Ritzville, W-C Engineer Wins

At the end of Friday’s semifinal round of the girls State B basketball tournament at the Arena two teams were left standing, and the other two had to be feeling like they’d just been run over by a couple of freight trains.

Ritzville’s Broncos overthrew the defending state champion St. John-Endicott Eagles 51-29 in the opener and the Wilbur-Creston Wildcats whipped the Pateros Nannies 49-24 in the nightcap.

Even Wonder Woman couldn’t save the day for St. John-Endicott as Ritzville’s Shannon Russel made the Eagles’ Tricia Lamb look merely mortal by holding her to 12 points through the first 3 quarters.

“I was happy with the way things turned out,” Russel said. “I am really tired. She (Lamb) is a good player and she’s always moving.”

Lamb finished with 19 points, moving to within 10 points of becoming the No. 2 career scoring leader in the State B tournament.

With Russel and senior guard Megan Wellsandt controlling the perimeter on defense for the Broncos, sophomore Megan Yerxa went to work underneath the basket.

Yerxa made 10 of 16 shots from the floor and finished with a game-high 22 points in 27 minutes.

Russel and Wellsandt made a concerted effort to get the ball in to Yerxa early in the game.

“If it’s there, it’s always the plan,” said Russel.

“She played great tonight, just like she always does,” noted Wellsandt.

Yerxa deflected some of the credit.

“They really did a great job of getting the ball in to me,” Yerxa said.

Ritzville coach John Foulkes felt defense was the difference between Friday’s victory and two defeats suffered at the hands of the Eagles earlier this season.

“We got a good effort from Russel on Lamb,” he said. “We stepped it up in the first half and didn’t let down in the second.”

The Broncos looked invincible for a 9:48 stretch spanning the second and third quarters when they went on a 19-0 tear.

Ritzville outscored the Eagles 13-2 in the second period to open up a 27-15 lead at the half, and they never looked back.

“I guess they exposed us for what we really are,” said Eagles coach Lorin Carlon. “I told the girls that the sun will come up tomorrow. Ritzville is a very good team. I guess I’m prejudiced, but this side of the state just plays better basketball.”

The Wildcats continued their quest for their first state title since the two schools combined, despite missing Mindy Bandy, their leading scorer and rebounder.

“The girls just sucked it up and got the job done,” said Wilbur-Creston coach Steve Jantz. “They are smart kids who come from good families and they have wonderful support from the community.

“Mindy might not be playing, but she’s right there on the bench cheering and coaching her teammates. With her there I can just kick back on the bench and enjoy this.”

Sophomore guard Alyssa Erickson sent the Wildcats off and running, scoring 16 first-half points and sparking them to an insurmountable 28-10 halftime lead.

Erickson finished with a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds.

For senior starter Lindsey Llewellyn, who scored five points and dished out three assists this is a dream come true.

“When Mindy got hurt I went and pulled out my eighth-grade yearbook,” she said. “In it I saw my goal was to play for the state title, and here we are. It’s fantastic.”

Senior Janelle Allen contributed 10 points and six assists.

Ritzville and Wilbur-Creston tip it off tonight at 7 to decide bragging rights.

“They (Ritzville) have beaten us three out of four games this season,” said Allen. “It’s our turn.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: State B radio broadcasts 1 p.m.: Girls, Watson Groen Christian vs. Tekoa-Oakesdale (KKPL 630). 1: Boys, Tacoma Baptist vs. LaCrosseWashtucna (KJRB 790). 2:30: Girls, Kittitas vs. Clallam Bay (KKPL 630). 2:30: Boys, Almira/Coulee-Hartline vs. North Beach (KTRW 970). 4: Girls, St. John-Endicott vs. Pateros (KKPL 630). 4: Boys, Darrington vs. Ritzville (KTRW 970). 7: Girls, Ritzville vs. Wilbur-Creston (KXLY 920). 9: Boys, Republic vs. Reardan (KXLY 920).