Massengill leads Silverdale Baptist Academy to win

photo Silverdale's Mariah Massengill (3) drives for two over Copper Basin's Mikki Thompson (12) in first half action at Silverdale Baptist Academy Tuesday night. Massengill was leading scorer with 31-points. Copper Basin coach Amy McGowan, right, watches the play.

Even on senior night, Silverdale Baptist Academy's sensational sophomore stole the show.

In a game the Lady Seahawks needed to potentially get to first place in District 5-A, sophomore point guard Mariah Massengill waited impatiently for her turn on the court, then led her team to a 69-57 victory over Copper Basin. Massengill, who averages nearly 30 points per game, finished with 31, including four 3-pointers, and seven assists.

"As the point guard, I kind of put it on myself to set the pace for us," Massengill said. "It's not always about me scoring, but I do feel like I have to get the offense going.

"It's a little tough sometimes being younger but trying to be a leader. But it's not a problem. I think everybody knows I'm just trying to help us win."

In its final regular-season home game, Silverdale started its five seniors. After they fell behind 9-3, Massengill entered the game and wasted little time kick-starting the offense, as her 3-pointer began a 14-0 run to end the first quarter. During that run, Massengill scored half of the 14 points and had assists on three other baskets.

The Lady Seahawks (15-3, 8-1) will play Friday at defending district champion Arts & Sciences with first place on the line.

"We haven't had very good starts the last three games, so we had stressed getting out quick at practice," Silverdale coach David Massengill said. "Mariah is so quick, if you play her too close she'll go around you. But if you back off and guard her, she'll pull up for the outside shot. She can get us going pretty quick."

The Seahawks built a 17-point lead late in the second quarter and matched that advantage again early in the third. But as Massengill sat out the final two-plus minutes of the third to rest, the Lady Cougars cut the deficit to seven to begin the fourth.

Massengill answered with two 3-pointers in a 22-second span, and after Copper Basin closed to within five, the sophomore managed to wow the crowd one more time. With two Lady Cougars trying to deny her the inbounds pass, Massengill battled for the ball, then split the defenders with a spin move along the baseline for a layup with 1:22 remaining. She then scored six of her team's final eight points.

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