TACOMA
The Lynnwood Royals’ season ended March 12. But instead of going out as overmatched weaklings, they generated some buzz in the Tacoma Dome.
After falling behind by 14 points in the second quarter, the Lynnwood High School boys basketball team engineered a stunning rally, outscoring the Foster Bulldogs 18-2 to start the third quarter. Lynnwood eventually fell in the loser-out, consolation game, 58-48, at the Class 3A state championships, but Royals salvaged some pride by roaring back.
Asked what he told his team at halftime, first-year Lynnwood head coach Darrell McNeal said, “We put ourselves in a hole and we’ve got to find out what you’re all about. Are we going to play like men and champions? Or are we just going to roll over and die?”
Sparked by an effective half-court trap, Lynnwood (14-14) started the second half on a major roll, turning a 12-point deficit into a four-point advantage. The Royals played great defense, forced turnovers and created transition baskets. They outscored Foster 18-7 in the third period, led by senior forward Aaron Matzen (nine points in the quarter).
“That’s one of the best feelings in basketball, when you’re making a big run. Especially when you’re coming from behind and the crowd is into it,” said Matzen, who scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Jared Bryant’s steal and fast-break layin put Lynnwood on top 35-31 with 3 minutes, 13 seconds to go in the third quarter. But after that Foster (17-8), ranked 10th by the Tacoma News Tribune, outscored Lynnwood 27-13.
Foster guard Refugio Soto-Lopez (21 points, five 3-pointers) and teammate JJ Smith, a forward, combined to make four 3-pointers during a pivotal stretch in the fourth quarter.
“Unfortunately, they were able to hit some 3s that kind of deflated us,” coach McNeal said.
Lynnwood’s final lead was 41-39. It came with 6:10 to go in the game when Geoff Meinken swished a short jump shot.
In addition to Matzen, Lynnwood’s top performers were Meinken (nine points, five rebounds, three steals) and junior post Simi Fajemisin (eight rebounds, seven points).
Matzen and Meinken are among 11 seniors on Lynnwood’s roster. Fajemisin, a 6-foot-9 post, is the only non-senior. The best memory from this season, said Matzen, was “getting to state in the last year of the old school. Nobody expected us to be here, except for us.”
Lynnwood High’s new campus opens next fall.
Mike Cane writes for The Herald in Everett.
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