The Squalicum boys won four straight games to end the regular season, and a loss in any of them would have kept them out of the playoffs. So it was no surprise that in a loser-out game to open the Class 3A District 1 tournament, the Storm stunned Lynnwood, 66-52, Thursday night.
“We’ve been playing for our lives (the last three weeks),” said Squalicum coach Dave Dickson, whose team came into the tournament as the 10th and final seed. “But we’re having fun and enjoy that we get to keep playing.”
Squalicum (9-12) advances to the double-elimination phase of the tournament, starting with a road game Friday at Western Conference runner-up Arlington (14-5) to face the second-seeded Eagles. The game will be played at 5 p.m. … weather permitting.
Devante Powell led the Storm with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but Dickson said Powell’s defense on Royals’ star Jerry Boston keyed a great defensive performance by Squalicum.
“His stats were great,” said Dickson of Powell. “But he did a great job on the Boston kid holding him below his average. It was a great team effort defensively.”
Dedrick Mitchell added 14 and Noah Martin had 10 for the Storm, who needed everyone else to step up when their 6-foot-6 center and only starter over 6-foot-3, Leland Zender, was unable to play because of a high fever.
“Everyone else shouldered the load,” said Dickson. “I’m really proud of this team.”
The Storm held the Royals to 11 points in the third quarter to expand a two-point halftime lead to 10 going into the fourth and then kept control the rest of the way. Lynnwood, the seventh seed, finished its season at 8-12.
For updates on how our Whatcom County teams are doing in the 1B, 1A, 2A and 3A tournaments, be sure to check out www.whatcomhoops.com.
Squalicum 66, Lynnwood 52
Squalicum 19 11 19 17 — 66
Lynnwood 14 14 11 13 — 52
Squalicum: Brandon Cash, Spencer Lloyd 4, Wyatt Murphy-Kangas 4, Elliott Aslan 2, Noah Martin 10, Dedrick Mitchell 14, Devante Powell 23, Reed Richardson 3, Lincoln Hofer 6.
Lynnwood: Timmy Toing 2, Anthony Williams 3, Josh Siscer 10, Jaysen Acesta 12, Jason Francisco 2, Spergie 5, Jerry Boston 12, Newson, Jordan Glover 4, Andrew Bowers 2.
CLASS 3A DISTRICT 1 BOYS TOURNAMENT
First-round games (Thursday)
Squalicum 66, Lynnwood 52 (loser out)
Shorecrest 61, Meadowdale 46 (loser out)
Second-round games (Friday)
Squalicum (9-12) winner at Arlington (14-5), 5 p.m.
(Full schedule and bracket at nwcathletics.com)
Ferndale Girls Open Friday At Snohomish
If the weather holds, the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles (14-6) will open double-elimination play at Snohomish on Friday at 7 p.m. The Panthers (12-7) are seeded third after taking fourth in the Wesco.
The winner of Friday’s game will move into the semifinals against the winner of Friday’s contest between the Everett-Stanwood winner and second-seeded Shorecrest at Shorewood. The Ferndale-Snohomish loser will play in a loser-out game. Both games would be Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Ferndale placed sixth in the Northwest Conference and is led by its senior front court of Rylee Weg, Nicole Guessford and Kim Weden and the junior guard tandem of Aleah Washington and Brianna Byrnes.
CLASS 3A DISTRICT 1 GIRLS TOURNAMENT
First-round games (Thursday)
Stanwood 56, Everett 50 (loser out)
Meadowdale 77, Lynnwood 54 (loser out)
Second-round games (Friday)
Ferndale (14-6) at Snohomish (12-7), 7 p.m.
Starwood (11-9) at Shorecrest (17-2), 7 p.m.
Edmonds-Woodway (11-8) at Marysville-Getchell (14-4), 7 p.m.
Meadowdale (13-7) vs. Arlington (15-4), 6:30 p.m.
(Full schedule and bracket at nwcathletics.com)
Jim Carberry is a former Bellingham Herald sports editor and author of several books on Whatcom County prep basketball. Follow him on Twitter @whatcomhoops and visit the Whatcom Hoops Facebook page.
