Titans pass early test with victory over Snohomish

It’s not how you start, the axiom goes, but how you finish. But it was the minutes in the middle that mattered in University’s 68-56 win over visiting Snohomish.

The Titans trailed 17-4 to the hot-starting visitors because of taut defense and 6-for-7 shooting, including two 3-point baskets.

But, even with U-Hi scoring leader Jami Bjorklund out of the game with a first-quarter thigh contusion, the Titans outscored their guests 49-22 beginning with 1:41 left in the first quarter into the opening seconds of the fourth and built a 14-point lead.

It was enough to offset the Panthers’ fourth-quarter rally that, with 3:38 to go, pared the lead to six.

“This is why we came over,” said Snohomish coach Ken Roberts. “I don’t mind losing games like this at all. Anytime you can learn from it, it makes you better later.”

Both Roberts and U-Hi coach Mark Stinson approached this non-league game from the same perspective.

Roberts said he wants to play the best teams he can. Last year state sixth-placer Snohomish traveled to perennial state placer Prairie, near Vancouver. This year the team bused to Spokane for the game against U-Hi and Ferris today, at noon.

Stinson, whose team faces Kentlake today at Gonzaga University, offered a similar explanation for the tough non-league schedule.

“We did this on purpose to simulate the playoffs a bit,” he said. “We’re playing three tough teams in five days, and having to do so without Jami could be a good test for us.”

Initially the team had no answer for 6-foot-1 Eastern Washington University-bound post Sydney Benson or outside shooter Amanda Best who combined for 20 first-half points.

Then Snohomish got into foul trouble and U-Hi sophomore Angie Bjorklund took over the game outside and in with great support from others, Emily Kuipers and Dara Zack, in particular. The trio combined for 26 second-half points and 23 rebounds after Bjorklund put up 14 of her 24 in the first half.

Zack, a 5-8 sophomore, has scored a total 18 points in her first two varsity games.

Lewis and Clark 59, Redmond 56

The Tigers traveled west and escaped in another game against a state-tournament perennial. Little separated the two from start to finish, but the Mustangs had no answer for Heather Bowman, who scored 26 points inside, or Briann January, who added 15 more.

Gonzaga Prep 66, Cheney 30

The Bullpups (2-0) won easily for the second time this week as Alex Butler hauled down 10 rebounds and point guard Corinna O’Brien had nine steals and nine assists. Eleven players scored against the visiting Blackhawks (0-2).

Central Valley 59, East Valley 46

The host Bears (1-1) picked up their initial win for new coach Judy Walter using full-court pressure to force several turnovers and to lead by 17 points at intermission. Kayla LaRue had her second strong outing with a game-high 16 points against the Knights (1-1).

Clarkston 64, Rogers 29

Alicia Jelinek and Kathryn DeVleming combined for 28 points, and the visiting Bantams (2-0) built a big first-half lead in their easy win over the Pirates (0-2).