Bulldogs In a Zone in OT Win Over Lynden

In my years of basketball experience, the 1-3-1 zone defense has been a bit of an anomaly.  It can completely shut down an offense, or can get you ten points behind in a hurry.  The Mount Vernon Bulldogs pulled off the former.  They used the 1-3-1 zone to perfection, gaining them a hard fought 58-54 overtime win over Lynden, Monday night in The Palace.

The Lions, year after year, are one of the best half-court offensive teams in the state.  They move the ball quickly from side to side, player to player.  They don’t hold the ball or waste the dribble.  However, against the Bulldogs zone on this night, it was a different story.

It starts at the point of the defense, which was usually occupied by 6-3 junior Reece Roberts, or 6-4 junior Charles Cook.  The lengthy top defender is crucial, as it makes the offence pick a side of the floor, and brings the offensive wings out farther than they want to be from the hoop to get passing angles.

One way to beat the 1-3-1 is to get the ball to the high post area, then look low or to the corners.  But the outstretched arms of the Bulldogs kept that from happening on a consistent basis. 

At the Bulldogs offensive end, they exploited their size advantage with 6-5 senior post Taran Hanjrah, and 6-7 sophomore Kingston Collins. 

Lynden has been going through some serious injuries this year, and are trying to get a couple big guys back into their rotation.  Spencer Adams, a 6-6 senior, returned from a shoulder injury after missing three games.  He played his normal minutes and scored 12 points, but was limited in his physicality.  Ty Jorgenson, a 6-7 senior, played his first meaningful minutes of the season, starting each half and playing four minutes in each.  They also recently lost junior 6-7 forward Lewis Whitney to a broken hand.  He could return in early February.

A last second 3-pointer by Adams at the halftime buzzer bought the Lions to within 25-23 at halftime, and may have ignited the Lions offense at the start of the second half. 

Junior guard Malachi Koenen hit a 3-pointer to start the second half, and sophomore guard Jayden Navarre hit three 3-point shots early in the third quarter, as the Lions saw themselves with a 35-28 lead just three minutes into the second half.

But the Bulldogs chipped away behind Collins 10-point quarter, and led 40-39, headed into the fourth.

The Bulldogs seized momentum in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, and after back to back buckets by Hanjrah, the Bulldogs led 49-39 with five minutes to play.

Then, it was the Lions turn to have their best offensive sequence of the night, and when junior guard Gordy Bedlington nailed a 3-pointer, the Lions led 50-49 with 2:39 left.

Bedlington added a free throw at the 1:46 mark, then Hanjrah tied the game at 51-51 with 40 seconds left.

Against the 1-3-1, the Lions were pushed to the end of the shot clock, and a desperation shot by Adams missed everything, ending in a shot clock violation.  A single second made a big difference, as Koenen was there to guide in the miss, but came after the buzzer.

The Bulldogs had seven seconds to win it in regulation.  After a near steal by Lions sophomore Markus Koenen, it opened up the Bulldogs for a clear shot at the win, but the shot missed, sending the game to overtime.

The first score of the OT came on a drive to the hoop by junior guard Connor Swanson with 2:10 left.  The Lions tied the game with 1:45 to go on an inside score by 6-0 senior guard Brody Price.

After a Bulldog turnover, the Lions gave the ball right back as senior guard Kaden Solok scored on a break away after a steal, and the Bulldogs led by two, 55-53, with a minute left.

After another turnover by the Lions, the Bulldogs worked the clock, then were able to rebound their own miss with 35 seconds left.  The Lions were then forced to foul.  Three Bulldogs went 1-2 at the free throw line in the final seconds, which gave the Lions a chance, but they could only muster one free throw on offense.  A final free throw by junior guard Evan Vinal gave the Bulldogs a four-point lead with 13 seconds left, and the Lions could not get closer.

The Bulldogs (2-2/5-4) using the posts is nothing new this year, and they took advantage.  Hanjrah scored 14 points on the night, and Collins also added 14, with ten of those coming in the third quarter.  Sokol added a dozen for the Bulldogs.

Navarre led the Lions (3-2/6-5) with 16 points, with 15 of those in the second half.  Adams finished with 12, but only two after halftime. 

The Lions return home for a matchup with Sedro-Woolley on Wednesday, then play at Bellingham on Saturday.  The Bulldogs host 3A rival Ferndale on Thursday, and play at Anacortes on Saturday.

~ Ted House