MARYSVILLE — Three teams from Marysville AAU Basketball captured their respective championships at the 2012 Wesco AAU Championship Tournament held March 2-4.
The 64-team tournament featured the top 16 teams in each of the four age groups in Wesco AAU.
Marysville’s fifth-, sixth- and eighth-grade teams each won a championship. The seventh-grade team was eliminated from the tournament after losing its first two games.
“This was a really great tournament for us,” said Matt Chism, director of Marysville AAU Basketball. “Winning three championships is very special.”
Chism pointed out that Marysville AAU Basketball had previously only won one championship in its history and now it is the only Wesco AAU program to ever win three age divisions in one year.
“In Wesco play our fifth-graders were undefeated with an overall record of 21-0. They were 17-0 in the regular season and then won four games in the tournament,” said Chism. “Our sixth- and eighth-graders both ended up with a record of 20-1, each going 16-1 in the regular season and winning four games in the championship tournament.”
“Our seventh-graders came into the tournament as the 15 seed,” he added.
The No. 1 seed Marysville fifth-grade team started the tournament with a 43-15 victory over Shorewood. That was followed by a 49-16 win over Snohomish. Next up was Jackson, which Marysville defeated 51-20. In the championship game, Marysville faced off against Stanwood and battled to a 43-38 victory to claim the first-place title.
The Marysville sixth-grade team, which was the No. 3 seed, started the tournament with a 45-23 victory over Mount Vernon. In the second game, Marysville battled to a 43-41 overtime victory over Meadowdale. Marysville then defeated Shorecrest 61-55 to move on to the championship game where they defeated Monroe 45-33 to claim the title.
The No. 15 seed Marysville seventh-grade team dropped its first two games falling to Meadowdale 56-42 and Monroe 50-40 to be eliminated from the tournament.
Marysville’s eighth-grade team, which entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, defeated Lake Stevens 71-53 in its first game of the tournament. Next up was Mountlake Terrace which fell 64-61 to Marysville. Marysville moved on to defeat Jackson 66-54 to earn a place in the championship game against Kamiak which they beat 64-62 to clinch the title.
“The results this year are very encouraging for where basketball overall in Marysville is headed,” said Chism.
Chism said that success was due to a number of things.
“I think this program has really been built on the commitment of this community and the commitment of this organization. We have really great coaches, we have great families, and these kids are so dedicated to what they are doing,” Chism said. “We also have both varsity coaches, from Marysville-Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell high schools, very involved in our program. They help out in so many ways.”
Chism said that Marysville AAU Basketball served as co-host of the tournament.
“Many people throughout the community volunteered to make this a very, very successful tournament and that’s all part of what we’re building,” Chism said. “Marysville is a baseball and football community, and our mission is to help grow the popularity of basketball in Marysville to get all the best athletes out participating in basketball, and to develop them to a very high level as players.”
