The Meridian girls and boys basketball teams went into Blaine and stole their first Northwest Conference victories from the Borderites on Friday night, Dec. 19.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, the Meridian girls used their suffocating pressure defense to hold the Borderites to 11 points in the final three quarters and run away with a 46-18 win.
“It was so much fun … for them to show a little of their potential and to see smiles on their faces,” said first-year Meridian coach Kayla Bernsen, whose team raised its record to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference. “It was enormous to put a win in the league column.”
The Meridian boys also notched their first league win but had to do it the hard way, coming from behind in the fourth quarter and needing a pair of steals in the final 30 seconds to earn a hard-fought 43-40 victory.
“We’re doing what we’ve done all year, trying to do the little things the right way,” said Meridian coach Shane Stacy, whose team improved to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the Northwest Conference. “The scoreboard just read a little differently (Friday).”
Girls: Trojans Shut Down Borderites, 46-18
With both teams looking to earn their first conference win, it looked like it might be a close one, especially after Blaine took a quick 6-2 lead and was only down by one after the first quarter. But that’s when Meridian put a fullcourt press on the inexperienced and short-handed Borderites, and the Trojans ran off 11 straight points.
“Defense is our identity,” said Bernsen. “We want to cause a lot of chaos and celebrate the defense.”
Already missing starting point guard Brietta Sandell to a serious injury, Blaine had trouble getting the ball upcourt against the quick-handed Trojans, managing only four field goals in the whole game and seven points after halftime.
And although it took a while — Meridian was held to two points over the first five and a half minutes and didn’t break into double figures until the second quarter — the Trojans’ offense finally started warming up.
Senior Taya Benson led the balanced attack with a dozen points and 10 rebounds, junior Sierra James had 9 points and 7 rebounds, sophomore Madyn Cline-Malarz had 8 points, and junior Maddy Swanson had 7 points.
“We did a great job in this game,” said Benson. “We ran our offense really well and played together as a team. It’s a confidence boost.”
Bernsen praised her senior leader for more than just her scoring: “That was an absolutely massive game for her. She is setting into her role as a serious offensive threat. She is such a fantastic leader for our team with her heart and integrity on and off the court and I’m so excited to see what she is able to do this year.”
Unfortunately for the Borderites, their offense was anything but balanced with only three players managing to score. Senior Aaliyah Bowman battled inside for 12 points and 4 rebounds, and junior Kate Koreski had 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals.
“We got outworked and outhustled,” said Blaine coach Sean Miller, whose team fell to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the NWC. “You could see Meridian’s confidence grow. They could see blood … and they fed off that.”
But the first-year coach only had praise for his hardworking senior forward: “Aaliyah is our engine. She’s our best player and the best leader. She stays positive, and I appreciate and respect that.”
While Bowman is in her third season on the varsity, she recognized the rebuilding job Blaine has done the past couple of years with many players getting their first taste of high school basketball.
“We haven’t built that chemistry yet; we’re still trying to find our footing,” she said. “A lot of the girls don’t have much experience. It’s hard work, and I don’t want to let my teammates down.”
For the Trojans, getting their first league win was a good first step in their quest to crack the top two at the Class 1A district tournament and earn a shot at going to the state tournament in Yakima’s SunDome.
“Our end goal is to get to the Dome,” said Benson. “All the teams in the district are great. I just wish three could go. If we continue to grow, I think we can get there.”
Her coach agreed. “It’s nice to get a little bit of confidence and show what we’re capable of,” said Bernsen. “In January, we’ll be in the thick of things. We want to build on the things we’re doing.”
The Borderites are in action again on Saturday, when they host Cascade (Everett). The Trojans are off until they host the Trojans Storm Winter Classic on Dec. 29-31.
Meridian 46, Blaine 18
Meridian 8 15 15 8—46
Blaine 7 4 6 1—18
Meridian: Krumdiak, Neal 3, Koning, Bernardy 4, Martin, Stogaard 2, Swanson 7, Noste 1, James 9, Cline-Malarz 8, Benson 12.
Blaine: Bring, Tanjuaquio, Puls1, Bowman 12, Dickson, Richards, Koreski 5.
Boys: Trojans Make Plays Down Stretch In 43-40 Win
Despite their winless record and with only a couple of players having played meaningful minutes for last year’s fourth-in-state squad, it was the Meridian boys who came up with the big plays in the tense final quarter Friday.
Blaine led by 10 early and by seven in the third quarter, but the Trojans rallied to take the lead for the first time with just under six minutes left. Then things got interesting with the lead bouncing back and forth until Blaine junior Gus Dickson sank two free throws to give the Borderites a 40-39 lead with just under two minutes remaining.
With 53 seconds left, junior Josiah Harris made two free throws to give Meridian back the lead. Thirty seconds later, Harris then came up with the first key steal. In the ensuing wild scramble, the Borderites stole the ball only to have Meridian junior Trey Alexander steal it back and get fouled.
Alexander hit both free throws with 16.7 seconds left, and the Borderites were only able to get off Dawson Dohner’s desperation 35-footer at the buzzer, which missed everything.
Meridian played pressure defense all over the court sometimes with a four-guard lineup that looked more like it should be in a 6-foot-and-under league. The Trojans only allowed one 3-pointer and somehow held their own against the taller Borderites.
“Blaine’s in the same position … trying to find their identity,” said Stacy of the two inexperienced squads. “The press is a good equalizer.”
“We’re trying to get turnovers, put on great pressure, get them out of control,” said Meridian junior Pierce Brzozowski, who led the offense with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Alexander, a junior, and sophomore Emmett Ashmore had 8 points each for the Trojans, and senior Daniel Larsen had 6 points and 5 rebounds. Brzozowski and Ashmore tossed in two 3-pointers each, and Alexander had all his points in the critical second half as well as 4 assists and 3 steals for the game.
Blaine’s own defense did its part — “We (only) gave up 43 points in a varsity ballgame; that’s a really good number,” said Blaine coach Chas Kok — but the offense only managed 17 points after halftime.
Senior Landon Melton had 11 points to lead Blaine, Dickson had 8 and 11 rebounds, and senior Daniel Banks had 7. But what hurt the most were the missed opportunities at the free throw line, where the Borderites only made seven of 21 attempts.
“We turned the ball over too much,” said Melton, who also had 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. “The first quarter went well, but we underestimated them and got punished. We need more energy and teamwork … that’s all it takes. And making free throws.”
The loss dropped the Borderites to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the NWC, and while Kok is always focusing on just the next game, he could also see the big picture — that all five of Whatcom County’s Class 1A teams qualify for the district tournament with the top two getting a shot at state.
“The guys are buying into what we’re trying to do and there’s some growth,” he said. “When you don’t get the result you want, you have to find positives in losing close ones. They gave a really good effort (Friday). We’re fortunate that we (the five 1A schools) all have a playoff game.”
Stacy saw the same big picture for his Trojans.
“There will be good moments ahead and challenging moments,” he said. “We’re playing for a little (playoff) window in February. We just want to keep working, and they (the Trojans) have every game.”
The two teams are off until after Christmas with the Borderites playing a non-league contest at Meadowdale on Dec. 27 and the Trojans playing three games in their own Trojans Storm Winter Classic on Dec. 29-31.
Meridian 43, Blaine 40
Meridian 6 15 9 13—43
Blaine 14 9 10 7—40
Meridian: Harris 4, Hayes, Webster, Alexander 8, Blankenburg, Galbraith 4, Ashmore 8, Brzozowski 10, Larsen 6, Burgess 3.
Blaine: Kerwin 4, Banks 7, Dahl 5, Dohner 5, Melton 11, Dickson 8.
