By Quint Turner
As league play opens this season, Meadowdale’s Lady Mavericks will have a tough task to get back into state playoffs. They took their first step, beating the Everett Seagulls at home in a blowout: 77-58. The reason for the big win? Star junior Margreet Barhoum, who has been leading the Mavs this season.
The Mavs dominated the first quarter. After a 2-2 tie, Barhoum started an 11-0 run filled with great passing, great defense and great shooting. The defense especially shone every time the Seagulls would try to break out, led by star sophomore Aliya Davis and freshman Sidney Rielly. A frequent scenario throughout the first quarter and the game was a Davis or Rielly attempt to take the ball up the court, and the Mavs’ double-teaming and stealing the ball for an easy layup. Barhoum got 14 of her 28 points in the quarter, and the main ball stealer was Mackenzie Bretz. The Mavs went up 22-10 after one.
The second quarter felt like déjà-vu. The Mavs once again used the double team and laid it in. The bench got most of the points this quarter, with main contributors being Bianca Landa (7), Bretz (8), and Michaela O’Neill (7). The Gulls didn’t try for layups; instead they usually pulled up and shot jumpers that wouldn’t fall. The rims seemed extra bouncy this game, and it was 43-24 Mavs at the half.
In the second half, it was the same thing. Barhoum and company were able to stop an explosive Gull offense and showed them their own. The third quarter had a few key Mav players in foul trouble, but the team showed depth as they hung on to a large lead — sometimes by as much as 30.
With the score 61-39 at the end of the third, the fourth was just a defensive game. The players may not have been as aggressive as usual, but they didn’t need to be. Despite the Seagulls’ Rielly being on fire, Everett couldn’t find enough offense, and Meadowdale won 77-58.
Sportswriter Quint Turner is a student at Meadowdale High School.
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