SNOHOMISH — In the first meeting of the two Snohomish schools on the basketball court, the younger Glacier Peak didn’t treat its older brother very nicely.
Glacier Peak dominated crosstown rival and established veteran Snohomish offensively and defensively as the Grizzlies cruised to a 64-18 nonconference win in both teams’ opening game of the season.
“I’m proud of the guys for how they moved the ball and shared it,” said Glacier Peak head coach Brian Hunter. “It’s a really unselfish team. The more you share the ball, the better off you’ll be.”
The Grizzlies scored early and often, opening the game with an 11-0 run. Snohomish’s first points of the season came on a Josh Baird 3-pointer 41⁄2 minutes into the game. Glacier Peak finished with more points in the first quarter (22) than Snohomish had the entire night (18).
“For us, honestly, it sounds simple, but we really want to play as hard as we can at all times,” Hunter said. “We want to share the basketball, and know at the end of the night that we left all that we have out there.”
Hunter said that the team didn’t discuss the crosstown rivalry much, but he knew the teams were excited to play each other.
“Our kids grew up with their kids,” he said.
In fact, the Glacier Peak coach thought that the game might mean more to another group of people: the Grizzlies’ coaching staff.
“Four of our coaches played for Snohomish,” said Hunter, who is one of the four. “(This game was) probably a bigger deal for the coaches.”
Glacier Peak senior post, and leading scorer, Zach Pederson might disagree.
“I grew up watching (former Snohomish and University of Washington star) Jon Brockman at Snohomish, and cheering for them,” said Pederson, who scored 18 points. “I was a Panther before Glacier Peak started.”
Pederson, last season’s Wesco 3A leading scorer and rebounder, also grabbed eight rebounds before departing the game for good late in the third quarter.
Senior Ramsey Rosales had 14 points for Glacier Peak, including six in the first quarter. He also grabbed six rebounds and three steals. Trey Chambers (seven points) also was a strong defensive presence with four steals.
Glacier Peak’s fast start may be attributed to the Grizzlies’ eagerness to get out on the court and get their season underway.
“I was so excited,” Pederson said. “I’ve been thinking about this game for so long. It just felt great to play and get back out there. Get back to another season.
“Another strong season,” he quickly added.
Baird had a team-high seven points for the Panthers, who struggled from the field. All six of their points in the first quarter came from behind the 3-point arc. After reaching the bonus with 5:40 left in the second quarter, Snohomish found its way to the free throw line. All seven of their second-quarter points came off free throws.
The third quarter wasn’t much kinder, with Snohomish netting its first two-point field goal of the season with 3:49 left in the third quarter when Collin Kane got a steal and a quick layin. That turned out to be the only points of the quarter for the Panthers.
In the final quarter, with most of its starters out, Snohomish scored three points to bring its final total to 18. The Panthers were held scoreless in the quarter until a free throw with about two minutes left in the game.
By the end of the game, there was a running clock. With less than 30 seconds to go, a Snohomish player went to the free throw line with the clock continuing to countdown. Snohomish fans shouted at the clock operator as time continued to wind down.
The final buzzer sounded one second after the last free throw attempt, which bounced off the rim.
Despite the lopsided score, Pederson said the Grizzlies will still areas to improve in practice.
“It gives us confidence,” Pederson said. “There are a couple things to work on, like always. It wasn’t a perfect game.”
It was darn close.
About the only thing that didn’t go right for Glacier Peak was free throws. The Grizzlies missed four straight in the third quarter after Dreu Vader was fouled driving to the basket, and Snohomish was subsequently whistled for a technical foul.
“This is game one,” Hunter said. “We’d like to get better and play better in game two. We want to get better all season.
“…We’ve still got a long way to go.”
At Snohomish High School
Glacier Peak2222812—64
Snohomish6723—18
Glacier Peak—Ty Deckwa 3, Bobby Brooks 0, Ty Kjellesvik 8, Dreu Vader 7, Russell Anderson 2, Ramsey Rosales 14, Zach Pederson 18, Mitchl Pohrman 3, Trey Chambers 7, Nick Allan 2. Snohomish—Steele Morgan 0, Josh Baird 7, Jacob Hamlin 0, Russell Crippen 0, Josh Bauska 0, Josh Shogren 0, Tanner Arrington 4, Ty Carlson 0, Andrew Ivelia 1, Wyatt Harris 2, Sean McLaughlin 2, Collin Kane 2. 3-point goals—Rosales 3, Deckwa 1, Baird 1, Arrington 1. Records—Glacier Peak 1-0 overall. Snohomish 0-1.
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