Freeman girls move into state semifinals

YAKIMA – Freeman’s march toward a third straight title moved one step closer Thursday as the Scotties topped Granger 55-48 in the girls State 1A basketball tournament at the SunDome.

Freeman’s 10th consecutive state tournament win puts the two-time defending champion Scotties (26-1) in the semifinals for the fourth straight year.

Freeman was uncharacteristically flat, and the defensive pressure that has become a trademark was not the factor if often is.

“We were just flat,” coach Ashlee Nimri said. “They did a good job on Alyssa (Maine). We tried a couple different things but it didn’t help.”

Granger used a diamond-and-one defense to try and limit the Freeman standout. It worked to a point – Maine scored nine points, five off her season average – but Katie Vold, who moved to the point in an adjustment to the defensive gimmick, scored 10 – five more than her season average – and swung the momentum with back-to-back 3-pointers in the final period.

After falling behind by nine points in the first period, Granger clawed back to take a small lead at halftime

Vold hit from deep on the right wing with 5:21 left, then again with 4:35 remaining, turning a tie into a 44-38 Scotties lead.

“Katie did a great job tonight,” Nimri said. “She’s a sophomore and never been in this kind of environment before.”

Vold also hauled down nine rebounds. Maine had eight, and junior post Molly McIntyre had 10 to go with 10 points.