MILL CREEK — The Mountlake Terrace boy’s basketball team made a huge statement Friday night.
The Hawks scored 26 first-quarter points while humbling Stanwood 80-53 in a winner-to-state 4A District 1 tournament game at Jackson High School.
“Too jacked!” shouted the Hawks’ as they headed out of the locker room.
Ryan Sells scored 24 points, twin brother Jaykob Sells added 19 and Mountlake Terrace earned its first 4A state tournament berth since 2005. But first the Hawks face the Mariner Marauders in an all-Western Conference South division 4A District 1 title game.
“It’s a big win. We set a statement tonight, a big statement showing what we can do out there on the court,” Jaykob Sells said.
Jaykob Sells scored 11 in the Hawks’ first-quarter outburst, including a sensational up-and-under, 3-point bank shot at the buzzer that gave Mountlake Terrace the 26-9 lead.
“As soon as the ball came off my hand, I was feeling it. It was a good night for me,” Jaykob Sells said.
In the second half, it was all Ryan Sells as the guard erupted for 16 of his game-high 24 points.
Ryan Sells scored 10 points during a 14-4 third-quarter run by Terrace that sucked the wind out of the Spartans after they had shaved six points off a 20-point deficit.
“It’s exciting. It’s the first time all year that we’ve done that. It’s one of those games we stepped it up because we knew we had to win,” Ryan Sells said.
After a dismal past three years where the Hawks (17-5 overall) went a combined 19-42, the Hawks are headed to the district title game for the first time since ‘05. Back then they lost to Kamiak, but ended up finishing third in the 4A state tournament.
“I’m no different a coach now (than) I was the last three years, and that’s a testimony to the kids. They are awfully competitive, and they set some goals and one of them has been achieved right now,” ninth-year head coach Nalin Sood said.
Led by Zack Johnson’s 14 points, Stanwood (16-6) will have to bounce back as against Marysville-Pilchuck in a loser-out game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Jackson High School. The winner of that game will play for third place and a state berth next Friday.
Coming off its emotionally charged win, Mountlake Terrace has to wait until next Saturday before it faces the Marauders for the third time this season in the district title game.
At Jackson H.S.
Stanwood9151316—53
Mountlake Terrace26161820—80
Stanwood—Asher, Wark 2, Haugstad 2, Schmidt 3, Orcutt 9, Johnson 14, Solvberg 4, Chabot 4, Hushagen 9, Jamieson 3, Cook, Schroyer 3. Mountlake Terrace—Champoux, Fickle, Eftekhari, J. Sells 19, Karels 3, Clingan 9, R. Sells 24, Lechtenberg 1, Estrada 2, Brooks 2, Streiby 14, Stracener 6. 3-pointers—J. Sells 1, R. Sells 1, Clingan 1, Strieby 1, Schmidt 1. Records—Stanwood 16-6 overall. Mountlake Terrace 17-5.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
