U-Hi vs. LC, but not for title

TACOMA – University’s hopes of a State 4A basketball championship went up in the smoke of a Snohomish 3-point shooting barrage.

The Panthers made 10 of 22 shots from beyond the arc to hold off the Titans 58-52 and earn a date with Garfield in tonight’s title game.

The victory was Snohomish’s 25th straight, following a season-opening loss to the Titans in Spokane. But unlike that one, when the Panthers jumped out to a 17-3 lead, only to lose 68-56, they denied U-Hi’s every attempt to rally from a 27-13 first-half deficit Friday night by answering from long range.

Four different times in the second half, when U-Hi gained leads, Snohomish players answered with a 3-point basket.

“You can set up plays,” said Snohomish coach Ken Roberts, “but the kids have to make plays.”

Tara Angell, who made 6 of 8, caused the biggest headaches, but Amanda Best and Daesha Henderson also came through when U-Hi threatened to come back in the game.

“I guess I was just in a groove,” said Angell, who wound up with 21 points, “because I haven’t been shooting well all year.”

She also had missed nine games with a broken hand and returned to the lineup prior to districts.

The Titans, who had played so loose the first two days of the tournament, came out tight against Snohomish.

At one point in the first half the normally sweet-shooting team was only 4 for 19 from the field and had connected on only half their free-throw attempts. Toss in a dozen turnovers and it was a recipe for disaster.

“We played three quarters of a game,” said U-Hi coach Mark Stinson. “I don’t know if they were tight or what in the first quarter, but they tried to win the game in one possession. Snohomish moved the ball around nicely, was disciplined and made their shots.”

The Panthers had runs of nine and 11 points to build a 27-13 lead with 2:33 left until intermission. Angell hit three 3-point baskets, her team was sharp in offensive execution and frustrated U-Hi defensively, particularly inside.

But in the half’s final 1:56 and 2 minutes into the third quarter Snohomish, too, made mistakes and University tied the game.

The Titans later wiped out a five-point deficit to lead, Jami Bjorklund taking control inside for five baskets. Her sister, Angie, had three more. Telling in the outcome was fact that the Bjorklund sisters had scored 36 of the team’s 37 points.

Snohomish’s 3-point barrage continued with five clutch makes and try as U-Hi might, they couldn’t quite overcome it even as others finally got involved.

A 3-point play by Tonya Schnibbe put the Titans up 40-38 to start the fourth quarter. Boom! Angell connected and they fell behind by five points again.

Emily Kuipers hit a 3-point shot and Best answered. Kuipers again hit a 3-point shot, with 1:53 remaining that tied the game at 50-all, but 30 seconds later Angell’s final shot made it 53-50.

The Titans closed to within a point with a minute left, but didn’t score again.

“The biggest thing is we didn’t make our free throws (8 for 15). We can kick ourselves for that,” said Stinson. “And we missed a few layins. Those were things we can control.

“But I think our girls feel they left it on the floor and played hard. I don’t know if they are the better team overall, but this night they were better.”

Angie Bjorklund, despite a sub-par game, finished with 21 points and Jami scored 19. But Snohomish was better from afar and tough around the basket when need be.

U-Hi faces league-rival Lewis and Clark for third-place today.