Crusaders play Darrington tough for a half

SHORELINE

Shoreline Christian led Darrington 19-18 at the half of a Northwest A/2B contest Dec. 18, but Mike Parris and the Loggers dominated the second half to emerge with a 54-40 win.

Parris, a 6-foot, 1-inch center, scored 12 of his 16 points during the third quarter when Darrington recaptured the lead 32-26.

“He played with a lot of energy in that third quarter and turned it around there,” Darrington coach Jeff Bryson said.

Darrington built an 11-3 first quarter lead, but Shoreline Christian stormed back to take a one-point halftime lead after a 12-2 run.

“We struggled a bit,” Bryson said. “It didn’t quite all come together tonight.”

“I wasn’t happy,” Bryson said of how he felt at the half. “I thought they wanted it more than we did. They were kind of pushing us around inside. The second half we got to play.”

Shoreline Christian’s Weston Danhof, the long-armed 6-foot-2 center for the Crusaders guarded Parris, and helped hold him to two points in the first half.

“He did a great job taking away his strengths, getting close to the basket and elevating,” Shoreline Christian coach Adam Haulter said. “The second half we didn’t handle their pressure as well and Parris got loose and got going and that made it tough.”

Bryson agreed. “They had a great game plan,” Bryson said. “They defended us well. They handled our pressure.”

Darrington took the lead for good, 24-22 on a basket by Justin O’Dell and then Parris scored the Loggers’ next eight points.

“Darrington is so well-coached and so well-drilled in what they do,” Haulter said. “If you lose your poise they capitalize.”

In the fourth quarter, Parris had several blocks and forced the Crusaders to alter their shots while driving which slowed down the offense.

Shoreline Christian fell to 1-2 in the league and 2-6 overall. Darrington improved to 2-1 and 6-1.

“I think this team has two more gears in a five speed,” Bryson said. “We’re in third gear.”

The first half performance was a step forward for the Crusaders, Haulter said.

“We’re growing and getting better,” Haulter said, citing progressive improvement against top opponents, Riverside Christian, LaConner and Darrington. “We’ve improved each game.”