T-O Extends Tourney Life Palmer, Nighthawks Move On; Supinger, Reardan Eliminated

For Tekoa-Oakesdale senior Sally Palmer it’s one more game … one more precious game. For Reardan senior Katie Supinger the end came too soon.

Palmer turned in her best performance of the girls State B basketball tournament Friday at the Arena, scoring a game-high 19 points to lead the Nighthawks to a 44-34 victory over the Toutle Lake Ducks and a berth in the trophy round.

Palmer, who hit just 2 of 14 shots from the floor in the first two games, connected on 6 of 12 shots against the Ducks. She was also 7 of 10 from the free-throw line.

Why the turn around?

“I don’t know,” Palmer said. “I think it was nerves and playing before so many people in the Arena.”

That’s understandable, considering you could fit the citizens of Tekoa and Oakesdale into sections 115, 116 and 117.

“It was definitely one of my biggest games,” said Palmer. “I don’t want it to end. I wanted to keep my intensity up out there. I wasn’t really looking to score, it just happened.”

In terms of state-tourney experience, Palmer was it for coach Mark Stinson.

“She was here as a sophomore,” he noted. “But she didn’t have to worry about providing leadership. Now she’s out there in control of things. I think the biggest reason for the way she played was she stayed out of foul trouble.”

Tournaments make for trying times.

“It’s hard to stay focused out there and keep your intensity up for four days,” said Stinson. “I just asked the girls before the game if this was going to be it for Sally and Sarah (Hansen), our only two seniors. They decided there’d be one more game.”

Supinger wasn’t quite so fortunate.

The Indians’ season ended at the hands of Clallum Bay. The Bruins got 22 points each from Deborah Sangel and Casey Soeneke en route to a 59-51 win and a game against Kittitas for fourth and seventh place.

Supinger closed out her career with 65 points, 41 rebounds and 10 blocks in the three tournament games.

“She is a great player and a great leader,” Reardan coach Bryce Wilson said. “Her desire helps me a great deal because it motivates the other kids out there. She’s got the eye of the tiger and she takes that into every part of her life.”

Basketball meant little to Supinger in the beginning.

“When I was a freshman I didn’t even want to play,” said Supinger. “I didn’t even like basketball until last season. Now I’m really going to miss my coach and my teammates.”

Although they didn’t quite reach their goals, Supinger is proud of what the team accomplished.

“I think we worked hard,” she said. “We always played as a team. I’ll always remember the fun things we did.”

In other winner-to-trophy games, Watson Groen Christian got 17 points from Cara Prins and pounded Summit 61-45.

Alyssum Myrick had 11 points and 12 rebounds to spark Kittitas to a 48-35 win over Rainier.

Watson Groen takes on Tekoa-Oakesdale for fifth place. Kittitas goes up against Clallum Bay for fourth place.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo