Bayhawks Eliminate Tomahawks from 2A District Tourney

The Bellingham Bayhawks got 28 points from senior forward Joe Harward, in a 66-59 win over Marysville-Pilchuck, in the play-in game of the 2A Boys District 1 Tournament.

The #8 seed Bayhawks move into the tournament’s official first round, with a game at #1 seed, Lynden, Wednesday, at 600pm. 

The Tomahawks (5-16) were not at full strength when the two teams met in early December, when the Bayhawks handed them a 71-24 defeat.  This time, they were at full strength, and despite their record which is a schedule built against 3A teams in the Wesco North, they put up much more of a fight.

Three-point shots kept the Tomahawks close in the first half as they hit seven as a team.  It wasn’t that the Tomahawks were that deadly from the outside, but they were able to chase down some long rebounds for second and third opportunities. 

Harward still scored mostly at will, despite the constant box-and-one defense employed by the Tomahawks. 

The Bayhawks opened up a 27-18 lead in the middle of the second quarter, but the Tomahawks went on a 10-2 run to get within a point.  Sophomore guard Emmett Vanhouten hit a 3-point shot with five seconds left in the half to give the Bayhawks a 32-28 lead at halftime.

The Tomahawks kept the pressure on in the third quarter, mainly behind the scoring of sophomore guard, Michael Smathers.  Smathers scored 12 of the Tomahawks first 14 points of the third quarter, using drives to the hoop and transition scores to keep his team close.  The Tomahawks took a 41-40 lead late in the third quarter before the Bayhawks closed the quarter with a two-point lead.

Smathers last bucket on his 29-point night was a pull-up 3-pointer from the top of the key, on a one-on-nobody fast break.  That brought the Tomahawks to within a point of the Bayhawks, 52-51, with 6:50 left.  Smathers fouled out with five minutes to play with the Bayhawks leading 57-51.

Senior forward Barrett Johnson has an efficient and steady game for the Bayhawks, using the offensive glass several times to score 16 points on the night, with 11 coming in the second half.  Harward scored steadily all game, with 15 of his 28 in the second half. 

The outcome was not secured until the final minute when the Bayhawks increased their lead to ten points.  That was after the Tomahawks closed to within six points with 1:36 to play. 

Junior guard Calvin Van Hofwegen scored only six points, but that was on two 3-point shots close together in the second quarter.  The Bayhawks also got two key 3-point shots by senior reserve guard, Cyrus Campos, the second of which gave the Bayhawks an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The win sends the Bayhawks to Lynden (15-6) on Wednesday.  The Lions beat the Bayhawks 60-49 in their regular season matchup. 

~ Ted House