Mead advances; G-Prep still alive
PASCO – Morgan Douglass doesn’t run track in the spring, but she might want to consider adding the sport after her performance Friday.
The speedy Mead guard grabbed a loose ball at halfcourt with 4 seconds left in overtime and raced to the basket, laying in the game-winner as the clock hit zero, giving her team a 71-69 victory over Chiawana of Pasco in the 4A basketball subregional.
“I got it and ran, and thank God I finished,” Douglass said of the final play. “I saw (a defender) trailing and I didn’t have time to hesitate at all.”
Chiawana had the ball with the game tied, but Mead sophomore Sue Winger blocked a 3-point attempt with 6 seconds left. She then tipped the ball forward to Douglass and watched as her teammate raced to the other end with the game-winner.
“I was just thinking, ‘Don’t let her get it up,’ ” Winger said of the block. “It was so perfect. (Douglass) got it and there we go. It was such an exciting game.”
The victory clinches a regional berth for the Panthers (21-1), who won their 15th consecutive game, though they faced one of their stiffest challenges of the season.
“Morgan is one of our fastest kids,” Mead coach Quantae Anderson said. “Finishing was the only thing. That ball looked like it would pop out. A great play for our senior. She will remember that the rest of her life.”
The Panthers twice had to rally in overtime just to set up the wild finish. They trailed 66-63 with 2 minutes, 38 seconds remaining, but forced a pair of turnovers to keep Chiawana from extending its lead.
A pair of free throws by Mackenzie McPhee and a layup by Jade Redmon put Mead on top 67-66 with a minute left.
After a three-point play put the Riverhawks back on top 69-67, Mead calmly answered. McPhee went down, spun into the lane and banked in a short shot to tie the score at 69-69.
“We played solid defense all around (on the final possession) and it paid off,” Winger said.
Mead led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter before giving up a furious rally to Chiawana in the final moments. The Panthers did shut down the Riverhawks on the last possession of regulation to force OT.
Redmon had 26 points, making 18 of 20 free throws. Delany Junkermier added 14 points and Ashlyn Lewey 13.
Gonzaga Prep 60, Walla Walla 38: Laura Stockton and Hannah Caudill scored 15 points apiece and the Bullpups (20-3) avoided elimination with a win over the host Blue Devils.
Gonzaga Prep gained control with a 20-9 second-quarter run.
Otiona Gildon added nine points and 13 rebounds and Kayla Leland made three 3-pointers and chipped in 11 points for the Bullpups.
Gonzaga Prep will play at Chiawana today at 7 p.m. in a winner-to-state, loser-out game.