Home Teams Go 8-0 in Wednesday District Play

There were eight boys district tournament games played on Wednesday, and every home team won, which means every higher seed advanced. 

There were two teams on the wrong side of that.  Ferndale, the #10 seed, had their season end in a 70-67 loss at #7 Meadowdale in the 3A district tournament.  The Golden Eagles finish with a record of 8-13 on the season.

Mount Baker also had their season end, as they lost at Blaine, 60-43, in the 1A district play-in game.  The Borderites will take on Lynden Christian, Friday, at 730pm, at LCHS.

Back to 3A, where the #8 Mount Vernon Bulldogs (11-10) pulled away late to eliminate #9 Shorecrest (9-14), 69-62.  The Bulldogs trailed 52-48 early in the fourth quarter, before reeling off 15 straight points to take command.  They advance to play at #1 Edmonds-Woodway, Friday, at 7:00pm.

Also, in 3A, the Sedro-Woolley Cubs (17-4) knocked out Stanwood (5-17), 71-58. 

The Cubs took a 21-7 lead at the end of the first quarter by scoring the last 13 points of the period.  But they led by only three, 33-30, at halftime.  The difference was a 3-point buzzer-beater by senior forward Isaac Johnson.

The Spartans stayed close, trailing by three starting the fourth quarter, but the Cubs were able to distance themselves, and move on to the district quarterfinals.  They will play at #4 Shorewood (15-7), Friday, at 700pm. 

In the 2A boy’s tournament, #1 Lynden and #8 Bellingham proved that 2-pointers still matter.  The Bayhawks shot 59 percent inside the arc, but still lost to the Lions, 87-61.  That’s because the Lions shot 68 percent from close range.

Senior forward Joe Harward scored at will, consistently driving to the glass, hitting 16 of 20 shots from the field, scoring 38 points.  He scored the first 23 points of the second half for the Bayhawks, who as a team managed 26.

The Lions used 6-6 senior Spencer Adams in the middle of the Bayhawks zone defense, who either scored or dished for a score.  On the receiving end on most was 6-7 senior Ty Jorgenson, who tallied 21 points.  Adams totaled 25, and had nine of the Lions 29 assists on 36 shots made.

The Bayhawks (9-14) are still alive, and will play at #5 Burlington-Edison (14-7), Friday, in a consolation, loser out game.  The Tigers lost to Lakewood, 68-58 on Wednesday. 

Lynden (16-6) advances to the semifinals, where they will take on #5 Lakewood, Friday, at 730pm, at Mount Vernon High School.

The Cougars (14-6) took a 16-8 lead over the Tigers after one quarter, and were able to extend their lead to as much as 17 points.  The Tigers got to within eight points with 90 seconds left, and had two chances to get closer, but were denied.

#6 Archbishop Murphy was tied with #3 Sehome, 50-50, after three quarters, but went dry at the offensive end for nearly six minutes of the fourth quarter.  During that time, the Mariners ran off 17 straight points to put the game away.  The Mariners advance with a 73-56 win. 

The Wildcats (11-10) will host #7 Squalicum (9-11), Friday, at 700pm, in a consolation loser out game.  The Storm lost to #2 Anacortes, 62-59, in overtime.

In that game, Storm junior forward Orion Granberg-Kiddle scored with six seconds left to send the game to overtime.  The Seahawks recovered, and hung on for the 3-point win.

Anacortes (18-4) will play the 530pm semifinal game on Friday, at Mount Vernon High School, against Sehome (15-6). 

Friday’s semifinal winners advance to the district championship game, and are guaranteed a spot in the regional round of the state tournament. 

The 1A boys play their semifinal games on Friday.  Along with Blaine (5-17) at Lynden Christian (20-1), the other matchup is Nooksack Valley (8-13) at Meridian (6-14).  That game, along with their storied district tournament history, will tip off at 700pm.

~ Ted House