MILL CREEK — When the Lake Stevens and Stanwood boys basketball teams clash it’s almost guaranteed to be a classic.
Throw in the added incentive of a district championship banner for the longtime division rivals and the excitement surges to mind-melting levels.
Continuing their history of intense high school battles, Lake Stevens and Stanwood needed overtime to settle things Saturday in the Class 4A District 1 boys basketball tournament championship game at Jackson High School.
In the end, Lake Stevens senior forward Shake Kaska (35 points, nine rebounds) was clutch in OT and helped launch the Vikings to a 74-71 victory over the Stanwood Spartans. Kaska scored nine points in the extra four-minute period, including five free throws in the final 30 seconds.
Stanwood had a chance to tie it but Kale Schmidt (20 points, four 3-pointers) did not release his 3-point shot from the right wing before the final buzzer blared.
Lake Stevens withstood an Incredible Hulk-like performance by Stanwood forward Zack Johnson (32 points, 22 rebounds).
The Western Conference North Division rivals had already qualified for the 4A state championships, which begin Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome. Lake Stevens (18-5) earned the district’s No. 1 seed by beating Stanwood (16-7), which is the district No. 2 seed. Lake Stevens, Stanwood and district No. 3 seed Jackson will find out their places in the state bracket at a draw meeting today in Renton.
The district title is Lake Stevens’ first since 1967. The Vikings are state-bound for the second consecutive season. Last year they placed eighth.
Featuring nine seniors, Lake Stevens lived up to its season team motto — “All In” — against Stanwood. Kaska was the scoring star, but other seniors like AJ Maw (10 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists) and Mike Schneider (12 points, 10 rebounds) came up big too.
“It’s a group that, from (player) one to 12, is all in,” Lake Stevens coach Mark Hein said. “They do everything they have to to win.”
Thanks to a stellar first quarter, Lake Stevens was on top 21-8. But Stanwood’s Schmidt and Johnson erupted in the second quarter and the Spartans cut the deficit to 38-34 by halftime. Stanwood took the lead early in the third quarter. After that it was back and forth all the way.
Johnson was a beast inside, powering his way to 21 points after the half.
“He was just the man out there,” Stanwood coach Zach Ward said. “It was pretty good to get the best two players in the league (Johnson and Kaska) battling out there.”
Stanwood, which had won 13 straight games, will make its first state appearance since 2002, star guard Ryan Appleby’s junior season.
Stanwood and Lake Stevens split their two-game division series this season. In the most recent battle before Saturday’s game, Stanwood prevailed 64-63 Jan. 19 on the Vikings’ home court.
The district title showdown was another thriller, as expected.
“We respect them a lot. Every time we play them we know it’s going to be a battle,” coach Hein said.
“Both teams, ever since AAU select in fifth grade (and) sixth grade — we’ve been battling all those guys,” said Kaska, who eclipsed the 1,000-point career scoring barrier on Saturday. “Tough games, always.”
Stanwood endured an especially tough loss but can’t wait to play at the state tournament again.
“I’m so happy to go (to Tacoma) on Wednesday that I don’t care (about the defeat),” coach Ward said. “Seeding doesn’t matter to me.”
At Jackson H.S.
Lake Stevens211791413—74
Stanwood826151210—71
Lake Stevens—Isaksen 7, Schneider 12, Hanson 8, Maw 10, Kaska 35, J. Dodge 2, Israel, Finley. Stanwood—Haugstad 10, Reinecke 3, Schmidt 20, Cook, Johnson 32, Schroyer, McCune 4, Taylor 2. 3-point goals—Isaksen 2, Kaska 3, Haugstad 3, Schmidt 4. Records—Lake Stevens 18-5. Stanwood 16-7.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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