Martin leads Eagles to victory over MPHS

Arlington senior guard Ethan Martin scored 42 points and notched his 1,000th career point during a game Jan. 25 against Marysville Pilchuck. The Eagles won 79-62 and sit at the top of the Wesco Conference with the regular season wrapping up Feb. 4.

"We went in knowing it was a tough game," Martin said.

"They wanted us really bad, and we knew they would," Arlington coach Nick Brown said.

The first quarter ended with Arlington leading 19-8, but Marysville Pilchuck shaved four points off Arlington's lead during the second quarter and the first half ended with the Eagles leading 33-26.

The second half saw Martin score Arlington's first 11 points and stretching their lead back to 11 points with a 44-31 advantage.

"We came out at halftime and flipped on a switch," Martin said. The third quarter finished with Arlington leading 51-40.

Martin scored an additional 17 points in the fourth quarter and the end of the game saw Arlington lead 79-62.

"Ethan Martin obviously played phenomenal," Brown said.

Marysville Pilchuck coach Luke Carpenter complimented Arlington.

"We knew we were going in as underdogs," Carpenter said. "We're trying to hang with these guys and slay some of these giants."

He complimented the efforts of junior guard Tommy Nguyen, who scored 14 points for the Tomahawks. "He kind of had a breakout game."

In addition, sophomore guard Anthony Najera scored 17 points, Jamaari Jefferson scored 11 points and junior Jackson Poe scored 13 points.

“We battled and learned a lot about ourselves tonight,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter also complimented Najera’s leadership and often showing up at 5 a.m. to shoot baskets. “He’s got the heart of a champion.”

For Arlington, junior David Zachman and senior Gage Price each scored nine points.

Arlington won against Cedarcrest Jan. 29, and the Eagles have a 10-1 record in Wesco and 12-4 overall.

Marysville Pilchuck defeated Monroe Jan. 29 and stands at 6-4 in Wesco and 6-6 overall. Both teams wrap up their season in early February and the District 1 championships take place Feb. 8 through Feb. 19.

“Our goal is to get in there and shake some things up,” Carpenter said.

Marysville Pilchuck's final games of the regular season are visiting Edmonds-Woodway Feb. 2 and hosting Stanwood Feb. 3 while Arlington hosts Archbishop Murphy Feb. 2 and hosts Marysville Getchell Feb. 4.