Panthers Hold Up To Old Standards Mead Tops Auburn 55-53 For 5th; Clinesmith Named Tourney Mvp

Saturday was typical for the Mead Panthers in general, and this team in particular.

They remained connected with the past, defeating Auburn 55-53 to place fifth in the girls State AAA basketball tournament at the Kingdome. It marked the sixth straight year Mead made state and left without losing more than one game, giving coach Jeanne Helfer a 20-4 mark in Seattle.

“This one was more of a challenge because when you lose the first one it’s so hard,” Helfer said. “There was no gold ball (championship) in the picture, so there was no pressure.”

Mead showed the promise of the future, going 3-1 at state with just one senior receiving significant playing time. The Panthers rode the 17 points of junior Stacy Clinesmith (she was credited with senior Jodi Cory’s 3-point basket) to a 32-21 lead over the Trojans at halftime.

And they showed the maddening inconsistency that marked this team all season by allowing Auburn to get back into the game.

Mead led by as many as 16 points midway through the third quarter.

In the fourth, Sarah Gerlitz followed her own miss with a basket for a 51-50 Auburn lead with just less than 2 minutes to go. Junior Allison Beatty came back with a short jumper as the Panthers regained the lead, but Jody Sasse made two foul shots with 44 seconds left to put Auburn up 53-52.

Clinesmith, who finished with 26 points, earned tournament MVP honors and was the tourney scoring champion with a 22.5 average, made two free throws 8 seconds later. Then 6-foot-3 sophomore Jennifer Bennett stuffed a Sasse shot at 20 seconds for a jump ball (possession to Mead). After both teams missed the front ends of one-and-one free-throw opportunities, Bennett closed out the scoring with a free throw with 17 seconds to play.

The Trojans had an unforced turnover bringing the ball up the court. Mead ran out the last 12 seconds.

“We had to work harder this year,” Cory said of Mead’s 25-4 record. “This year it was pure teamness, even though Clinesmith stepped up (particularly at state).”

Cory and little-used Terra McInerney, playing despite an injury suffered in soccer, are the only seniors on the team.

McInerney watched from the bench as her career ended, an integral part nonetheless of Mead’s success.

“I love this team,” she said. “I just decided I’d be the person on the bench that was the loudest, that was the most supportive. It was hard because I’m so competitive. I wanted to end it at state with a win, that’s all. It didn’t matter who played.

“Soccer ended with a loss and I won’t forget that. This is much better.”

McInerney, who had her soccer season end early with a torn ligament in her right knee, chose to stick out the basketball season, just for the opportunity to hold a state trophy.

“Terra has great character,” Helfer said. “Terra gives to this team in ways I don’t think sophomores could. You always have to have role players. She struggled with it, but she was honest enough with herself to do it.”

As usual, the Panthers spent a lot of time in the locker room saying good-bye afterward.

“How can something so exciting be so hard?” Helfer asked. “I guess I get so close to them, they’re like my family.”

Cory, who hopes to play juniorcollege basketball, said, “I’m really happy. I’m so blessed to come here three years and get a trophy. “I learned so much from (Helfer) as a coach and personal things.”

All-Tournament Team

Joining Mead’s Clinesmith on the alltournament first team was junior Karrin Wilson of Mountain View, Prairie senior Sonja Curtis, Kent-Meridian senior Benishe Dillard, who had eight points and 11 rebounds in the championship game, and junior Tatum Brown of Foss.

On the second team were sophomore Angelina Wohvert of Mountain View, Deal and senior Marcella Doxie of Kent-Meridian, junior Carmel Lampson of Kamiakin and senior Sarah Gerlitz of Auburn.

Goodwill gesture

Mead’s pep band stayed on after the Auburn game to perform for Kamiakin’s fourth-place team. For that, the band received recognition with a WIAA sportsmanship medallion.

Mead 55, Auburn 53

Mead 14 18 13 10 - 55 Auburn 7 14 15 17 - 53

MEAD Beatty 3 1-2 7, C.Clark 0 0-2 0, Cory 2 1-3 7, Turner 1 0-0 3, Clinesmith 9 5-8 26, Benad 0 1-4 1, Roberts 1 0-0 2, Wakefield 0 0-0 0, J.Clark 1 0-0 2, Bennett 2 3-6 7. Totals 19-46 11-25 55. AUBURN Butorac 0 0-0 0, Jacobson 0 0-0 0, Gerlitz 5 4-6 14, Jacques 2 0-1 4, Stafford 3 4-5 11, Rockey 2 0-0 6, K.Clark 0 0-0 0, Hill 1 3-8 5, Vukich 0 0-0 0, Sasse 1 2-3 4, Simms 4 1-2 9, Cruz 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 24-25 53.

3-point goals - Cory 2, Turner, Clinesmith 3, Stafford, Rockey 2. Total fouls - M 18, A 18. Fouled out - J.Clark, Hill.