1Th-Ranked Scots Earn `Just Dessert' Against Bellingham

The Shorecrest High School Scots relied on solid fundamentals to win the Western AA Conference boys basketball championship.

But come playoff time, the Scots call on their secret weapon:

Ice cream.

For last night's main course, the 10th-ranked Scots beat Bellingham 57-44 in a first-round game of the Northwest AA District tournament.

After the game, the Scots and their parents gathered at the home of senior Briar Branch-Moore for an ice-cream social.

The Scots have had an ice cream feed every season since Marv Morris took over as coach in 1992. Shorecrest is 3-0 in the games on the night of the ice cream bash.

Coincidence? Or just desserts for the Scots?

"Every time we have an ice cream feed, we win," junior Mike Nilson said. "I'm not sure if it's planned that way. But it wouldn't be much of an ice cream feed if we lost."

The Scots (18-4) will play Monroe in a winner-to-state semifinal Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

Shorecrest outscored Bellingham 16-6 in the final three minutes to break open a close game. The biggest lead for either team in the first three quarters was six points.

Nilson had 16 points and nine rebounds, both game-highs. Nilson, a 6-foot-4 guard, also had four steals, blocked two shots and came up with nearly every loose ball.

Seth Davis came off the bench to contribute 14 points and Chad Baransky added seven points and numerous assists for layins.

The Scots pass up more open 12-foot jumpers for better shots than probably any other team in the 206 area code.

"We were steady and unselfish on the floor, and we haven't been doing that in a while," Morris said. "I feel positive about the way we played tonight, but we definitely haven't peaked yet."

Shorecrest outrebounded Bellingham 23-15 and forced the Red Raiders into 12 turnovers. Caleb Jensen scored 14 for Bellingham (14-7), which plays Sehome in a loser-out game Tuesday.

"They consistently outrebounded us," Bellingham Coach Dave Dickson said. "That was the phase of the game where one team had a sizeable advantage."