ARLINGTON – Obviously inspired by the emotional pregame Coaches vs. Cancer event, the Arlington boys basketball team looked like it was going to run visiting Archbishop Murphy out of the gym Friday night, taking a 27 leading 27-17 after one period.
Just before halftime, the Eagles built up a 41-22 lead, and it looked like it could be a rout.
But the Wildcats cut the lead to 51-40 in the third, then cut it to 61-55 with 2:35 left in the game.
However, Arlington’s defense shut them out the rest of the way, and the Eagles went on an 11-0 run to win 72-55.
Josh Gutierrez scored 12 first-quarter points to lead the Eagles to their fast start. He hit a 3 to start the game, then scored again after a steal. Caden Smith his a 3 and also scored after a steal. Griffin Gardoski passed to Will Abram for a bucket and then Anthony Whitis connected with Gutierrez on an alley oop pass for 2 more. Gutierrez’s 3-point play put the Eagles up by 10.
In the second quarter, Whitis connected on a sweet back-door pass to Gardoski, Ethan Martin assisted to Michael Tsoukalas for 2 more, and when Abram followed up a missed shot with a rebound-slam-dunk at the same time it almost brought the house down. Abram also had two spectacular blocks that quarter. Gardoski scored a 3-point play as Arlington led 41-23 at intermission.
The Eagles were outscored 17-11 in the third quarter as the Wildcats decided not to challenge the 6-foot-8 Abram inside and instead starting hitting 3’s. Gardoski scored with an assist from Whitis, then on a dunk and Martin scored inside after a fastbreak to keep the Eagles in front.
Whitis stood out in the fourth quarter, scoring on a drive, a three-point play and passing to Smith on a backdoor play.
But ABM continued to battle back hitting 3’s, with lefty Mateo Trimble going 4-for-4 at one stretch in the last period. But the Eagle defense buckled down at the end for the win.
Girls wrestling
Arlington’s girls won their own Rumble wrestling tournament Saturday with 308 points, easily outdistancing second-place Chief Sealth with 136.
The Eagles boasted six individual champions. Their results:
100 pounds: Ana Gwordske placed third and Daniela Gonzalez seventh. 105: Janet Velez placed third and Trinity Chapman fifth.
110: Vivian Potong won this weight class and Taylor Chapman finished fifth. Potong won her matches 7-0, 7-0 and 3-1.
115: Mikayhla Kolbeck won this division with a bye, a pin in 1 minute 29 seconds and a 12-4 victory. 120: Tailer Cochran won this title with a bye, a 9-0 win and a pin in 1:25.
125: Kate Rosson was second and Rose Walthers fifth.
130: Hanna Crew did not place.
135: Zoe Pittson was fourth.
140: Kylie Hinds placed first with a bye, and pins in just 42 and 44 seconds.
145: Carla Galvan was fifth.
155: Enija Reed and Sabrina Cruz did not place.
170: Leah White placed second.
190: Malia Wayman placed first and Brianna Williams-Bales third. Wayman pinned all three opponents in 1:03, 1:07 and 4:44.
235: Alyson Ellingson was the champion with pins in 1:40 and 59 seconds and 22 seconds.
Girls basketball
Archbishop Murphy took a 14-6 first-period lead, and Arlington played them even from there, but fell 58-49 Friday.
Sierra Scheppele and Allison DeBerry scored 12 each to lead the way, followed by Hailey Hiatt with 6, Josie Stupey and Abbey Hassing with 4 each, Jordan Bartlow with 3 and with 2 apiece Abby Schwark, Jackie Stupey, Keira Marsh and Mollie Janousek.
MARYSVILLE
Boys wrestling
Marysville-Pilchuck placed third at its own Premier wrestling tournament Saturday.
Kentwood won with 255.5 points, the Tommies had 173 points and two individual champions.
For the Tomahawks, Tanner Lauzon was the champion at 120 pounds. Austin Davis placed second at 126 pounds.
At 132 pounds, Nick Cantu tied for third and teammate Iakov Bondar tied for fifth.
Isaiah Galindo was the champion at 145 pounds. At 152 pounds, Ahmad Humoud tied for fifth.
Mauro Bejar also tied for fifth at 160 pounds.
Tying for third place at 170 pounds was Cayden White.
At 195 pounds, tying for fifth was Ikaika Naweli.
And at 285 pounds, Jeff Roullier tied for third.
Boys basketball
The Marysville Getchell boys showed they can play with any team on any given night with a surprisingly easy 63-48 win over Edmonds-Woodway Friday.
The key to the victory was the Charger defense held E-W standout Mutdung Bol to just 13 points, far below his average. The Warriors fell to 8-5, 4-3 in Wesco 3A play.
MG, which improved to 7-7, 5-3 in league, was led by Malakhi Knights 30 points and 11 rebounds. Josiah Koellmer added 11. Other scoring: Caleb Koellmer 8, Lul William 6, Cole Norton 5 and Dylan Rice 3.
Marysville-Pilchuck ran away with its game Friday night, beating Cedarcrest 73-36.
Girls basketball
Kortney Crane scored nine of her 12 points in the third quarter, all on 3-pointers, as the Chargers topped Edmonds-Woodway Friday.
E-W led 28-19 at halftime, but Crane’s shooting helped MG (11-3, 5-3) to a 19-4 third-quarter advantage.
Sydney Norton added 13 points and Mikail Montez tacked on 12 for the Chargers.
Other scoring: Kiki Green 6, Brionna Palm and Alexus Atkins 2 each.
Also Friday, M-P only scored 3 points in the second half, losing to Cedarcrest 55-16.
Miriah Summers scored 10, while Alex Grimm and Madyson Baxter tallied 3 each.
LAKEWOOD
Girls basketball
The Cougars fell to Nooksack Valley Saturday 65-43. Myriam Frechilla scored 17 and Riley Molloy 10 for the Cougs. Other scoring: Jasmine Graham 6, Malia Ryden 5, Jadeyn Graham 3 and Malia Schroeder 2.
Boys basketball
Lakewood registered 22 assists and Alex Jensen scored a team high 18 points as the Cougars beat Friday Harbor Saturday 60-42. The Cougars are now 11-3 on the year, 6-1 in the Northwest Conference.
