Armstead finds his shooting rhythm as Hawks prepare for Shorewood

Marquis Armstead

Story and photo by Doug Petrowski

Mountlake Terrace head coach Nalin Sood has made defense a focus of this year’s Hawk basketball team, but knows he will need some strong individual efforts from key players on the offensive end to win games. Senior Marquis Armstead is one of those players.

After a slow start, Armstead found his shooting rhythm in Terrace’s two games last week, scoring 19 in a win over Meadowdale, then 27 the next night in a losing effort to the state’s number two 3A team, Lincoln (Tacoma). Armstead himself knew the significance of the Lincoln game and what he needed to do. “It was a big game and I had to step up,” he said.

The 46 points in two nights far exceeded the 29 he scored in the team’s first three games of the year (seven against Lynnwood, eight versus Eastlake and 14 against Edmonds-Woodway).

Sood wasn’t shocked by Armstead’s offensive contribution to the team last week. “Marquis, he’s a shooter,” he said. “I can’t say it surprised me. I’ve seen him do that in practice.”

Sood is eager to see his starting shooting guard carry the momentum of his big scoring nights against Meadowdale and Lincoln into the rest of this season. “I want him to continue to do that. Last year at state he struggled and I hope this goes into his memory bank.”

“He didn’t start out the first three games very well,” Sood explained, “but he still did a great job making his teammates better. He was doing a great job defensively and he’s done a great job passing the basketball and feeding our post.”

While Armstead admitted the 27 points against Lincoln last Saturday was his best shooting performance of the season so far, he still was disappointed with the loss. He is hoping the Hawks get another chance at the Abes. “We’ll see them again at state,” he said after the game.

Terrace (4-1) will try to put the loss to Lincoln behind them as they take on Shorewood (3-2) Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Mountlake Terrace High School. The game will be broadcast on the Hawks Live Sports Network starting at 7:05 p.m. on MLTnews.com.

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