Tomahawks' season ends to Stanwood

MILL CREEK — The Tomahawk boys basketball season has ended.

Senior Troy Toler hit a three-pointer just before time ran out, but the Tomahawks fell 64-58 to Stanwood in a loser-out game at Jackson High School Feb. 24.

The M-P boys held a narrow lead in the first quarter, but a trey by Tyler Holm in the second quarter gave Marysville their last lead of the game, 21-20. Stanwood took the lead on a three-point play by junior Zack Johnson and though the Tomahawks trailed by three at halftime, Stanwood had all the momentum in the second half.

"Both teams started really hot and we hit that three at the half," said M-P coach Bary Gould, referring to senior guard Nick Soriano's buzzer shot ending the second quarter. "We were going to come out strong in the third but they were just on fire."

The Tomahawks was giving up turnovers in the third quarter, allowing Stanwood to gain the upper hand with a 10-3 run for an eight-point lead they would maintain much of the rest of the game.

Trailing by double digits midway through the fourth quarter, the Tommie defense started pressing and forced some turnovers of their own, cutting the Stanwood lead back down to seven. But Stanwood slowed down the game, forcing Marysville to foul for possessions. With the exception of Toler's shot, all points from 58-51 onward were earned at the free-throw line. Though Stanwood shot just 6-for-14 from that point, the Spartans were able to rebound, keeping their lead by sheer number of attempts.

The loss meant the end of the season for the Tomahawks' all-senior roster.

"These guys have been a wonderful group of kids to coach," Gould said.

Four Tomahawks went out with double figures against Stanwood. Spencer Elwell led the Tomahawks with 13 points while Nick Forsythe and Nick Soriano had 12 points each. Holm had 11.

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