After OT loss, M-P plays at state at Tacoma Dome Wednesday morning

By Steve Powell

spowell@marysvilleglobe.com

Cameron Stordahl scored 25 points to lead Marysville-Pilchuck to a 63-48 win over Central Kitsap Wednesday morning at the 3A Hardwood Classic at the Tacoma Dome.

Stordahl hit on 9 of 18 shots, including 3 of 7 three-pointers. Aaron Kalab added 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Luke Dobler scored 10 and added 7 assists.

Ethan Jackson led the rebounding with 7.

M-P had a huge 35-22 advantage on the boards, and also shot much better from the field, 23 of 50 for 46% compared with 15 of 44 for 34%.

No. 3 M-P, 22-3, jumped out to a 16-4 first-quarter lead as the No. 14 Cougars, 18-9, had trouble scoring against the Tommies tough defense.

Both teams struggled from the field in the second period, as CK outscored M-P 12-8 to trail 24-16 at halftime. M-P regained its dominance in the third quarter with a 19-12 advantage, expanding its lead to 43-28. The teams played even in the final quarter, with both teams scoring 20 points.

M-P qualified for that game by losing in overtime to No. 6 Kamiakin in the first state round at Shoreline last Saturday 81-71.

M-P stuck to a man-to-man defense the entire game, but couldn’t find an answer for Braves power forward Kyson Rose, who is 6-foot-9. Jackson, who is 6-6, and Kalab, who is 6-1, both fouled out trying to, and their loss certainly was felt in overtime, when the Tommies were outscored 15-5.

In the first quarter, it didn’t look like the Tomahawks would be in it at all as Kamiakin scored 11 straight. Turnovers and forced shots led to M-P trailing 20-8 after the first quarter. But the Tommies started sacrificing their bodies in the second quarter as three charging fouls on defense sparked the offense to close it to 32-29 at intermission.

Brady Phelps drove in for two, Kalab scored after grabbing an offensive rebound, and Jackson passed to Phelps for another hoop. Stordahl twice drove to the basket to score. Dobler hit two 3’s, Jackson hit another one then assisted to Stordahl on a backdoor move to highlight the run.

Stordahl hit a 3 early in the third as M-P tied it for the first time at 32-32. Dobler hit a 3 to give M-P its first lead at 35-34. Midway through the period Phelps dove for a loose ball and passed behind his back to Stordahl, who completed the three-point play. The teams exchanged baskets from there, as M-P took a 52-50 lead after three quarters.

With Kalab and Dobler in foul trouble Kamiakin went up 62-55 midway through the fourth when Steven Westermeyer stole the ball and went in for a dunk.

But Kalab returned and scored twice and Dobler scored with an assist from Jackson. After Jackson fouled out, Dobler hit three free throws with 8.5 seconds left to tie it at 66-66 and send it into an extra session.

But Kalab fouled out early, on and M-P could only manage two free throws and a 3 by Dobler to end the game.

Rose finished with 33. Trey Arland added 17, Messiah Jones 15 and Westermeyer 10.

Dobler led M-P with 27. Stordahl had 17 and Kalab 15 and 10 rebounds.