Anyone who noticed that the Mountlake Terrace boys basketball team lost two of its final five regular-season games might have figured the Hawks were headed for an upset loss in the postseason.
But last night Mountlake Terrace silenced the doubters with an impressive 75-57 victory over Arlington in a first-round Class 4A District 1 tournament game. Terrace posts Karsten Strieby and Tyler Stracener combined for 30 points, 17 rebounds and five assists.
Terrace (16-5) lost Jan. 30 against Edmonds-Woodway and finished the regular season with a 50-47 defeat against Meadowdale. But the Hawks recovered in time to earn a big playoff triumph.
“It shows that we can have a bad game but we’re going to bounce back and stay positive,” said Strieby, who 18 points and 10 rebounds versus Arlington. “We know what we’re capable of. If we just play well, we can beat anybody.”
Lake Stevens (18-3), Mariner (17-4) and Stanwood (16-5) also won first-round games last night. On Friday at Jackson High, the winners of the Stanwood/Mountlake Terrace game and the Lake Stevens/Mariner game will qualify for the state tournament.
Speaking of Mariner, which edged Marysville-Pilchuck 53-52 thanks to a late layin by post Damascus Purnell, the Marauders are No. 10 this week in the Tacoma News Tribune boys basketball rankings.
The only other local team in the rankings is Archbishop Murphy (No. 4 in 2A). Led by J.J. Quinlan (19 points), Murphy beat South Whidbey 57-49 last night in a Cascade Conference clash in Langley.
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