Mount Vernon freshman Anaya Saldivar scored a game-high 20 points to go with 12 steals and eight rebounds, and the Bulldogs outlasted host Sehome 39-32 in a defensive battle Thursday, Jan. 23.
“These freshmen are a talented group who play a lot of basketball,” Mount Vernon coach Levi Stewart said. “As the season has progressed, the team has grown together. I couldn’t be more proud of this group.”
Sehome was also led by a freshman in guard Taylor Turrell, who scored a team-high 19 points while adding seven steals and five assists.
The Mariners reeled off a 6-0 run to tie the game at 27-27 with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Sehome’s Sadie Gustafson gave the Mariners their first lead since the first quarter with a breakaway layup to make it 29-27.
However, Saldivar’s defense jumpstarted a run that would give Mount Vernon the lead back.
“When I play basketball, I always start on defense,” Saldivar said. “It is a good place to get started for the whole team. It’s a good place to start and it helps get all my teammates involved in the game.”
Stewart added her mindset feeds the energy of the young Bulldogs roster. In the final four minutes, Mount Vernon’s Chloe Krivanek hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs the lead, Alivia Luvera made a layup and Saldivar had a layup and three free throws.
“We just have to keep playing and working hard no matter what the score is,” Saldivar said. “When it is a close game like that, you have to stay locked in and play your best.”
Before the fourth quarter, both teams were struggling to score. Sehome held a 10-9 lead after the first quarter, thanks to Keira Reeves draining a midrange jump shot with seconds remaining.
In the second quarter, Bulldogs Jaida Duodu picked up a couple of steals and a 3-pointer to give Mount Vernon an 18-13 lead. In the third quarter, Saldivar scored five points, Mount Vernon’s Kim Williams made three and Sehome’s Kaitlyn Schroeder had four points.
Mount Vernon (10-5) will host Burlington-Edison at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. Sehome (5-11) travels to Bellingham at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
