Mavs claim district hoops title

MOUNT VERNON — Sehome coach Colin Cushman has no doubt about it. The Meadowdale girls basketball team is the best he has seen. This comes from a man who’s traveled the state, videotaping opponents.

Cushman caught the act live Feb. 28 as the Mavericks dismantled Sehome 61-30 in the 3A Northwest District championship game played in front of a capacity crowd at the Mount Vernon High School gymnasium.

Meadowdale, the state’s No. 1-ranked team, has won three straight district championships and is returning to the state tournament for the ninth consecutive time. In the past eight state tournaments, the Mavericks are a combined 24-11. They won the state title in 2000 and have placed second, fourth or fifth five times.

“They were great,” Cushman said. “I’ve been throughout the state videotaping other teams, and Meadowdale is the best team. They are No. 1 in the state and if you don’t bring your ‘A’ game, it won’t be good.”

Senior forward Quinn Brewe scored 14 points and caused constant havoc for anyone wearing a Sehome jersey. The 6-foot-1 Brewe grabbed seven rebounds and made five steals and senior guard Anne Martin led all scorers with 15 points. More impressive was the Mavericks’ defense, which held Sehome’s top scorers, Megan Busch and Julie Oberleitner, to a combined 13 points. Not too shabby considering Busch entered the game No. 4 in tournament scoring with 15 a game and Oberleitner ranked 11th with 12 per contest.

“We really pride ourselves on our defense,” Mavericks guard Ashley Fenimore said. “That is definitely something we are very strong at. I just love playing for Meadowdale because we are always going to the state tournament.”

Fenimore finished with nine points, including a game-opening 3-pointer, which triggered a 12-4 first-quarter run. Meadowdale held Sehome to just two field goals and forced five of Sehome’s 20 turnovers in the first eight minutes. The Mariners went without a field goal for nearly three minutes to open the second quarter. By that time, the Mavericks had built a 20-6 lead.

“It has been one of our goals all season to win here and move on,” Brewe said. “This is exactly what we wanted, one last trip to state for the seniors. It’s nice the way this game went because a lot of people got to play.”

The Mavericks, who’ve won 13 straight games, all but finished off an already struggling Sehome team with a commanding 12-4 run in the final 3:57 in the second quarter. Brewe and Martin each scored nine points and Fenimore and freshman Marelle Moehrle chipped in five points apiece to give Meadowdale a 34-14 halftime lead. Moehrle ended with seven points.

“We played a great game overall,” Meadowdale coach Karen Blair said. “We got great efforts from everyone and our defense looked great. We’ve been a favorite for a long time, it’s no big deal. We just have to keep playing smart.”

Meadowdale shot 54 percent from the field and was 5-for-20 from the 3-point stripe. Sehome, which made three field goals in the second half, finished 7-for-20 from the field.

“The good thing is that we are going to be on the opposite side of the bracket at state as Meadowdale,” Cushman said. “Maybe we’ll get a second chance at them.” Chris Trujillo writes for The Herald in Everett.