Lakeside Runs Out Of Playoff Magic

Lakeside was looking for an encore performance.

In Friday night’s semifinal at the Tacoma Dome, however, the order was a bit taller than in had been in the quarterfinals.

This time, the Eagles trailed by 15 points with 16 minutes left. And this time, their comeback fell short when Carrie Waddell’s 3-pointer missed at the buzzer and left Lakeside with a 53-50 loss in the semifinals of the girls State A high school basketball tournament. “It’s heartbreaking,” Eagles senior Lora Jolley said.

Lakeside (23-2) takes on Castle Rock (20-6) in the game for third and sixth places this afternoon at 2:30. Cascade (23-3) faces Lynden Christian (27-0) for the championship.

“We spotted them too many points,” Lakeside coach Lisa Schultz said.

Emilie Moreshead, a 5-foot-9 senior, hurt the Eagles the most by scoring 12 of her 18 points as the Kodiaks built a 36-21 halftime lead. Megan Franza scored another eight in the half. Lakeside sophomore Brianne Jolley also scored 18. Lora Jolley finished with 14.

Lakeside could not contend with Cascade’s height or speed in the first half. The Kodiaks threatened to run away with the game, taking a 26-10 lead with 14 unanswered points.

A repeat of Lakeside’s 37-36 comeback win over Seattle Christian in the quarterfinals weighed on players and coaches alike. “That was on my mind, but I knew it would be harder,” said Lora Jolley.

Cascade coach Mike Lewis watched the tape of Lakeside’s game and wasn’t about to underestimate the Eagles.

“We knew they were going to try and come back on us,” he said. “They weren’t about to lay down and give us the game.”

The Eagles pecked away at the Kodiaks’ lead with help from a pair of 3-pointers by Lora Jolley and another from Waddell in the third quarter.

Moreshead scored six points and Franza missed her only shot in the third quarter. The pair was shut out in the fourth.

“We thought if we controlled her, we could win the game,” Lora Jolley said of Franza, who had 10 points, 12 short of her season and tourney averages.

Heading into the fourth, Lakeside trailed just 48-40.

Brianne and Lora Jolley cut the deficit in half with a pair of baskets in the first 1:10 of the fourth. Lora Jolley brought the Eagles to within 51-49 with a 10-foot jumper with 2 minutes left. Freshman Nikki Petticrew pulled Lakeside to within one, hitting 1 of 2 free throws 31 seconds later.

Cascade junior Brynn Darlington scored the final basket of the game with 1:08 left.

The Eagles turned the ball over on their next possession.

Then Waddell stole the ball from Moreshead under the Kodiaks’ basket with :10 to go. She found Lora Jolley, who dribbled down the right sideline and passed to Waddell, who had raced to the top of the 3-point arc. Becky Franza smothered Waddell, who was forced to throw up a desperation attempt at the buzzer.

Cascade 53, Lakeside 50

Lakeside 10 11 19 10 -50

Cascade 20 16 12 5 -53

LAKESIDE Rowse 0 0-0 0, Waddell 2 3-4 8, Heebink 1 1-2 3, Hatch 1 2-2 4, B. Jolley 4 10-12 18, L. Jolley 5 2-3 14, Long 0 0-0 0, Petticrew 1 1-2 3. Team 14 19-25 50.

CASCADE B. Franza 3 0-0 6, Crowston 0 0-0 0, Fender 2 0-0 4, Darlington 3 3-6 9, M. Franza 3 4-4 10, McGregor 2 0-0 4, Moreshead 8 2-2 18, Geske 0 0- 0 0, Burgess 1 0-0 2. Team 22 9-14 53.

3-pointers - Lakeside 3 (L. Jolley 2, Waddell), Cascade 0. Fouled out - none. Technical fouls - none.

, DataTimes