MARYSVILLE — You know that upset bug that’s been going around the 4A District 1 girls basketball tournament tournament?
Snohomish doesn’t have it.
Senior forward Katie Benson scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked four shots and Wesco North No. 1 seed Snohomish defeated Wesco North No. 3 seed Marysville-Pilchuck 51-33 Saturday night in a winner-to-state 4A District 1 semifinal game at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
Karley Lampman chipped in 11 points for Snohomish and forward Joanna Balin added 10 points in the victory.
After a chaotic opening round in which Arlington, Jackson and Edmonds-Woodway all lost to lower-seeded teams, Snohomish, ranked No. 4 in the state by the Associated Press, did its part to restore order in the semifinals by thoroughly dismantling Marysville-Pilchuck.
“We knew we wanted to get after them to start out,” Benson said when asked if all the upsets were on her team’s mind.
Snohomish did just that.
After losing the tip to open the game, Benson stole the ball back and took it all the way for a layup and a quick 2-0 lead.
“It was one of those lucky things … but did kind of set the tone,” Benson said.
It was as close as Marysville-Pilchuck would get all night, as Snohomish used a full-court press to open the game with a 17-2 run and remove any doubt early. Snohomish forced 10 Marysville-Pilchuck turnovers in the first quarter.
“I thought all the kids did a good job defensively,” Snohomish head coach Ken Roberts said. “… There was no let down when we went to the bench.”
Benson finished the first quarter with four points, two blocks, two steals and two rebounds. She then scored Snohomish’s first nine points of the second quarter, the last of which handed Snohomish a 26-8 lead with 3:49 remaining.
Marysville-Pilchuck center Britt Harris, who scored 20 points to help M-P upset Edmonds-Woodway, led the Tomahawks with 11 points. Post Brittany Pierce added 10 points.
It was the third time this season the teams had met and Snohomish won each encounter by double figures.
Now Snohomish will play the winner of Kamiak-Oak Harbor next Saturday for the District 1 Championship and a No. 1 seed to state.
Marysville-Pilchuck plays Jackson in a loser-out game Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
Snohomish’s victory Saturday guaranteed that the Panthers will make an eighth trip to state in 10 years. The Panthers placed seventh at state in 2008.
“We’ve had a good youth program,” Roberts said of Snohomish’s success over the past decade. “… When they become Panthers … You’ve become something bigger than yourself. It makes the kids feel like they are part of a winning tradition.”
Snohomish (20-2) has lost to only one Washington State high school this year: fifth-ranked Auburn Riverside, back in December.
At Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.
M-P49911—33
Snohomish1715127—51
Marysville-Pilchuck—Cull 3, Lentz 0, Martinis 0, Adams 0, K. Enberg 2, Oden 2, Harris 11, E. Enberg 3, Heckendorf 2, Watson 0, Pierce 10. Snohomish—Wilson 0, Guthrie 5, Schmitt 6, Lampman 11, Keithley 0, Timmerman 0, Berg 3, Benson 16, Bride 0, Balin 10, Young 0. 3-pointers—Guthrie 1, Schmitt 1, Lampman 1, Berg 1. Records—Marysville-Pilchuck 15-7 overall. Snohomish 20-2.
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