LYNDEN — In an epic Class 3A district championship game that featured 12 second-half lead changes and a string of clutch fourth-quarter shots from both teams, Meadowdale senior post Tyler Milam hit the most gigantic of them all.
The 6-foot-4 senior forward took a pass on the run from sophomore guard Jake Linton, confused two defenders and left the ball spinning on the rim for two seconds before it dropped, lifting the Mavericks to a wild 62-61 win over No. 1 seed Bellingham Feb. 26 at Lynden High School.
Milam was mobbed at midcourt, the maestro of a superb district championship run that resulted in Meadowdale’s first state berth in 25 years.
“It’s just an incredible feeling,” Milam said, as co-captain Chris Rohrbach hugged him. “The best feeling in the world.”
Milam single-handedly kept Meadowdale close, scoring 23 of his career-high 25 points in the second half after sitting out most of the second quarter with two fouls.
His heroics countered deft 3-point shooting and tough inside play by Bellingham senior Toby Seim, who scored 22 points, including 12 points on 3-pointers.
With everyone knowing the ball was going to Milam on the last play of the game with Meadowdale behind 61-60, Milam received a pass at the top of the key, passed to Linton on the right wing, and circled wide open to the hoop before hitting the game winner.
“That’s our bread and butter, a high screen and role to the hoop,” Milam said.
Bellingham’s Tim Sellereit, who hit the Red Raiders’ go-ahead 3-pointer with 25 seconds left, launched a shot from half court that bounced off the rim and brought a gasp from the Maverick faithful.
Meadowdale trailed 56-51 with four minutes to play, but Milam scored a free throw and a post up basket to cut the margin to 56-54.
The Mavericks spent a minute trying to tie the score, whipping the ball around the perimeter, but came up empty.
Then Bellingham’s Azubo Bearden hit a scoop shot to stretch the lead to 58-54 with two minutes left.
After Meadowdale’s Larod Lover, who was held scoreless, threw the ball away inside, Rohrbach bailed the Mavericks out with a steal that set up a Linton 3 that cut the lead to 58-57 with 1:30 left.
Lover redeemed himself on Meadowdale’s next defensive stance, stealing the ball and flipping it to a streaking Rohrbach, who charged to the lane, coaxed a floating layin and hit the ensuing lay-in.
Aaron Crabtree is a writer for The Herald in Everett.
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