Four boys basketball teams are knotted up behind the undefeated Snohomish team.
M-P is one, and they played the other three, winning two of those three games.
With double-digit wins over Stanwood and Lake Stevens and a 48-41 loss at Monroe, the Tomahawks hold the thinnest of advantages, a half a game, over their three conference rivals vying against M-P for a chance at the postseason.
With the remainder of their regular season schedule against opponents with losing records, M-P fans have reason to be cautiously optimistic. With wins over Cascade, Arlington and Oak Harbor, the Tomahawks could potentially lock up the leagues second seed and secure a home game in the playoff opener.
But while the Tomahawks have risen to the caliber of their finest challengers, M-P coach Bary Gould does not want to look past Wescos struggling teams, reflecting that Marysville lost to Cascade earlier in the season and their other two opponents have improved through the season.
Senior captain Taylor Stevens has been a steady presence for the Tomahawks throughout the season. Throughout the three-game series, Stevens produced at or around his 19 points-per-game average.
Against Stanwood we had our most balanced attack, Gould said of the 59-44 win Jan. 18. Colin (Thomason) and Blake Scheller had a really great game. Scheller hit eight free throws late in the game.
The seniors, along with junior forward Nick Forsythe, have provided a steady offensive support for Stevens, which Gould credited for the teams standing this season.
Obviously, it would be nice if we won all three, Gould said, but added, If you had said at the end of the week wed win two out of three, wed be pretty happy.

At Stanwood H.S. (Jan. 18)
M-PHS 12 16 12 19 59
Stanwood 9 2 17 16 44

M-P Kelly 6, Scheller 11, Lanphere 6, Thomason 9, Forsythe 8, Stevens 17, Elwell 2. Stanwood Klempel 12, Schmidt 12, Orcutt 1, Edlund 2, Johnson 4, Lawrence 8, Zweber 5. 3-point goals Kelly 1, Thomason 1, Stevens 1. Records -M-P 9-6 overall, 7-4 in conference. Stanwood 9-6, 7-4.

At Marysville-Pilchuck H.S. (Jan. 22)
M-PHS 14 14 11 18 57
Lake Stevens 7 19 13 6 45

Marysville-Pilchuck Forsythe 4, Kelly 6, Lanphere 7, Lovell 3, Scheller 8, Stevens 18, Thomason 11. Lake Stevens Adams 3, T. Dodge 9, Elfeghih 4, Kurisu 10, Legg 8, Pilon 2, Stickney 6, Finley 3. 3-point goals Adams 1, T. Dodge 3, Thomason 1, Stevens 2, Kelly 2. Records Marysville-Pilchuck 10-6 overall, 8-4 in conference. Lake Stevens 10-5, 6-5.

At Monroe H.S. (Jan. 25)
M-PHS 12 9 8 12 41
Monroe 14 9 11 14 48

Marysville-Pilchuck Forsythe 6, Lanphere 5, Lovell 2, Scheller 6, Stevens 19, Thomason 3. Monroe Bunge 2, Lucke 3, MacIntyre 19, Ohlsen 7, Waltman 14, Wright 3. 3-pointers Stevens 1, Waltman 1, Ohlsen 2. Records M-P 10-7 overall, 8-5 in conference. Monroe 10-6, 7-5.