EDMONDS — Was it payback for a loss to Edmonds-Woodway earlier this season? Or was it just a very good Glacier Peak girls basketball team clicking on all cylinders with the district tournament only a few days away?
Whatever it was, the Grizzlies were simply too much for Edmonds-Woodway on Monday night, rolling past the host Warriors 63-31 in a Western Conference 3A South game that was close for barely more than a minute.
“I thought we played really well,” said Glacier Peak coach Brian Hill. “You want to be playing your best ball at the end of the year, and when it comes down to it are we playing our best ball right now? I think we are. We’re playing the best basketball we have all year right now, but I also hope there’s still more to come.”
Glacier Peak took command from the opening tip, scoring three quick field goals in the space of 66 seconds, and before Edmonds-Woodway even got a good look at the basket. The Warriors were still within five points with 21/2 minutes to play in the first quarter, but the Grizzlies led 17-8 at the end of the period and then broke the game wide open over the next eight minutes.
After spotting Edmonds-Woodway the first two points of the second quarter, Glacier Peak went on a 23-1 scoring run. The Grizzlies sank three 3-pointers in the period, had three fast-break layins, and scored three other layins in the regular offense.
The Warriors, meanwhile, had just two field goals in the first quarter and none in the second quarter to trail 40-11 at halftime.
“Our defense was fantastic in the first half,” Hill said. “To hold a team to 11 points in a half is pretty remarkable, and especially a (good) team like that. … It seemed like we were just floating on air, we were moving so fast. It was really nice to see.”
The lead reached a high of 35 points twice in the third quarter and once again early in the fourth quarter. Substitutes for both teams played out the game’s final minutes.
Hill almost seemed at a loss to explain his team’s inspired play. But he believes a four-point loss to the Warriors in mid-January _ one of just two defeats for Glacier Peak this season _ was probably “a factor in just having (the players) more mentally prepared. We knew Edmonds-Woodway is a really good team, and we just wanted to make sure we were playing our best defense because I don’t think our defense against them last time was as good as it could’ve been.”
Monday’s win follows a 61-49 victory over Lynnwood last Friday, and confirms that the Grizzlies are indeed postseason ready.
“We’re playing our best team ball right now, so hopefully it just keeps getting better,” said guard/center Kianna Garner, one of just two seniors on the Glacier Peak roster. “We’re finding each other with the extra pass on offense, and we’re always helping each other on defense.”
With the victory in its regular-season finale, Glacier Peak clinches the No. 2 berth from the Wesco South into the upcoming district tournament. The Grizzlies will play either Ferndale or Stanwood later in the week, depending on the outcome of Ferndale’s game with Burlington-Edison tonight.
If Ferndale loses its game, Glacier Peak will travel to Ferndale for its district opener. If the Golden Eagles win, Glacier Peak will play at Stanwood.
Sophomore guard Sammy Fatkin and junior guard Natalie Rasmussen shared the scoring honors with 16 points apiece for Glacier Peak. Senior guard/post Sadie Mensing added 12 points.
Edmonds-Woodway, which was led by the 11 points of sophomore guard/forward Missy Peterson, will finish as the No. 3 seed from the Wesco South.
The Warriors are in the opposite position of Glacier Peak in terms of their first district opponent. If Ferndale wins against Burlington-Edison, Edmonds-Woodway will play at Ferndale. If Ferndale loses, the Warriors will travel to Stanwood.
At Edmonds-Woodway H.S.
Glacier Peak 17 23 12 11 _ 63
Edmonds-Wood. 8 3 9 11 _ 31
Glacier Peak_Paisley Johnson 8, Sammy Fatkin 16, Sadie Mensing 12, Kayla Watkins 5, Natalie Rasmussen 16, Maya McFadden 0, Charlie Sevenants 0, Sierra Nash 0, Kianna Garner 6.
Edmonds-Woodway_Kate Wooley 2, Allie Browning 2, Mady Burdett 6, Marivel Ortega 0, Natalie Kasper 2, Kendra Cooper 0, Claire Fyfe 0, Moni Jackson 7, Lea Bakken 1, Missy Peterson 11.
3-point goals_Paisley Johnson 1, Sammy Fatkin 4, Natalie Rasmussen 3, Missy Peterson 1.
Records_Glacier Peak is 10-2 in league, 18-2 overall. Edmonds-Woodway is 9-3, 16-4.
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