By Aaron Coe
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – In a game like the one Stanwood played Monday, the experience is perhaps even more important than the final outcome.
The Spartans played Mark Morris in the King Holiday Hoopfest in a non-league game at KeyArena. For the record, Stanwood – ranked fifth in last Tuesday’s Class 4A Associated Press poll – lost 59-58 to the Monarchs, who were ranked third in the Class 3A poll.
Watching Mark Morris’ Doug Dietz calmly sink the winning free throw with 1.4 seconds remaining in the home of the Seattle Supersonics was frustrating for the Spartans. Being a part of the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday and playing in front of a big crowd, however, washed away most of the disappointment of losing a game filled with state playoff atmosphere.
“It was a big deal to us,” said Stanwood’s Marcus Steele, who led Stanwood with game highs of 23 points and six rebounds. “This is probably the biggest celebration of Martin Luther King in the state. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Stanwood coach Nate DuChesne let his entire team get a taste of the day. All 12 Stanwood varsity players played at least a minute in the first half. DuChesne’s generous substitution pattern did not hurt the Spartans, who led 32-23 at halftime.
Stanwood (11-2 overall) ran off 17 straight points spanning the first and second quarters with deep reserves like Kyle Born, Justin Jamieson, Trevor Smith and Dan Toshner on the floor during various parts of the run.
Mark Morris used six players in the first half and seven in the entire game. Four Monarchs played all 32 minutes.
“These kids work hard every day in practice,” DuChesne said. “When our team gets an opportunity to play in KeyArena, every kid is going to play. Now if it’s the state tournament, then that’s different. But in a non-league, fun game like this, every kid needs to be rewarded.
“And I thought the kids that came off the bench did a nice job. It made no difference in the outcome of the game.”
The outcome of the game featuring the fifth- and sixth-place teams in last season’s Class 3A state tournament was in doubt until the final horn sounded.
Steele, who was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line, made a pair of foul shots to tie the score at 58 with 1:52 remaining.
After each team missed a shot, Mark Morris (12-1) got the ball with a minute left and began running time off the clock. Stanwood’s tight defense forced the Monarchs to use two timeouts, including one at just inside the half-court line with 5.4 seconds to go.
The ball was bobbled by Mark Morris and appeared to roll off a Monarch foot with 2.4 seconds remaining, but officials ruled that the ball glanced off a Stanwood player.
Mark Morris inbounded the ball to Dietz, who was fouled four feet away from the basket with 1.4 seconds left. The 6-foot-2 senior guard barely grazed the front of the rim with his first attempt, keeping the hopes of the large Stanwood crowd alive. The second one went through cleanly, however, and Dietz intercepted Stanwood’s attempt at a long pass as time expired.
Ryan Appleby, who made all four of his 3-point shot attempts and finished with 12 points and 10 assists, believed the Spartans should have won the game.
“I thought we had the better team,” said Appleby, who played all 32 minutes. “But this was a good event. It was fun to come out and play a good team and it’s great exposure for the program.”
After a shaky start, it seemed the Spartans, who played in a state playoff semifinal last year before finishing sixth, were going to put Mark Morris away in the second quarter.
Steele scored seven points in the game’s first four minutes, but Stanwood fell behind 15-9 in the first quarter.
Appleby then led the Spartans on a 17-0 charge that put his team ahead 26-15 with 7:18 remaining in the second. Appleby swished a pair of 3-point baskets during the run and found open teammates with passes that were simply too quick for the Monarchs to stop.
Stanwood’s Shaun Messerli came off the bench to contribute 14 points and five assists
Stanwood-Brokaw, Toshner, Appleby 12, Ali 5, Bodfish, Steele 23, Whitney, Messerli 14, Smith, Jamieson, Zweber 4, Born. Mark Morris-Dietz 6, Kirkpatrick 15, Rowe, Baker 16, Andrews 0, Trotter 13, Hallin 9. 3-point goals-Appleby 4, Messerli 2, Kirkpatrick 1, Trotter 1. Records-Stanwood 11-2. Mark Morris 12-1.
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