Vikings survive
In 2005, Mossyrock’s then-sophomore Lexi Belcher scored 32 points on a 9-of-12 shooting performance from beyond the arc in a state tournament game, as the Vikings defeated Garfield-Palouse 53-51.
Wednesday night, a now-senior Belcher, who came into the game averaging 22.5 points per game for the season, managed to produce a mere 12 points on 2-of-10 shooting as Mossyrock defeated another foe at state.
She and the rest of the Vikings can thank teammate Corina Allen for that. The 5-foot5 guard scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4 of 6 from the 3-point line to lead Mossyrock in a 58-46 win over Liberty Bell (Winthrop) in the opening round of the inaugural girls State 2B basketball tournament.
“We came out really loose, we weren’t nervous, it’s been my fourth year, so it helped a lot,” said Allen, who came into the game averaging 9.3 points a contest. “There’s been other games like this.
“If one person doesn’t hit, other people step up. That’s what makes us so good, because we have so many threats. Lexi wasn’t hitting tonight and I was.”
Viking (21-2) head coach Gary Stamper agreed with Allen’s assessment.
“Lexi and Corina kind of flip-flopped on season (point) averages,” said Stamper. “I know that Coach Bourn probably put a lot of emphasis on shutting Lexi down. We’ve prided ourselves all year. If someone has taken something away offensively, we’ve been fortunate to have other people step up.”
The Mt. Lions (17-8) took an early 6-2 lead 1:30 into the contest, with four points coming from Shelby Scott, who scored a team-high 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field.
After the team’s traded baskets, Mossyrock took its first lead, 12-10, at 1:26 of the opening quarter when Belcher completed a three-point play after driving to the basket.
Liberty Bell’s Korrie Bourn knotted the score at 14 with a short jumper at 6:37 of the second quarter, but the tenacious Vikings came right back and took their next and final lead of the contest, 17-14, on an Allen 3-pointer from the corner – one of her many timely 3-pointers on the night.
After a Kelli Campbell jump shot cut the Mossyrock lead to 21-20 with 2:10 remaining in the half, the Vikings scored the final five points to take a 26-20 lead at the break. Two of the points were scored by Tisa Pelletier, who chipped in 11 points and seven boards, and three were dumped in by Belcher, who offset her poor shooting night with a game-high 13 rebounds.
“She had 13 boards, a couple of assists, so she made up for it,” Stamper said. “She was working hard, they were making her work hard, but I think she looks at it as a challenge.”
The second half saw more back and forth play, but as it was in the first half, the Vikings were able to keep the Mt. Lions at bay by executing better on the offensive end. Mossyrock finished the contest with a 40.4 shooting percentage (19-47) from the floor, and Liberty
Bell finished at 27.4 percent (17 for 62).
Liberty Bell came in as the more inexperienced team, something Mountain Lion head coach Mike Bourn acknowledged.
“This season bodes well for us, as we just had one senior,” Bourn said. “We have some young girls, and we were a little tight early. If they keep the same mental attitude, they’ll be all right.”
Stamper agreed that being seasoned veterans of the tournament was a positive.
“I think the experience helps – it’s not so much me, but for our kids,” Stamper said. “They’re pretty even-keeled about things. They know we’re coming in and that there’s a lot of good teams over here, and we have to take them one game at a time.
“But yes, it’s nice having the experience. It doesn’t assure you of victory, but it is nice knowing that the surroundings are fairly familiar.”
Mossyrock faces St. George’s tonight at 9 in a quarterfinal.