Back-to-back
TACOMA – For two years on Washington 4A basketball’s biggest stage with the stakes at their greatest, Katelan Redmon has answered the call. And the Lewis and Clark Tigers are state champions again as a result.
Redmon scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half, including two baskets during a critical 2-minute, 30-second span that propelled LC to a 39-34 victory over the University Titans.
It was the second straight title for the Tigers who last year had a break-out career game from Redmon, with 22 points when the school won its first state championship.
Her uncle and coach, Jim Redmon, was at a loss to explain why she picks this time of the year in particular to shine.
“She’s had a tough go with Angie (Bjorklund),” he said. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s something she felt she had to do.”
It wasn’t a pretty state final. Two teams that were playing each other for the fifth time this year and have been in this situation before are so familiar with each other’s offenses that it was difficult for either to score.
Conspicuous was the inability of Titan All-American Bjorklund to muster any offense at all. Bjorklund entered the tournament averaging just under 26 points per game. She finished the night with a mere six points, 10 below her previous season low.
“Fortunately for us Angie had an off night,” said Redmon. “I haven’t seen that in four years.”
The other half of the Titans’ one-two scoring punch, Dara Zack was limited to four points, although she did haul down 15 rebounds.
Other sources lifted their teams early in the low-scoring first half that was tied 6-6 after a quarter, with U-Hi clinging to an 18-17 lead at intermission. LC season leaders Lyndi Seidensticker and Redmon combined for a dozen points, but got back-to-back baskets by reserve Kiki January, including a 3-pointer for a 15-12 lead.
Sub Kasey Jurich had six of U-Hi’s points (and team high 10 for the game) to keep her team close.
The game was tied at 28-28 early in the fourth quarter with Redmon scoring nine of her team’s 11 points.
But the outcome swung right afterwards when Seidensticker knocked down the only 3-pointer of the half, then the Tigers defense caused four successive turnovers.
“We kind of waited to put on our half-court trap because I was worried about our legs,” Jim Redmon explained.
In succession Katelan Redmon stole the ball from Bjorklund and took it home, Ula Tauala scored following another turnover and Redmon tallied on the fourth Titan mistake. With 3:18 to go the the score was 37-28 and University’s attempt to rally fell short.
Titans coach Mark Stinson called it a chess match and that LC had more pawns.
“They made more bank shots, we couldn’t and that was the difference,” he said.
When asked to explain how she had a second straight impeccable performance in a state final, Redmon said it was a matter of wanting to go out and get the win.
“My teammates got me the ball and I took it at Angie,” said Redmon of performance that included some tough makes in traffic. “We’d played four times and it was an even challenge. I wanted to come out and beat them and knew it was a matter of moving and getting open.”
She said the key to her big performances in LC’s biggest games was to be relaxed as if it were another game.
“When we finished first last year,” she said. “I wanted to come back and win it again.”
Fellow senior Lyndi Seidensticker, whose big game punctuated by a 3-pointer the day before that got the Tigers into the title game, added 10 points and led rebounding with eight.
She put the title win into perspective.
“It’s amazing,” she said, “and the perfect way to end the season. It was always in the back of our minds, but we go game to game.”
Added Jim Redmon, “I’m proud of the kids. This was their win. They did it. (I’m) just here for the ride.”
All-Tournament
Girls
First team
Courtney Vandersloot, Kentwood, MVP
Angie Bjorklund, U-Hi
Katelan Redmon, LC
Ashley Corral, Prairie
Shauneice Samms, Mount Tahoma
Second team
Kristi Kingma, Jackson
Lyndi Seidensticker, LC
Dara Zack, U-Hi
Jazmine Redmon, Mead
Kelli Valentine, Mead
Boys
First team
Shawn Stockton, Ferris, MVP
DeAngelo Casto, Ferris
Peyton Siva, Franklin
Josh Smith, Kentwood
Venoy Overton, Franklin
Second team
Jared Karstetter, Ferris
Brandon Turner, Kentridge
Galen Squiers, Redmond
Drew Harris, Eisenhower
Travis Sterling, Kentridge