MARYSVILLE — After an explosive start to the second half, it seemed like the Marysville-Pilchuck girls basketball team might get its first win of the season, ending a 12-game losing streak Jan 18.
The Tomahawks, ahead 16-15 going into the third quarter over Everett, extended its lead to 21-15, causing turnovers and another one of many 3-pointers by junior Oliva Lee.
But M-P, with only one senior, was stymied by its own inexperience, coach Taylor Stevens said.
“Being young and not being in those situations early,” was the cause of unraveling for M-P, he said. “I think [a win is] going to come. We just kind of get out of our rhythm, and we get nervous.”
Everett heated up and took a 26-25, but M-P took it back at the end of the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Lee, and free throws by sophomore Lilianne Fischer, making the score to 30-28.
But the fourth quarter was disastrous for M-P, as Everett continually got to the free-throw line, outscoring the Tommies 15-9 to win the game 43-39.
One of the stronger aspects of M-P’s game was its perimeter shooting. M-P freshman MacKensie Connelly led the Tommies with 14 points, and teammate Lee added 13. Both were able to sink shots from both sides of the paint.
“Connelly has been playing really well. She’s been sick the last couple of days, but coming back from the sickness shows the type of player she is,” Stevens said.
But M-P missed some clutch shots in the second half, he said. “We got a bunch of good looks, and it wasn’t falling,” he said. “And that’s the way it goes. Sometimes you got to hit shots, and we couldn’t find it tonight.”
Getting penetration inside was problematic as M-P’s tallest player is 5-foot-8. That made M-P’s scoring one-dimensional.
“We’re small, so trying to get the ball inside when you’re playing six feet and up is tough to score in there,” Stevens said.
“So it’s got to be smart, kicking out and getting easy ones, like offensive rebounds.”
Stevens said he sees potential with the team, and chemistry will eventually come as the girls gain experience.
“I think at times we show that we can play together, and there’s times when we’re trying to feel each other out — seeing who can do what at what time or situation,” Stevens said.
