MARYSVILLE — The Marysville-Pilchuck girls basketball team had a rocky start to their season after losing the season opening game at home against Arlington High School on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
The Eagles pulled out a victory over the Tomahawks with a 56-31 non-league win, but the Tommies started out giving the 4A school a challenge.
For the first half of the game the Tomahawks kept the Eagles in check with strong offensive plays, scoring nearly as many times as their opponents. Top scorers for the evening included 6-foot tall junior forward and point guard Jenika Anglim, who made 11 points for the team. Charlee Pilon, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, scored eight points including one 3-pointer. Binta Bojang, a 5-foot-10 junior forward, scored six points and showed strength in defense.
“Binta Bojang was awesome defensively, she blocked out really well,” said M-P head coach Julie Martin.
The score was close going into halftime, with the Eagles maintaining a 24-19 lead. The second half sealed the deal for Arlington when they scored an additional 32 points, while M-P only managed 12 points.
“I’m just really excited that we get to play such great caliber teams like Arlington,” said Martin. “In the first half tonight we played really well and were very solid on defense.”
The Marysville-Pilchuck team is fairly young, with five returners and only one senior.
“Our juniors are really talking to the younger players and being good leaders,” said Martin. “We have a really great bunch of girls who work really well together. I was really proud of the way they worked together tonight.”
The Tomahawks played Snohomish, another 4A school, in an away game on Friday, Nov. 30, and lost the game 55-44. They led the game for the first half, but Snohomish outscored them in the second. M-P’s Abi Otto scored 15 points, while her teammate Amanda Kalab scored 14. The team played Bothell in an away game on Saturday, Dec. 1, and won their first game of the season with a 42-36 victory. Jordan Bengen scored 13 points, while Jenika Anglim scored 10 points.
They are set to play Lake Stevens in a non-league away game on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Their record is now 1-2 overall.
