TACOMA — The Meadowdale boys basketball team faced a formidable challenge in last week’s quarterfinal matchup with Clarkston.
Josh Heytvelt, the Bantams’ center, came into the Class 3A state tournament averaging 22 points per game and had scored 27 points to lead Clarkston past Bellingham in a first round game.
The Mavericks were up to the challenge as they limited the Gonzaga-bound Heytvelt to only 11 points en route to a 48-34 victory March 3 at the Tacoma Dome.
“Colin Matteson put together about as good a defensive performance as I’ve ever seen on a big guy like that,” Meadowdale coach Chad McGuire said. “All of the big guys did. I think the key was we had some big bodies to go in there and we needed them because we got into a little bit of foul trouble.”
Junior Danny Hagen and senior Daniel Stabbert also took turns shadowing the 6-foot-10 Heytvelt.
“They were very effective and they forced him into tough shots,” McGuire said. “We got good ball pressure as well. When the guards are putting pressure on like that, it’s hard to make a pass to the post … it was a team effort defensively.”
After taking an 11-7 lead in the first quarter, Meadowdale outscored Clarkston 13-2 in the second period, holding the Bantams to only a pair of free throws.
On the offensive side, junior guard Jake Linton led all scorers with 17 points. Matteson added 12.
Matteson didn’t back down even though he was giving up three inches to Heytvelt.
“We can’t just let him push us around,” Matteson said. We needed to let him know that we were there … we’re going to play just as physical as they are. I thought it was a good game by both teams.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
