Kristen Boersma powers Sunnyside Christian to victory in State 1B girls opener
Almira-Coulee-Hartlines Berlyn Hunt, center, is pressed by Yakama Nations Saneah Eagleheart, left, and Jada Liulamaga, right, after securing the rebound Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2017, at the Spokane Arena during the Girls 1B Hardwood Classic. The ACH Warriors prevailed over the Eagles to advance in the first round of the tournament. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
Kristen Boersma stands out on the low block.
At 6-feet-1, the athletic post for Sunnyside Christian isn’t necessarily imposing. Until the play starts. When the other nine players on the floor are thinking about cutting to the basket, Boersma is playing the kind of vertical game that gets in opposing players’ heads.
And she got help from a passing Sailor.
It was all too much for Selkirk as the Knights posted a 65-48 win to claim the fourth and final quarterfinal slot and will meet No. 2 Oakedale at 2 p.m. Thursday.
“We’re just blessed that we live to play another game,” Boersma said. “That was our goal today.”
What makes Sunnyside Christian (22-3) a threat at this tournament is the fact that Boersma, who scored 26 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and officially blocked seven shots (she blocked at least that many entry passes), isn’t the focal point of the Knights’ offense.
That would be Sailor Liefke, who had 21 points and dished six assists.
“Sailor Liefke is an incredibly talented player,” Boersma said. “She has a great ability to find shots, and when she doesn’t find her shot she knows how to get the ball to me.”
Selkirk (20-6), making its first state tournament appearance since 2011, continually attacked inside, but where most post players will collect as many fouls as they do blocked shots, Boersma had only the latter. And when she wasn’t blocking shots, she altered them.
“We expected them to take more 3s,” Boersma said. “They attacked inside more than we expected.”
Credit that to the Knights’ swarming defense that defended the 3-point line, collapsed to fill the lane and probably had a player defending the drinking fountain.
Sunnyside Christian, in its 14th straight state tournament, held a 45-32 advantage on the boards and the defense checked the Rangers on 11-of-49 shooting from the field, including just 4 of 20 from beyond the arc.
What kept Selkirk within striking distance for most of the game was 22-of-25 shooting from the free-throw line.
Junior Gabi Rick went down late in the second quarter with an injury to her left knee, but was back to hit a clutch 3-pointer late in the third quarter and finished with 11 points. Whitney Dawson had 12 points and grabbed seven boards.
Almira/Coulee-Hartline 59, Yakama Nation Tribal 36: ACH (21-4) jumped to an early lead on its young, first-round opponent. How young, you ask? To fill out its 12-player roster the small school from Toppenish needed three eighth graders. And before you gasp too loudly, take note that one of those middle-schoolers, Jada Liulamaga, led the Eagles (14-8) in scoring with 16 points, and that all three saw significant minutes. Berlyn Hunt had 18 points to lead ACH and Tiffany Boutain added 15 while Gabi Isaak and Caitlin O’Neil each grabbed 11 rebounds. The Warriors advance to play No. 5 Tacoma Baptist Thursday at 9 a.m. in the first of four quarterfinals.
Neah Bay 47, Evergreen Lutheran 39: It was less important to note how many 3-pointers Neah Bay (20-3) hit (2 of 18), but rather when the Lady Reds hit them. Tristin Johnson dropped a trey on Evergreen Lutheran (17-8) at the buzzer to end the third quarter, giving her teammates a 34-29 lead heading into the final period. It was more than enough inspiration to spark a strong finish and a quarterfinal-berth against No. 1 Colton at 10:30. Neah Bay held a 47-37 advantage on the boards and had three players grab 10 or more caroms. Vonte Aguire scored 14 points and grabbed 10 boards and Johnson added 1 points and 12 rebounds.
Cedar Park Christian 50, Clallam Bay 39: So much for having a deep bench. The Lions (22-3) from Mountlake Terrace came to the arena with just six players, although they found eight to pose for the team picture. But it was enough to get past the Lady Bruins (16-6) and earn a date with No. 3 Republic at 2 p.m. Jamie Copeland scored 21 points to lead CPC and Jennifer Perekopskaya added 17 points while Salome Yosef contributed 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.