Nobody here figured West Valley would qualify for the semifinals.
Yet the Eagles are definitely in their first semi, because nobody here can figure them.
Gabby McClintock scored 19 points, Dawn Salfer had nine rebounds, and reserves played key roles Thursday to lead 10th-ranked WV (20-4) past Stanwood 53-39 in the girls State AA basketball tournament at the Tacoma Dome.
WV set a tourney record Wednesday by making 32 free throws. The Eagles went a different route Thursday, hitting eight 3-pointers, one shy of Hazen's 1991 record.
The Eagles play top-ranked Meadowdale (24-2) at 7 tonight for a title-game berth. Meadowdale has beaten Stanwood three times this year, but never by as much as WV.
"Our goal was we wanted to be playing Saturday," said coach Mark Kuipers, whose Eagles are guaranteed a trophy of sixth place or better. "I told our girls before the game that the shortcut to playing Saturday was by winning tonight."
The Frontier League lost its other representative when Katie Borton drove the middle uncontested for a basket with 37 seconds left in Yakima West Valley's 43-40 loser-out win over Cheney. The Blackhawks have lost six consecutive games at state since 1995.
West Valley 53, Stanwood 39
Sixth-ranked Stanwood (20-6) led 10-3, and was headed to the line for two shots it would make, when Eagles coach Mark Kuipers called timeout.
"I thought they were being soft and lethargic," Kuipers said.
"But they don't panic because they're an older team."
WV clicked off five 3-pointers in the first 8:45, then turned to its old friend, the free throw, to take charge. The Eagles scored the last 10 points of the half, all at the line, to lead 31-23. Reserve Cindy Simpson hit the final three from the foul line after being hacked on a last-second heave.
The Spartans made a final push in the third quarter and closed to within three points before WV reserve Sherry Shollenberger hit a 3-pointer and free throw for a 41-34 advantage.
"She comes out and goes for the instant spark," Kuipers said. "She's in one mode, the shooter's mode."
WV shot just 28 percent from the field, but hit 15 of 25 free throws to give it 47 of 72 for two days.
WV's steady McClintock had eight rebounds and was 6 of 9 at the line.
"I don't think people here expected us to do so well," McClintock said. "We didn't know what to expect, either, but it's our year (with four senior starters) to do everything we can while we're here."
West Valley 53, Stanwood 39
Stanwood 18 5 12 4 - 39
West Valley 14 17 10 12 - 53
STANWOOD Metcalfe 0 0-0 0, Hart 0 0-0 0, Walker 2 0-0 5, Mains 1 2-2 4, Villard 2 2-2 6, Wenzel 4 2-4 10, O'Conner 1 0-1 2, Granger 4 1-2 12, Erickson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 7-11 39.
WEST VALLEY Kallas 3 0-0 9, Shollenberger 1 1-3 4, Simpson 1 3-3 5, McClintock 5 6-9 19, Frost 0 0-0 0, Salfer 2 0-4 5, Sowers 1 2-2 4, Roberts 2 2-2 6, Huffman 0 1-2 1, Pedey 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 15-25 53.
3-pointers - Granger 3, Walker, Kallas 3, McClintock 3, Shollenberger, Salfer. Total fouls - Stanwood 22, WV 13. Fouled out - Villard. Technicals - none.
WV (Yakima) 43, Cheney 40
Cheney (20-4) shot 11 percent from the field in the first half, but started warming up after Kara Weitman drilled a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.
Weitman, 1 for 20 for the tourney until then, hit two more 3-pointers in the third quarter to spur a 16-0 run that helped the Blackhawks build a 27-20 lead.
Teammate Anna Getz, 0 for 13 in the first half, added six points during the spree, but then went silent for 12 minutes while fighting leg cramps. Getz, who came in averaging 20.9 points per game, finished just 2 of 22 from the field.
The Rams (13-10) took a 31-29 lead late in the third quarter with a 9-0 burst, then exchanged leads with Cheney four times.
Two Getz free throws with 1:34 left gave Cheney its last lead at 40-39, and the Blackhawks turned the ball over 30 seconds later.
WV coach Cheryl Holden called for a play on which Borton has hesitated all season. But this time, Borton drove the lane for an uncontested layup.
