The Hockinson Hawks just missed a chance at getting into position to fight for a girls basketball league title.
Instead, they fell Monday to a Mark Morris team that has caught the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League by surprise.
Zsaleh Parvas scored 14 points, and Brooke Walling and Alexis Troy dominated the paint in the fourth quarter, leading the Monarchs to a 42-36 victory. Mark Morris has won eight in a row overall and improved to 7-1 in league play.
The Monarchs are the defending state champions, but this is a brand new team with a new coach. New everything. Except the winning is the norm at Mark Morris.
“That’s the surprise of the league,” Hockinson coach Eirik Huset said. “They’re a great team.”
The Hawks (8-9, 6-3 GSHL) almost had the Monarchs, too, holding the them to three third-quarter points to take a three-point lead.
But Walling scored all seven of her points in the final quarter and Troy had six of her nine for the Monarchs in the clutch. Mark Morris scored the first nine points of the final period, taking the lead for good.
“Brooke is a great player. We played great against her for three quarter,” said Huset, adding he was proud of his team’s defensive intensity for most of the game.
There were 47 fouls called in the game. The Monarchs went 15 of 23 from the line, while the Hawks were 11 of 23.
MARK MORRIS 42, HOCKINSON 36
MARK MORRIS — Kaylee Johnson 4, Kalina Makaiwi 1, Gabby Bennett 0, Madison Mosier 5, Brooke Walling 7, Zsaleh Parvas 14, Alexis Troy 9, Libby Bartleson 2. Totals 12 (3) 15-23 42.
HOCKINSON — Keeley Nordberg 6, Hannah Neibauer 5, Payton Wangler 8, Brittany McGuire 2, Hailee Neibauer 5, Elle Tilkin 4, Elyse Fisher 0, Lauren Ellensohn 6, Calli Garver 0. Totals 11 (3) 11-23 36.
M. Morris 11 12 3 16–42
Hockinson 7 14 8 7–36
