State 4A girls: Peyton Howard leads Central Valley to ninth state title game in program history

TACOMA – Central Valley drew a bit of a break – at least on paper – when No. 7 Union edged No. 2 Todd Beamer 48-47 in a regional, reversing Beamer’s 45-38 decision in the District 3/4 championship a week earlier.

The trickle-down effect put the No. 2 seed on the opposite side of the bracket – with the first and fourth seeds – of the No. 3 Bears.

As things settled through the first two rounds at state this week, it became obvious: In order for Central Valley to advance to its ninth title game in program history, it would have to tangle with the feisty Titans.

And tangle, they did.

Tied at 31 midway through the third, the Bears went on an 18-6 run to close the quarter and take control. Union closed the gap to a few as six points late, but the Bears, and their relentless defense, prevailed.

And their senior leader, a sparingly used reserve during CV’s historic title run in 2018, led the way.

Peyton Howard scored 18 points with six assists and four steals as No. 3 CV beat Union 61-53 in a State 4A semifinal at the Tacoma Dome on Friday night.

CV (22-3) advances to the championship game against No. 1 Woodinville – in a rematch of the 2018 game, won 70-39 by CV – at 5 p.m. today, while Union (21-6) plays in the third-place game against No. 6 Glacier Peak at 10:15 a.m.

The Greater Spokane League has placed a girls team in the State 4A title game in 17 of the past 20 years, with 12 champions.

Howard missed all of last season with a knee injury.

“I’m just so proud of (Howard) tonight,” CV coach Felice Orrell said. “That’s the senior, and those are the moments, and I just saw her take over. It just speaks volumes about where she’s at.”

After an 11-2 Union run tied the score at 31, the Bears went on their extended run. Howard made a 3-pointer from the wing just before the horn and CV led by 12 points entering the fourth.

“I think that’s just postseason basketball,” Orrell said of the back-and-forth nature. “At this point, there’s not gonna really be many blowouts by any means. That’s the beauty of basketball – up and down, 3s here, 3s there.”

Howard’s 3-pointer with 5 1/2 minutes left in the game pushed CV’s lead to 17.

But Union chipped away. Lolo Witherspoon’s runner with 3 minutes left got it back to 10. Abbey Kuip made a 3-pointer with 1:49 left to complete a 9-0 run, cutting the lead to six.

Howard drew contact and made a pair of free throws, ending the Titans’ run, then Pitts drove the lane for a basket, restoring the lead to double digits with 40 seconds left.

CV used its tenacious defense to create three turnovers in the first 2 1/2 minutes and jumped out to a 7-2 lead. But Greater St. Helens League Player of the Year Mason Oberg drilled a long 3-pointer with MJ Bruno’s hand in her face, and the teams were tied at 13 after one.

Reserve Abby Lewis had four points in the second quarter and CV led 29-21 at intermission. Lewis finished with eight points.

“Best basketball I’ve seen (Lewis) play, like all season,” Orrell said. “She was very poised, making great shots, attacking. We were kind of stagnant there, and we got her in right away.”

The Bears held a 23-16 rebounding advantage and had eight steals in the half.

Kuip hit a 3 early in the third, trimming Union’s deficit to five, and Witherspoon made it a three-point game with a runner.

Orrell asked for a break.

“Just be composed,” Orrell told her players. “I mean, that’s what’s nice about having (timeouts) and being able to use them as a coach, is just taking a second, look back in on the game plans. Take a breath and focus back up.”

Oberg tied the score at 31 a minute later.

Pitts stopped the 11-2 run with a layup, Williams hit a 3-pointer and the Bears led by seven.

Oberg led Union with 26 points, hitting 6 of 7 from beyond the arc.