Lewis and Clark edges University for third place
TACOMA – The difference between third and sixth places at the State 4A girls basketball tournament between Lewis and Clark and University came down to a loose ball scramble between each team’s senior star.
Titan Jami Bjorklund was whistled for a foul with 6 seconds remaining in the game and Briann January made both free throws for a 47-45 LC victory in the fourth meeting between the team teams and final high school game between good friends.
The two Greater Spokane League teams both finished with school-best 26-3 records and split their season series. Third was the second-highest state finish for the Tigers. U-Hi collected its second sixth-place trophy, the last coming 15 years ago.
Such was the 2005 state tournament where the littlest of things, not the least of them the judgment of those officiating the games, helped determine the fates of several teams.
In another situation, the play that sent January to the line might not have been called. The official standing in front of the play let it go. The call came from across the court.
LC, trailing 45-42, used a double screen out front to free second cutter Lyndi Siedensticker for a game-tying 3-point shot with 32 seconds remaining. Bjorklund missed a following layin, but the Tigers turned the ball back to her at their end. As she turned it came loose and she and January dove for it, knocking the ball out of bounds.
The whistle ensued, January made the shots and LC took home the third-place plaque.
“Everyone knew they were going to trophy, but you know, third meant a lot to us,” said Tigers coach Jim Redmon. “We were rated third all year so someone knew what they were talking about..”
Titans coach Mark Stinson was gracious, going into the Tigers locker room and congratulated their team. He also bit his tongue when asked about the decisive play. The same referee had earlier whistled him for a technical foul for standing up. That cost possession and two points that started LC on a 15-3 third quarter run than wiped out U-Hi’s 25-16 halftime lead.
“We’ll look back on it someday and think that sixth place is a good accomplishment,” said Stinson after the game. “But right now it stings a little bit. You always want to win your last game. Only four teams get to do that.”
The Titans had led 25-14 with 19 seconds remaining until intermission. But in the second half the Titans scored only four field goals, the same as sophomore Ula Tauala had on her way to 12 points, sharing team honors with January.
Two baskets came in the third-quarter run as the Tigers took a 35-30 edge. Two more came in the fourth, the last putting LC ahead 40-38.
“I wasn’t scared,” said Tauala, who two nights earlier had dental work done to replace a tooth knocked out in the game with Prairie. “This time I put it on line because it was Briann’s and Bryce (Bohlen)’s last game.”
January’s prep career ended with the winning free throws. Next she’ll play at Arizona State
“When you start basketball on the line and running you say it’s going to last forever and it seems it’s going to last forever,” January said. “But it’s over so quick.”
Jami Bjorklund hit a pair of free throws and Angie Bjorklund, who struggled with her shooting for the second straight game, made a 3-point basket as time ran out on the 30-second clock to put U-Hi back up by three points. That set the stage for the game’s ending dramatics and final placing at state for the two GSL schools.
Jami Bjorklund ended her career with an 18-point, eight-rebound game. Next up for her is basketball at Gonzaga University.
“The game could have gone to anyone and we lost to a good team,” a tearful Bjorklund said. “Mostly I’m sad because all these girls on this team are my best friends. It’s sadder to leave them than to leave high school basketball.”
Other games
Garfield 63, Snohomish 58 (OT): Senior Malia O’Neal scored five of her 17 points in overtime as the Bulldogs (26-1) defeated the Panthers (25-2) to win their first state title since 1987.
Tournament MVP Samantha Tinned added 14 points for Garfield, which lost to Roosevelt in last year’s championship. Snohomish had won 25 straight games since a loss to University.
Prairie 68, Monroe 55: Junior guard Katie Madison finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four assists as the Falcons (26-4) defeated the Bearcats (23-5) in the game for fourth and seventh places.
Prairie, with just one senior on its roster, had placed third or better at the last seven tournaments. Monroe earned its fourth state trophy.
Kentlake 38, Redmond 35: Allyson Sievers and Luv Rattler combined for 27 points as the Falcons (25-4) rallied past the Mustangs (20-8) in the game for fifth and eighth places.
Kentlake recorded its highest finish at state.