Haugstad rips nets for 32 and Sparts second place in 4A North

The Sparts’ Kale Schmidt pulls up for a long-range jumper during recent boys’ basketball action. Schmidt’s all-around play has helped Stanwood put together a four-game win streak. PHOTO BY JOHN GALBREATH | STANWOOD/CAMANO NEWS Stanwood’s Drew Haugstad, who has seemingly always been on the verge of a huge scoring night, put one together Wednesday night when it really mattered and the Sparts (7-2 in league, 7-6 overall) buried the Cascade Bruins 68-45.

It was even more significant at the end of the week’s schedule when one realized that the local lads had moved all alone into second place in the Western Conference 4A North after knocking off two of the teams that were formerly tied with them – Snohomish and Cascade on successive nights.

Those victories, along with one more over Everett last Friday, set the stage for tonight’s (Tues., Jan. 19, there) game at Lake Stevens. The Vikings are all alone at the top of the North Division with an unblemished 9-0 record – two games above the Spartans

The first of last week’s three encounters saw the Sparts charge back after giving up 39 points in the middle two quarters to trail the Panthers 49-46 as the final period of play began.

Energized by the three key baskets of Jordan Taylor and the equally important trio of steals by Austin Cook, the Spartans took the permanent lead at 54-53 with six minutes to go and then held on to that advantage tenaciously until the final klaxon.

But it sure wasn’t easy.

“Don’t think that thought didn’t go through my head,” admitted head coach Zach Ward when reminded that his club had been involved in six games they had lost by single digits.

He needn’t worry.

Despite having Zack Johnson pick up his fourth foul at the 2:39 mark, the Sparts rallied behind Cook’s thefts, the last of which resulted in his appearance at the foul line with 5.3 seconds remaining. Following two timeouts, the senior guard deftly buried both gifters sealing the Panthers’ fate.

Proving that they have become a team – not just two or three individuals – one merely needs to reflect on the game’s opening moments.

Before five minutes had elapsed in the encounter, Drew Haugstad, who was to score 32 points the next night against Cascade, had furnished no less than four assists to grateful teammates. Johnson also contributed eight points in the frame.

The resultant 17-10 advantage was somewhat short-lived as the visiting Cats found the basket enough times to trail just 31- 29 by halftime.

By outscoring the locals 20-15 in the third frame, Snohomish had established that 49-46 lead entering the fourth period.

“The energy Austin and Jordan brought to the court was instrumental in beating Snohomish,” Ward observed. “We’ve got a lot of those guys. They play hard and we don’t really know which one of them is going to be the go-to guy.”

Johnson and senior teammate Kale Schmidt – both of whom have seemingly alternated being that go-to player during the season – tallied 16 (13 in the first half) and 13 points, respectively. Johnson also grabbed 14 caroms but only took one shot in the final 16 minutes of play. He didn’t need to take any more.

Other Spartan scorers were Taylor, with a careerhigh 13 points, Ryan Jamieson 3, Haugstad 10, Cook 6 and Brock Reinecke 2.

In reviewing Haugstad’s contribution against Cascade, Ward conceded that “it was definitely his night. He was zoned in from the beginning.”

Indeed he was. The 5- foot-11 guard buried seven trifectas during the game while putting up the leather from all over. By the first quarter’s end, Haugstad had 14 points.

Defense played a definite role over the next two periods as Stanwood built an insurmountable 49-30 margin. The Gulls’ hotshot Chris McGrath was held to a mere five points after averaging nearly 18 counters over the course of the present season.

By game’s end, Johnson (12), Schmidt (10), Cook (4), Taylor (4), Reinecke (2), Michael McCune (2) and Mason Garcea (2) had joined their hot-shooting teammate in the scoring column.

Friday night’s game with the Seagulls was just plain fun – as the 82-47 final score indicates.

By going on a 23-2 run to close the second quarter, the Sparts took permanent control of the game and never looked back.

Schmidt (21 points, six 3-pointers), Johnson (19) and Haugstad (19, five 3s) led the scoring surge with 59 points between them. Ryan Schroyer (9), Jamieson (7), McCune (4), Trevin Harris (2) and Garcea (1) also contributed.

Austin Cook left the contest early in the second quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return to action.