 9. 3-point goals-Harris 4, Soper 2, VanDaveer, Pittman, Hinderman, Appleby 3, Ali 2, Messerli 2. JV score-Stanwood def. M-P. Records-Marysville-Pilchuck 0-1 in league, 1-3 overall. Stanwood 1-0, 2-0.
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