LC, U-Hi, CV win at regionals
KENNEWICK – As Eisenhower’s girls basketball team had cruised through an undefeated regular season, they used their press to impose their will. On Friday night at the Toyota Center, Lewis and Clark refused to submit.
Instead, the Tigers did the opposite, pressing, forcing turnovers and dominating on both sides of the ball en route to 67-42 ConAgra Foods/Lamb Weston Eastern Regional semifinal win and a berth in next week’s State 4A tournament in Tacoma.
They will be joined by University, a 64-55 winner over Greater Spokane League rival Gonzaga Prep in the other semifinal, which has qualified for state for three consecutive years – or Angie Bjorklund’s career.
The Bullpups still have a shot at state, however, but the first step will have to come at the expense of Central Valley, which routed Walla Walla in a loser-out game.
Lewis and Clark 67, Eisenhower 42: Tuesday night Tigers coach Jim Redmon felt confident his team could handle the Ike pressure. In the first 4 minutes, well he wasn’t as sure.
“That was ugly,” he said of a stretch that was a filled with turnovers and missed opportunities. “We had a lot of good looks, but we couldn’t get the ball go in.
“We knew if we get it to our tempo, we could beat them. It just took us a while to get it rolling.”
Leading 4-2 after the first 4 minutes, the Tigers continued what would become a 16-3 run, giving them an 11-point lead. Ike (23-1) never got closer than that.
The biggest reason was senior Heather Bowman, headed to Gonzaga University after a four-year career that is the highest scoring in GSL history.
Bowman, who had a career-high 33 Tuesday night, added 24 points and 11 rebounds against the Cadets, hitting 11 of 16 attempts. But scoring and rebounding was just part of her package. She blocked shots, forced errant passes, relieved pressure and made strong outlet passes.
“She won’t say it, but this meant a lot to her, going to state for four years in a row,” Redmon said. “She’s meant so much to this program, and now she’ll leave having been at state four times and as the GSL’s leading scorer.
“But tonight she stepped up other aspects of the game, diving on the floor, doing the little things that I really notice.”
But Bowman left the game for good midway through the fourth quarter with a cut on her left elbow. She then left the arena quickly to have stitches put in.
“It never gets old to go to state,” she said before leaving. “We wanted to get this over tonight so we wouldn’t have to worry about it tomorrow.”
They won’t because the controlled the Cadets in every aspect of the game. With eight players chipping in, LC had 17 assists to Ike’s five. The Tigers turned it over 17 times, but forced 18. LC won the rebound battle 37-27.
Today they’ll meet U-Hi at 3 p.m. for the third time this season, this time with the regional title on the line.
University 64, Gonzaga Prep 55: The Titans (21-3) didn’t seem all that excited to qualify for state for the third consecutive year. But they had a reason.
“It’s been frustrating going to state for the past two years and not finish as high as we should have,” said senior point guard Tonya Schnibbe. “We have five seniors who will be going to state for the third time. This year, we want first.
“We know our best games are ahead of us.”
No matter if it is in Tacoma or Kennewick, it will be tough for the Titans to play better – or shoot better – than they did in the first three quarters.
They led by 19 at that point, and were shooting 54 percent from the floor.
Leading the way, as usual, was the junior All-American Bjorklund. She had scored all of her game-high 25 points by then (she had 21 by halftime), and was well on her way to her 11 rebound total.
Dara Zack was the leader in that category, however, as the junior pulled down eight of her 17 rebounds in the third quarter alone. She also added 18 points. Of G-Prep’s big three – Tara Cronin, Sarah Jennings and Corrina O’Brien – only O’Brien exceeded her season scoring average, with 13. Laura Christianson finished with 11.
G-Prep (20-4) will face Central Valley at 11 this morning having to win two consecutive games to earn a state berth.
Central Valley 64, Walla Walla 43: The Bears (15-10) turned up the defense in the second quarter, outscored the Blue Devils 22-5 and breezed from there.
Sophomore point guard Jutsine Bowman led CV with 16 points and three assists, while USF-bound senior Heidi Heintz added 15 point and senior Salena Leavitt 13 points and seven steals.
Walla Walla, which ends its season at 16-9, was led by the 23 of Jennifer Keyes.