University’s girls hold off Shadle for state spot

RICHLAND – If Hallie Gennett wasn’t happy enough celebrating University’s 40-37 3A regional win over Shadle Park on Saturday, her mom delivered a victory gift that could keep on giving through the State 3A playoffs.

“I was at Nike and I told my mom, ‘I need those,’ ” the 5-foot-11 junior forward said of a pair of hot pink high tops she cradled in her capable hands. “She promised me she’d get them for me if we won.”

The Titans returned to state for the first time since 2007, when they fell to Greater Spokane League rival Lewis and Clark in the 4A title game. Gennett played a big role, playing all 32 minutes and scoring a game-high 12 points. 

Six of those points came in the fourth quarter. Gennett drained a big 3-pointer from the left wing with 3:49 left in the game – U-Hi’s first field goal in nearly 11 minutes – and then hit a pair of free throws with 4 seconds left after Shadle guard Aleisha Hathaway cut U-Hi’s lead to 38-37 with a 3-pointer.

“We’ve been there before. The last time we played them, I think we only scored 35. Sometimes we just have to rely on defense,” Titans coach Mark Stinson said. “Hathaway was our main concern. We had four different girls guarding her tonight.”

Hathaway was held to three points in the first half, but she had two fourth-quarter steals and hit two 3-pointers over the final 2:33. 

“She’s an amazing young lady,” Highlanders coach Chad Dezellem said of Hathaway, who added seven rebounds and four steals. “I’m so very proud of the kids. We wanted this one so bad. We just dug ourselves too deep of a hole in the first half.”

Delaney Orcutt got a shooter’s bounce on a shot in the lane to give Shadle a 14-13 lead with 6:42 left in the second quarter. But the Highlanders went cold, missing 16 of their next 17 shots from the field as U-Hi pulled ahead 28-18 midway through the third.

Shadle scrapped back into it, outscoring U-Hi 8-4 in the third quarter and pulling to within 28-24.

The Titans’ stalwart defense prevented the Highlanders from getting the ball down court on the game’s final play. With U-Hi leading 40-37 after Gennett’s free throws, Gennett and Lexi Miller caught Shadle guard Amanda Konynenbelt in a double team, forcing a loose ball in the Highlanders end.