University 50, Mercer Island 41

By Greg Lee, NWPrepsNow.com

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Of the three straight teams University girls coach Mark Stinson has brought to state, this could be the least talented.

Not that it means the Titans shouldn’t be here. Not at all. The coaching job Stinson has done coupled with how much his girls have responded speaks volumes.

Now the Titans are guaranteed a trophy and will play for fourth place after University knocked off Mercer Island 50-41 Friday in a State 3A loser-out game at the Tacoma Dome.

Emma Kennedy made two free throws with 16 seconds to go to secure the win.

Typical of the Titans, no player reached double-figure scoring. Ashley Woods and Kaitlin Pannell each had eight points. Pannell also had nine rebounds and Woods had six to go with two assists.

U-Hi opened the game with an 11-0 run and took a 13-5 lead into the second quarter.

Defense was key for the Titans.

“I thought the girls did a good job of being brave,” Stinson said.

It’s been a season full of adversity.

“The roles have been hard to define,” Stinson said. “Just recently they’ve been able to come together. It’s been rewarding.

“It’s probably been one of my toughest years of coaching just because there’s been so many nuances that don’t show up on the court.”

U-Hi (11-15) meets Sunnyside (23-4) at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.