LAKE STEVENS — A few Strong moves on Tuesday night sent the Lake Stevens boys basketball team into the postseason.
Jacob Strong poured in 27 points — including nine free throws during the Vikings’ string of 19 straight from the line in the second half — in Tuesday night’s 61-59 victory over Stanwood. Lake Stevens improved to 9-4 in the Western Conference North Division and 12-5 overall while claiming its first district playoff berth since 1999.
"It’s a great feeling," said Strong, who made four of the Vikings 16 straight fourth-quarter free throws and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. "All of guys put in so much work in the offseason."
Despite Lake Stevens’ free throw clinic, Stanwood stayed close until the end. The Spartans, who had their three leading scorers on the bench in the closing seconds, got off a potential game-winning three-point shot just before time expired.
"I thought it was going in," said Strong of Stanwood post Chris Welk’s attempt. "It was on line."
Stanwood starting guard Chris Sains (11.3 points per game) missed the contest with a sprained ankle. Todd Hinderman (10.3) fouled out with 6 minutes, 27 seconds remaining in the game. Daes Kaufman (19.0) picked up his fifth foul and a ticket to the bench with 15 seconds to go. With those three out, Stanwood had 81 percent of its scoring watching the finish.
Kaufman scored a team-high 25 points and guard Chris Cayford filled in for Sains ably by scoring 18.
Stanwood coach Nate DuChesne was more concerned with Lake Stevens’ game-long dominance inside than the last few seconds. The Vikings made 23 of 27 free throws while the Spartans went to the line only nine times, including Cayford’s five-of-seven shooting from the line. Strong, a center, and forwards Tyler Long (11 points, five rebounds) and Bobby Bernethy (five points, five rebounds) combined for 43 points and 16 rebounds. Stanwood’s three post players combined for 12 points and 10 rebounds, including Chris Boser’s eight points and game-high seven rebounds.
"I haven’t seen a team put a team to the line so easily," said Stanwood coach Nate DuChesne, whose team fell to 8-5, 10-7. "We really made some silly fouls out there, and Lake made us pay for it."
The Spartans took a 51-45 lead when Rich Abrams made a layup with 5:34 remaining in the game. Stanwood missed its next four shots while the Vikings connected on 11 consecutive free throws — including three when Matt Stevens was fouled on a 3-point shot attempt — to take a 56-51 lead with 2:34 to go.
Kaufman and Cayford each hit a 3 for a 57-56 Stanwood lead, but a Long layup and two Greg Hendrickson free throws put the Vikings up by three. Welk’s layup pulled Stanwood within a point before Hendrickson split a pair of free throws to set up Stanwood’s last chance.
Despite the loss, Stanwood clinched a tie for fifth place in the division. The North’s fifth-place team will play the No. 4 team from the South Division for the district’s final berth. The Spartans could clinch fourth place and a district spot with one victory in their final three games.
Kaufman scored 14 of his team’s 24 first half points. Strong countered with 12, combining with Long for 21 of the Vikings’ 30 points prior to halftime.
Stanwood—Cayford 18, Abrams 4, Boser 8, Welk 4, Kaufman 25. Lake Stevens—Roe 3, Hendrickson 7, Bernethy 5, Stevens 8, Long 11, Strong 27. 3-point goals—Cayford 1, Kaufman 4, Bernethy 1, Stevens 1. JV score—Lake Stevens 44, Stanwood 41. Records—Stanwood 8-5 in division, 10-7 overall. Lake Stevens 9-4, 12-5. |
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