The Mount Vernon Bulldogs overcame an early 13-0 deficit, but could not fully overcome the Arlington Eagles, losing 59-56 in a 3A district semifinal game, Tuesday, at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
The win sends the Eagles to state, and to the district title game, Saturday against Wesco champion, Mountlake Terrace.
The Eagles used the first four minutes to score the first 13 points of the game on a combination of missed shots and turnovers by the Bulldogs. Most of which ended up in transition points for the Eagles.
Enter Baron Dorsey.
The 5-8 junior guard came off the bench to scored the first points for the Bulldogs. It was a 3-pointer with 3:30 left in the first quarter.
That shot ignited the Bulldogs offense, and senior guard Quinn Swanson was next to score on a patented hard drive to the hoop. That was followed by a 3-pointer from junior guard Michael Johnson, and the Bulldogs were back in it, 13-8.
Moises Lucatero took a feed from Xavier Neyens and converted a 3-point play, and the Bulldogs trailed only 16-13 at the end of the quarter.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 21-21 on a steal and lay in by Michael Johnson in the middle of the second quarter. Then Dorsey began a one-man show, hitting two 3-pointers and scoring eight straight points for the Bulldogs, forging a four-point lead. The Bulldogs settled for a 32-30 lead at halftime.
The second half had more tie’s than the Men’s Warehouse, and plenty of lead changes, as well.
The Bulldogs kept the two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but three 3-pointers in the quarter by the Eagles, spelled doom.
After Michael Johnson got a bucket on a crowded drive to the hoop for a 52-51 lead for the Bulldogs, Jackson Trotter gave the Eagles the lead on a 3-point shot, 54-52.
After a turnover by the Bulldogs and a missed shot by the Eagles, senior post Lucas Johnson tied the game on a pass from Swanson with 1:45 left.
Jake Willis answered for the Eagles, stroking a three from the corner with 1:05 to go. Then Neyens scored on a drive with 42 seconds left, cutting the Eagles lead to 57-56.
Arlington milked the clock on their next possession, but in the key, Lucatero blocked a shot and came away with a steal for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs possession ended with multiple chances to score close to the hoop, but the rim would not oblige. The Eagles finally rebounded the ball with seven seconds left and called timeout in back court.
On the Eagles inbounds from the baseline, a receiver got loose on a full court pass and Leyton Martin converted a lay in, for a 3-point lead.
After the shot, the Bulldogs called timeout, and officials determined there to be 5.9 seconds remaining.
The Bulldogs quickly advanced the ball up the floor, but the Eagles played five defenders above the 3-point line, and Michael Johnson could not get off a clean shot at the buzzer.
Martin’s 18 points led the Eagles, who avenged a late December 18-point loss to the Bulldogs. Burly 6-6 junior post Billy Kooy added 16 points for the Eagles.
The Bulldogs were very balanced with nearly five players in double-figures. Dorsey led with 13, while Swanson and Lucatero added 11 each. Neyens finished with 10, and nine for Michael Johnson.
The Bulldogs will get a final chance at a state tournament berth. They will play a winner to state, loser out game, Saturday at 2pm, against Monroe (15-8), at MPHS. The Bearcats eliminated Shorewood, 57-48, on Tuesday.
~ Ted House
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