TACOMA – A lopsided loss to Bishop Blanchet in the state quarterfinals left the Arlington girls basketball team with something to prove.
A day after suffering through a 67-44 loss to to the Braves, the Eagles bounced back with a 59-56 victory over Wilson in a 3A state loser-out game Friday morning at the Tacoma Dome.
Arlington moves on to face West Seattle in the fourth/sixth-place game at 8 a.m. Saturday.
“It was just a phenomenal job and you see the confidence,” Arlington head coach Joe Marsh said. “We finally played Arlington basketball. That’s what we talked about: just to redeem ourselves.”
After trailing early, Arlington used a 10-0 run in the third quarter to overtake the Rams. Wilson battled back in the final quarter and kept things close, pulling to within three points in the final minute of the game.
It took a big play by the Eagles’ smallest player to preserve the win.
Serafina Balderas – who, at 5-foot, was the shortest player listed on either roster – grabbed a key rebound with about four seconds to play. The Rams swarmed her and forced a jump ball, but the possession arrow favored the Eagles.
“Huge. She just went up and got it,” Marsh said of Balderas. “That’s a huge rebound. All year our depth has been one of our strengths. Fina comes in, and hasn’t played a lot in the game, and just makes a great play at the end.”
Wilson intercepted the ensuing inbounds pass but a 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
Arlington was able to rebound from its tough loss with, well, rebounds. Bishop Blanchet had a 60-36 advantage on the boards Thursday, but it was the Eagles who out-rebounded Wilson 45-40 on Friday.
Arlington was able to rebound from its tough loss with, well, rebounds. Bishop Blanchet had a 60-36 advantage on the boards Thursday, but it was the Eagles who out-rebounded Wilson 45-40 on Friday.
“We were worried about rebounding today,” Marsh said. “That was one of our focuses because we got killed on the boards (against Bishop Blanchet). We just came out and did our job.”
Gracie Castaneda led Arlington (23-4) with 18 points and nine rebounds. Marsh challenged the junior to get more involved in the Eagles’ offense and Castaneda responded.
“I had a conversation with Gracie all year about being more aggressive offensively,” Marsh said. “(Thursday), I said, ‘We need more of you.’ … She has so many skills and she’s so athletic. She stepped up in big moments (Friday).”
Jayla Russ posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds and Jessica Ludwig added 16 points for the Eagles.
“We challenged Jayla with rebounding,” Marsh said. “We just needed Jayla’s presence in the middle today and she did a great job. She just made a decision in her mind that she was going to go get rebounds today and she did a great job.”
Arlington did suffer one loss in the game, with starting point guard Emma Janousek leaving the floor after she collided with a Wilson player early in the game. Janousek injured her wrist on the play and Marsh dubbed her “questionable” for Saturday’s season finale.
Kapri Morrow had 19 points to lead Wilson (21-6), which before its state-opening loss to Cleveland on Thursday hadn’t lost since Jan. 19. It’s the first time the Rams have suffered back-to-back defeats all season.
The victory against Wilson means the Eagles will be bringing a trophy back to Arlington High School a year after going 0-2 at the state tournament. The Eagles, who finished second in the Class 4A tournament two seasons ago, face No. 2-ranked West Seattle in the fourth/sixth-place game. The Wildcats lost to Lynnwood 60-36 on Thursday and defeated Prairie 54-45 Friday morning.
“This was a big one,” Marsh said. “If you go two-and-out two years in a row, it’s going to be tough. Our first goal is to come here and win a state championship. (Thursday), that goes away. So now it’s time to get a trophy and that’s what we did today. (Saturday) we’re just going to come in like we did (against Wilson). We know we can do it. We played a really good Wilson team so we know we can play with any of these teams if we play the way we’re capable of.”
At the Tacoma Dome
Wilson 13 18 9 16 – 56
Arlington 12 12 21 14 – 59
Wilson—Josie Matz 16, Alaunda Alford 0, Kiara Knox 7, Kiara McMillan 0, Kapri Morrow 19, Amanda Darden 10, Aujanique Doss 0, Erica Hamlin 4, Jalani Palu-Thompson 0, Aliyah Williams 0, Desiree Ayler 0, Khaliyah Haris 0. Arlington—Gracie Castaneda 18, Serafina Balderas 3, Sarah Shortt 3, Sevi Bielser 2, Brittany Denike 0, Olivia Larson 5, Emma Janousek 0, Jessica Ludwig 16, Jayla Russ 12, Peyton Brown 0. 3-point goals—Matz 1, Morrow 4, Darden 2, Castaneda 2, Balderas 1. Records—Wilson 21-6 overall. Arlington 23-4.
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