SHORELINE — In the late seconds of regulation, the Mountlake Terrace boys basketball team needed a clutch 3-point shot to tie the score against Shorewood. And sophomore guard Joey Gardner delivered, dropping in a difficult 3-pointer from right of the key that eventually sent the game to overtime.
In the closing seconds of overtime, the Hawks needed another 3-pointer to get the game to a second OT. This time they were denied as junior wing Gabe Altenberger’s desperation 3-point try from the right baseline was blocked just as it left his hand.
The Hawks tracked down the loose ball, but there was no time to get up another shot before the final horn, and the result for Mountlake Terrace was a 52-49 Wesco 3A South loss, ending the team’s season.
“The last thing we talked about before we went on the court (before the game) was to leave everything out there,” said Hawks coach Nalin Sood. “And I think they did leave it on the court. So it’s disappointing, but not discouraging. And there’s a big difference between the two.”
A victory for the Hawks would have moved them to a play-in game against the No. 4 Wesco North team for the chance to advance to the upcoming district tournament. With Mountlake Terrace’s loss in the regular-season finale, Meadowdale now moves on to play the Wesco North No. 4.
After a slow start — Mountlake Terrace missed its first seven shots from the field, and 10 of its first 11 — the Hawks rallied to lead 20-16 at halftime. They still led 29-27 with just over a minute to play in the third quarter, but then came the most pivotal stretch of the game.
Shorewood ran off nine unanswered points in the final minute, including six points in the final 40 seconds. The string gave the T-birds a 36-29 lead heading to the final quarter, though Mountlake Terrace would not go away. Gardner’s 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining tied the score at 44-44 and led to OT.
Altenberger swished a 3-pointer early in overtime for a brief Mountlake Terrace lead, but from there Shorewood eased back in front. Sophomore wing Ian Kirk had the blocked shot at the end that preserved the T-birds’ victory.
Though the Hawks finished with a 6-14 record, “these guys worked,” Sood said. “They did everything our other teams have done. We just didn’t get enough victories to get into districts.”
At Shorewood H.S.
Mountlake Terrace 5 15 9 15 5 —49
Shorewood 9 7 20 8 8 —52
Mountlake Terrace—Daniel Johnson 5, Joey Gardner 7, Ali Shah 3, Gabe Altenberger 9, Derek Anyimah 9, Shimron Masih 8, Justin Hopkins 8. Shorewood—Jordan Muir-Keung 5, Jerren Johnson, Brandon Mar 11, Karson Gronvold 10, Kaimana Aki 0, Bryan Host, Raphael Diaz 0, Thomas Hundhausen 0, Bryan Spee, Ian Kirk 10, Callahan Gobel 10, Christian Evans, Sean Kirk 6. 3-point goals—Mountlake Terrace: Gardner 2, Shah 1, Altenberger 2; Shorewood: Mar 1, Gronvold 2, Gobel 1. Records—Mountlake Terrace 6-14 league, 4-8 overall. Shorewood 9-11, 7-5.
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