PREP BOYS' BASKETBALL: Mount Baker picks up solid win over Trojans

The Meridian boys' basketball team committed twice as many turnovers as Mount Baker and struggled from the free throw line as the Trojans fell to the Mountaineers 67-60 in a Northwest Conference matchup Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Meridian High School.

Chase Heslep led Meridian (6-11, 3-7 NWC) with a team-high 21 points to go along with a team-best 13 rebounds.

"We just threw the ball away too many times tonight," Meridian coach Shane Stacy said in a phone interview. "We left 10 or 12 points out there by not hitting free throws. Chase Heslep and Denver Vander Yacht came to play tonight."

Mount Baker (4-14, 2-9 NWC) was led by Addison King, who scored a game-high 26 points. Reuben Murashov came off the bench to contribute 11 points in the winning effort.

"I was just real pleased with the effort tonight," Mount Baker coach Rob Gray said in a phone interview. "We're out of the district playoffs, but Reuben had a good night off the bench for us. They were running a triangle and two to stop King and Blake (Compton), so we needed guys to score off the bench. Addison kind of let the game come to him. It was a good night for us. We handled their pressure well in the fourth quarter and did a nice job at the free throw line."

Meridian next hosts Squalicum at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, while Mount Baker hosts Burlington-Edison at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2.

MOUNT BAKER 67, MERIDIAN 60

Mount Baker 10 22 6 29 - 67

Meridian 17 12 16 15 - 60

Mount Baker: Addison King 26, Aaron Baddeley 8, Blake Compton 9, Zan Roman 2, Ty Munsell 0, Derek Gorum 8, Reuben Murashov 11, Mark Brauer 0, Dalton Munsell 3, Andrew Zender 0. Team totals: 20-51 19-21 67.

Meridian: Spencer Blackburn 2, Blake Briones 2, Logan Carlson 0, Patrick Carlson 6, Alijah Garcia 3, Edward Garcia 10, Chase Heslep 21, Kelby Todd 3, Denver Vander Yacht 13. Team totals: 22-54 13-25 60.

3-ptg: Mount Baker 8 (King 4), Meridian 3 (Edward Garcia 2). Rebounds: Mount Baker 26 (King 5), Meridian 43 (Heslep 13/Vander Yacht 9). Assists: Mount Baker 5 (Baddeley 2), Meridian 6 (Patrick Carlson 2). Fouls: Mount Baker 22 (Baddeley), Meridian 17 (Vander Yacht). Turnovers: Mount Baker 11, Meridian 22.