WesCo boys basketball roundup: Shortest player hits big shot in Mariner win

EVERETT — Wesley Clark reminded everyone in the building that the smallest player in the gym can still hit the game's biggest shot.

Clark, listed at 5 feet 6, tossed in a critical three-pointer in the fourth quarter to help Mariner prevail at home, 46-43 over Jackson in a WesCo South Division boys basketball game last night.

Clark's three couldn't have come at a better time. Jackson senior Johnie Kirton had cut the Marauders' lead to 40-38 over two minutes into the final period. And even with Kirton, a 6-foot-4 all-state football player charging at him, Clark let fly from the left wing with a hand in his face for the field goal with 4:07 on the clock.

"I was thinking I had better get the shot off quick, but I also had to keep my technique," said Clark, who finished with seven points.

It wasn't until Kirton missed a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer that Mariner (5-2 overall, 4-1 league) could breathe easy.

"To win the game we had to put out our best defensive effort," said Marauders coach Dexter Griffen, whose team won its fifth consecutive game.

Mariner limited every player for Jackson (4-3, 2-3) to single-digit scoring except for senior Corey Hall. Hall produced all but one of his game-high 23 points in the first three quarters.

"We couldn't get into our halfcourt sets and we didn't attack as well as we should have," Hall said.

The Timberwolves played nearly the entire first half without Kirton, who picked up his second foul at the 4:35 mark of the first quarter. But Kirton made a second-half impact with all six of his points, two steals, a block and an assist on a night when he could have traveled to the University of Oregon for an official football recruiting visit. Instead, Kirton left this morning for the Eugene school.

"He's a great athlete and there's a reason why he'll get a free education for football," said Jackson coach Steve Johnson. "He plays with reckless abandon and gets his hands on a lot of balls."

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, Kirton just missed the ball that may have counted the most — Clark's three.

Other games

Kamiak 69, at Shorecrest 52 — Steve Murphy led four Knights in double figures with 19 points as they overcame a triple-double by Chris Chase of Shorecrest in a WesCo South game. Chase, a 6-4 junior, had 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots for the Scots (0-8, 0-6). Gary Rogers added 15 points, Tyler Martinez 13 and Blake Coleman 10 for Kamiak (6-1, 4-1).

Meadowdale 77, at Everett 52 — Jake Linton scored 16 of his 25 points in the first quarter as the Mavericks, the state's sixth-ranked Class 3A team, took charge early. Kevin Myhre added 15 points and Colin Matteson 12 for Meadowdale (7-1, 6-0 WesCo South). Michael Hudson led Everett (3-4, 2-3) with 15 points.

At Mountlake Terrace 48, Edmonds-Woodway 44 — The Hawks (6-2, 4-2) held the Warriors (5-2, 3-2) to eight first-half points, then withstood a 25-point fourth quarter by E-W in the South Division. Michael Boxley had 11 points for Terrace. Josh Griffin's 18 points for Edmonds-Woodway led all scorers. Griffin and Huston Conti combined for 17 points in the final quarter to lead the Warriors' comeback bid.

Shorewood 83, at Lynnwood 53 — Rob Diederichs scored 18 of his 33 points in a big third quarter for the Thunderbirds (2-5, 1-4) as they got their first WesCo South win. Michael Stiles added 15 points for Shorewood, which led 34-25 at halftime. Maurice Baldwin had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Royals (1-7, 1-5).

Oak Harbor 51, at Cascade 48 — Oak Harbor led by nine points with 1:36 remaining in the WesCo North game, but Cascade rallied behind a three-pointer from Mike Matson and two put-back baskets by Andrew Peterson. Oak Harbor's Marc Ferguson hit back-to-back three pointers to end the game. Ferguson netted a game-high 24 points, hitting 4 of 6 shots from three-point range for the Wildcats (3-7, 2-4). Pettersen led three Cascade players in double figures with 17 points. Marcus Guffey added 15 for the Bruins (4-3, 1-2).

At Stanwood 69, Lake Stevens 66 — Daes Kaufman went 6 for 6 at the free-throw line in the final 1:30, and Chris Sains made 4 of 4 in the last 45 seconds as the Spartans (5-2, 3-0) beat the Vikings in a battle of teams with perfect WesCo North records. Lake Stevens (7-2, 4-1) hit a trio of three-pointers in the final minute to stay close. Kaufman, a junior point guard, scored 23 points. Todd Hinderman had 20 points and nine rebounds and Sains had 20 points, five assists and two steals for Stanwood. That trio scored all but six of the Spartans' points. Tyler Long and Matt Stevens each had 19 points for the Vikings.

At Snohomish 64, Marysville-Pilchuck 60 — Jon Brockman (23 points) and Darrel Martin (21) combined for 43 points as the Panthers (3-4, 3-1) held off the Tomahawks (2-7, 2-3) in a North Division game. Jared Stohl hit five three-pointers and scored 24 points for M-P.

Mount Vernon 59, at Monroe 53 — The Bulldogs finished with a 7-0 run in the final 50 seconds to wipe out a Bearcats lead in the WesCo North game. Shane Gibbons, who led Mount Vernon (6-2, 3-1) with 21 points, keyed the last-minute surge with a layup and free throw. The Bulldogs hit 8 of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter and were 19 of 29 for the game. Monroe was 8 of 10 at the free-throw line. Justin Burns added 20 points for Mount Vernon. Tyler Marley led Monroe (3-5, 1-4) with 15 points.