The top-seeded, and three-time defending champion, Lynden Lions, advanced to the state quarterfinals with a convincing 70-50 win over the #8 seed Mark Morris Monarchs, Saturday at Mount Vernon High School.
The Lions took control early, building a 12-4 lead in the first 4:30 of the game, but the Monarchs closed to within 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.
The Lions lead quickly grew to 27-13 as they started the second quarter on a 12-0 run. The Monarchs whittled the lead to 30-22 at halftime, as seniors Dalton Stevens and Nathan Stephens scored all 11 Monarchs points in the quarter.
Leading 41-33 with under three minutes to go in the third quarter, and two starters in foul trouble, junior forward Spencer Adams hit back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by a 3-point play by senior forward Jack Stapleton. That was part of a 16-4 run by the Lions on their way to a 57-37 lead after three quarters.
Senior forward Brant Heppner scored from inside and outside for the Lions, tallying 23 points. Stapleton finished with 11 and junior forward Ty Jorgenson also scored 11 points as the Lions exhibited exceptional high-low passing. Adams also hit double-figures with ten points for the Lions.
Stevens finished with 19 for the Monarchs, while Stephens scored all 11 of his points in the first half.
The Monarchs now have a date with Sequim, a winner over Lindbergh on Friday. That game will be in the Yakima SunDome, on Wednesday, at 2:00pm.
The Lions quarterfinal game will be at 10:30am on Thursday against an opponent to be determined on Wednesday.
~ Ted House
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