Photo by John McCallum
Senior Mikayla Vergo sets up for a 3-point attempt during the first half of Cheney's playoff win over West Valley last Thursday.
Photo by John McCallum
Amanda Ward (31) gets set to block out West Valley forward Kaitlyn McGlothlen (10) for a rebound as Coree Labish gets in position as well during Cheney's playoff win over the Lady Eagles.
Lady Hawks edge West Valley, lose to second-ranked Clarkston and
face Ephrata in loser-out game Friday at EWU
By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
In basketball, height is a plus, something Coree Labish proved last Thursday.
The Cheney freshman used all of her 6-foot, 1-inch frame and long reach to stretch over West Valley defenders for an offensive rebound and putback basket giving the Lady Hawks a 43-40 come-from-behind win in home playoff action. The win qualified Cheney for this weekend's regional competition with the Central Washington Athletic Conference, taking the Great Northern League's No. 2 seed in a 47-35 loss to second-ranked Clarkston in the district seeding game last Friday at Central Valley.
Having home court should have been more of an advantage for the Lady Hawks, but a sparse, yet vocal, crowd and much-improved West Valley squad took that away. Still Cheney appeared to be in control, opening a 27-20 lead at the half on the strength of Mikayla Vergo's 12 points in the first 16 minutes, including a pair of big 3-pointers.
West Valley clawed back into the game in the third quarter, opening with an 8-0 run for a 28-27 lead and holding Cheney scoreless until Mandy McDowell's offensive rebound putback with 1:57 left in the quarter put the Lady Hawks back up 29-28.
The Lady Eagles eventually established a five-point margin at 38-33 when Labish stepped to the line – literally. Jenae Martin fouled Labish with 5:27 to play and the freshman hit both ends of a one-and-one to pull Cheney within three.
With 2:48 left Cassie Finn fouled Labish while shooting, and she hit both free throws to make it 38-37. Kaitlyn McGlothlen hit one of two from the line to give West Valley a two-point bulge, and the Lady Eagles looked like they might hold on after making a couple offensive stops.
But the Lady Hawks forced a West Valley turnover off a shot clock violation with 1:07 remaining, and McDowell swirled a 3-pointer home with 53.2 seconds to put Cheney up 40-39. On the ensuing West Valley possession McDowell fouled Martin, who hit one of two tying the game and setting up Labish's putback winner 19 seconds later. Allie Brown hit one of two free throws with 6.1 seconds to put Cheney up three and Aailyah Ashley-Meek's desperation half-court heave sailed wide at the buzzer.
Labish led Cheney scoring with 13 points, followed by Vergo's 12 and nine by Brown. Brown hauled down 19 of Cheney's 42 rebounds, 12 on offense, with Vergo and Labish each grabbing six.
Friday the Lady Hawks started slow while Clarkston (21-1) came out fast, opening an 18-2 lead fueled by Jamie Weisner, who scored nine of her game-high 24 points in the opening eight minutes. From there Cheney toughed up defensively to hand the Lady Bantams their two worst scoring quarters of the season.
“I contribute that to the defensive efforts and our ability to frustrate (Clarkston's KC) McConnell and (Sierra) Higheagle,” Cheney head coach Jennifer Harmer said.
Both McConnell and Higheagle had been scoring in double digits, but were limited to just five and three points each for the game. Led by six points from Jordan Peterson, Cheney went on an 8-1 run in the second quarter to close within 11 at the break. But despite the effort Weisner proved to be the difference, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter to preserve Clarkston's win.
“I am extremely proud of our girls and how they played to the final buzzer of that game,” Harmer said.
Brown led Cheney with eight points while Vergo and Amanda Ward each had six. The Lady Hawks shot 29 percent from the field, but in a telling stat, went 0-2 from the free throw line while Clarkston was 14 for 20.
With the No. 2 seed, Cheney (11-11) prepares to face CWAC No. 3 seed Ephrata (16-7) Friday night at EWU's Reese Court, game time 7:45. The winner will face CWAC No. 1 East Valley-Yakima (21-1) Saturday for a spot in the 2A state tournament double-elimination round of eight in Yakima.
Harmer said Ephrata is an outside shooting team. They're led in scoring by Kelsey Yenney (12.7 points per game) and Heidi Buchert (10.1 ppg.).
“Our girls are pumped and ready for the challenges ahead,” Harmer said. “I have full confidence in my team that we will show up ready to play our best basketball of the season against Ephrata and move on to Saturday night play.”
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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