Regional 4A tournament begins with no shockers

Lewis and Clark and University opened the 4A regional girls basketball tournament Tuesday with easy wins against overmatched foes on a true-to-form first night of the state-qualifying tournament.

The top two teams each from the Greater Spokane League and Big Nine Conference advanced with wins.

District 8 champion LC (22-1) beat Kamiakin (12-12) 80-43 without making a free throw until the game’s final two minutes. District runner-up U-Hi (22-1) defeated Kennewick (17-7) 75-38 in the opener of the doubleheader at Central Valley.

Both games were similar in nature, with the visiting schools from Kennewick hanging close early before succumbing to more talented and deeper foes.

Richland (21-2), the Big Nine No. 2 team, jumped on Gonzaga Prep (18-5) early en route to a 48-28 win in Pasco. Big Nine No. 1 Eisenhower (22-1) used full-court pressure to defeat Mt. Spokane (17-7) 62-50 in Yakima.

The regional tournament continues in Spokane on Friday. U-Hi plays Eisenhower at 4 p.m. and LC follows against Richland in semifinal games at Gonzaga University’s Martin Centre.

In loser-out games at U-Hi, G-Prep plays Kamiakin at 4 and Mt. Spokane plays Kennewick at 5:30.

University 74, Kennewick 38

Titans coach Mark Stinson had expressed pregame concern about the Lions, but they were allayed fairly quickly in this game.

“You always think after you win a whole bunch of games, then lose one (against LC) that you’re the worst team in America and the worst coach,” he said. “They’re a tough team and I’m glad we got through that.”

The Lions dominated early rebounding and got a couple of baskets from Julie Maciboba for an early 7-3 lead.

Then the Titans regrouped and ran off 13 straight points to take the suspense out of the game late in the first quarter.

Kennewick’s outside shooting missed the mark and the Titans began to hit the boards, guard Alissa Lanker in particular.

Jami Bjorklund scored three baskets in the run and sister Angie did much of the rest. She finished the first quarter with 12 points and had 17 by halftime to nearly outscore the Lions.

U-Hi led by as many as 23 points, was up 39-19 at intermission and added to it in each quarter of the second half. Angie Bjorklund finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

“I think it got away from us because they’re a pretty good team,” said Kennewick coach Scott Parker. “Every position is pretty strong and they have a couple kids off the bench who can also keep it going.”

He said that the Lions didn’t shoot the way they are capable, making just 13 of 53 attempts, mostly from the perimeter. Season scoring leader Rachel Johnson didn’t get a basket until late in the third quarter. Rachel Loosveldt led the team with 18 points.

Lewis and Clark 80, Kamiakin 43

Early Tigers leads of 8-4 and 15-9 were a prelude to 14 straight points that began near the end of the first quarter through midpoint of the second. Six different LC players scored.

By halftime, LC’s Briann January, Heather Bowman and Brittany Kennedy had combined for 24 points of a 34-15 lead.

“(Kamiakin) came out early and I thought they were actually outrebounding us and that was upsetting,” said coach Jim Redmon. “We picked up the intensity in the second quarter and I liked our third quarter, too.”

That was when Kennedy scored eight points on the way to a season-high 14, January added six more and LC outscored the Braves 28-8.

“Kennedy needed that,” said Redmon. “Her hand’s hurting and she’s had a couple tough shooting nights.”

The Tigers’ biggest lead was 75-29, every point coming from the field. They finished with 35 field goals, seven from 3-point range.

“I think they handled our defensive pressure well,” said Redmon of Kamiakin. “But I just appreciated our intensity in the second half.”

Eisenhower 62, Mt. Spokane 50

Katelan Redmon scored 20 of Mt. Spokane’s 26 first-half points and the Wildcats led after a quarter.

But the host Cadets used a full-court press to cause numerous turnovers and outscore their foe 29-16 in the middle two quarters.

The closest Mt. Spokane could come in the second half was to within six points in the fourth quarter.

Redmon finished with 23 points, and Charlee Jackson had nine points and nine rebounds.

Four Eisenhower players finished in double figures.

Richland 48, Gonzaga Prep 28

The Bullpups had 17 turnovers and made 12 of 34 field goals in their loss to the Bombers.

Richland ran out to a 31-13 first-half lead and was never headed.

Tara Cronin and Corinna O’Brien combined for 16 points for the Bullpups. Richland’s Hayley McCoy scored 19.