Late Henley Layin Rescues St. George’s

Northeast B

St. George’s coach Ross Thomas would have been happy to play overtime Monday when 5 seconds were remaining and two Sprague-Harrington players had fouled out.

He’s going to have to settle for the win in regulation.

Miranda Routh-Corker lobbed a baseball-style pass to a streaking Alyssa Henley, who scored on a layin with 1 second left as the fourth-ranked Dragons (19-3) edged S-H 56-54 to open the District 7-B girls basketball tournament at Spokane Falls Community College.

In the second game of the doubleheader, top-ranked Ritzville (23-0) overcame early foul trouble to down Wellpinit 61-46.

St. George’s 56, Sprague.-Harr. 54

“I was telling myself to put it up real soft,” Henley said of her winning basket for St. George’s. “I never shoot layins. I’ve never made one in a game.”

The Falcons (15-9) went on a 12-4 run in the middle of the fourth quarter, cutting into a 10-point lead St. George’s had built early in the final period.

Noel Hatten of S-H nailed a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to knot the game at 54. The Dragons immediately followed with a turnover.

“I said ‘Pressure, pressure, pressure,”’ Thomas said during a timeout soon after, “and maybe they would throw it away.”

It worked just like Thomas drew it up, with Routh-Corker scooping up a lose ball underneath the basket, whirling and throwing the deciding pass.

Routh-Corker returned to form in her second game back after a six-game absence, totaling 18 points, six steals and six rebounds. Henley added 12 points and seven rebounds. The Falcons were led by Mandi Walters’ 16 points, nine steals and 10 rebounds. “I was scared to death to play them,” Thomas said of S-H. “I’ve seen them play.”

St. George’s 13 19 7 17 - 56

Sprague-Harrington 14 13 7 20 - 54

ST. GEORGE’S - Liu 11, Clarke 13, Philopant 0, Stothart 0, Henley 12, Blume 0, Grant 0, Nielsen 0, DePonty 2, Routh-Corker 18, Kutteruf 0, Moore 0.

SPRAGUE-HARRINGTON - Maurer 0, Whipple 2, Ernst 0, Walters 16, Charlton 0, Hatten 9, Harding 0, Hatcher 0, Engles 14, Morse 5, Scoles 8.

Ritzville 61, Wellpinit 46

The Redskins (18-6) kept pace with the Broncos through the first half, with Ritzville’s leading scorers, Megan Yerxa and Shannon Russel, sitting on the bench in foul trouble.

Wellpinit hit 11 of 16 free throws in the first half. The 16 attempts were the most against the Broncos in any game this season. The Redskins finished 16 of 23 from the line.

“We were a little hyper, a little too keyed up,” said Ritzville coach Howard Manke of his team’s first-half fouling streak.

The third quarter, however, was a different story.

With all of the starters back, the Broncos strung together a 13-3 run for a 15-point lead at the end of the period.

Wellpinit’s Miranda Payne scored eight of her game-high 18 points in the fourth.

Jamie Alpach stepped up with Yerxa and Russel on the bench, scoring 17 points to go with three steals. Yerxa and Russel combined for 23.

It was Ritzville’s 33rd consecutive win.

In Wednesday’s 6 p.m. semifinal at SFCC, St. George’s plays Ritzville. S-H and Wellpinit play at 6 at Spokane Community College in a loser-out game.

Wellpinit 7 12 9 18 - 46

Ritzville 12 12 19 18 - 61

WELLPINIT - Covington 3, Pakootas 3, Stearns 4, Allen 10, Tonasket 2, Barnaby 2, Flett 4, Payne 18.

RITZVILLE - Wellsandt 4, Warriner 0, Sackmann 0, Weber 8, Horpedahl 0, Fitch 8, Gibler 0, Russel 12, Yerxa 11, Alspach 17, Janzen 1, Zicha 0.

Selkirk 57, Davenport 44

Rachea Allert had six assists and shot 5 of 8 from the field, and Molly Carlson added nine rebounds as the seventh-ranked Rangers (21-3) defeated the Gorillas (10-15) at SCC.

The Rangers, who hit 16 of 21 free throws, held tough when Davenport pulled within four points in the third quarter. Selkirk advances to the semifinals at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at SFCC against Wilbur-Creston (16-6).

Christie Emery hit 7 of 15 from the field and added 11 rebounds for Davenport. The Gorillas play a loser-out game at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at SCC against Northport (18-7).

W-C defeated Northport 75-53 in the early game at SCC. No details were reported.

Davenport 10 9 14 11 - 44

Selkirk 13 12 18 14 - 57

DAVENPORT - Swain 8, Marriott 12, Reed 0, Smith 5, Guhlke 0, Schreck 4, Lust 1, Kunz 6, Emory 14, Pauls 0, Rux 0, Calgary 0.

SELKIRK - Fairbairn 14, Scherf 6, Barnes 2, Pettis 10, Smith 0, Haney 4, Jones 2, Beatty 0, Allert 12, Carlson 11.

, DataTimes