Freeman wins first State 1A game

YAKIMA – The firsts just keep on coming for the Freeman Scotties girls basketball team.

Freeman won its 20th game for the first time in school history to clinch a No. 1 seed at state and topped that record by winning its first State 1A game in school history Wednesday at the SunDome.

But it wasn’t a cakewalk.

The Scotties, the top-ranked team in the state and a pre-tournament favorite to capture the big gold ball of a trophy Saturday night, downed Zillah, 50-37, in the opening round.

The Leopards cut the Freeman lead to just seven points with under 6 minutes to play.

“I was so nervous about this game,” Freeman coach Matt Gregg said. “I was nervous because this was my first state game as a head coach, but I was also nervous about how we’d come out and handle our first game here.

“And I think we played a little nervous early and as a result, Zillah went up on us, 7-2.”

At which point the Scotties shook both their nerves and the Leopards, reeling off a 20-1 run to close out the first quarter.

“Yeah, after we did that, I relaxed a little,” Gregg grinned.

The Scotties, who average more than 60 points per game, shot just 29 percent from the field in the game.

“I sat up in the stands and talked with (Colfax coach) Corey Baerlocher earlier, and he told me they shot 29 percent from the floor last year when they won the state championship,” Gregg said. “So I guess I don’t feel so bad about how we shot, but I do know we can do better.”

What pleased the second-year head coach was how his team played defense – especially point guard Melissa Baker, who was a perpetual motion defender against Zillah.

“She was everywhere,” Gregg said. “I think that’s the best game she’s played defensively all year. When you play that well on defense, I can forgive you launching a few hurried 3-pointers.”

Gregg then checked his stat sheet and saw that Baker was 3 of 18 from the floor, 2 of 11 from beyond the arc, in scoring 10 points.

“Well, maybe not 18 of them,” he laughed.

The Scotties were without starter Kaila Floyd, who came down with the flu overnight and remained at the hotel during the game.

“When she was at our shootaround she looked positively green,” Gregg said. “When we left the hotel she was looking a little better. By the time I got back to the locker room after the game, the girls were already on the phone with her, telling her all about the game.”

Filling in, sophomore Jennessa Miller scored eight points, including the Scotties’ first two field goals, and pulled down eight rebounds.

“Jennessa came in and did a great job,” senior post Ashlee Taylor said. “But that’s the kind of team we are. We’re always there to back one another up. We all get along well and of one of us struggles, there’s someone there to fill in.”

Jessie DePell shot 5 of 15 from the field, but was 3 of 5 from 3-point range and paced all scorers with 15.

Colfax 35, White Swan 32

For a team without a single senior and with just three juniors, the Bulldogs were the team with tournament experience to fall back on.

“This is what happens when you graduate seven seniors off one team,” junior post Angie Dennison said. “But we have tournament experience to fall back on, and our freshmen have all played a lot of basketball.

“I think our best basketball is still ahead of us.”

The Bulldogs led by 10 at half and held a nine-point advantage after three quarters, only to have the Cougars gain ground with a frenzied press in the final 8 minutes – cutting the Colfax lead to 32-28 with under four minutes to play.

Junior Kylie Shaw led all scorers with nine points for Colfax.

Lake Roosevelt 48, Warden 34

Amanda Marchand scored 14 points to lead the Raiders, who broke their opener open in the second and third quarters, where they outscored Warden, 35-17.