LC survives to play for title

TACOMA – A once-formidable 18-point Lewis and Clark lead had melted to nearly nothing with 3 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the State 4A girls basketball semifinal game Friday night against Prairie in the Tacoma Dome.

The two-time defending champions desperately needed someone to rise up.

That someone?

Kiki January.

The Tigers’ senior captain drove for a layin to stem a scoring drought. She later made a nice move in the paint giving the Tigers back an eight-point lead.

They went on to a 52-45 triumph, their 32nd straight victory and third straight trip to the championship game. It’s at 9 tonight against Moses Lake, a 50-45 semifinal winner over Pasco.

“I’m a team captain and main leader,” said January. “I was thinking I needed to score.”

Her contributions couldn’t have come at a more critical time. Brittany Kennedy had already fouled out and others were close.

The Falcons, who had found themselves helpless to score against a stifling LC defense, switched to a smaller lineup and swiftly put themselves in position to come all the way back.

But the Tigers (28-0) would have none of that. Not only did senior veteran January make those two critical scores, but sophomore Daisy Burke drove for a basket with 52 seconds remaining, and added three free throws down the stretch to ensure the win.

“Daisy and Kiki, in the last four minutes, made tremendous plays,” said coach Jim Redmon. “I think that was the difference.”

The game featured LC’s balance and defense against USC-bound guard Ashley Corral, who had scored 54 points in Prairie’s first two wins.

The Tigers used a trio of different players, plus double teams, to keep her contained, and had seven players score to grab a 14-6 lead after a quarter.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Kelsey Baker and Burke put LC up 12 early in the second quarter. And that lead was 32-14 at intermission. Burke and Sarah Kliewer scored seven points apiece and Baker six for the Tigers.

Then the offense shut down in the third quarter as Kennedy, Kliewer, Jeneva Anderson and Baker all picked up their third – and eventually Kennedy’s fourth – fouls.

“We got into foul trouble and lost our flow,” said Redmon. “We were trying not to lose and needed to play to win.”

Emily Travis hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter and scored with a second left in the session to earn LC a 41-25 lead by period’s end.

The Tigers were still in front 43-26 in the fourth quarter when Corral, Emily Lashua and Christine Sonners fueled Prairie’s comeback.

The Falcons rattled off 13 straight points to make it 43-39. Corral would finish with 21.

That was when January took the bull by the horns with her two bold baskets and Burke played like a seasoned veteran.

“I’m proud of our first half,” said Redmon. “If we didn’t have that big lead we wouldn’t have won.”

He added that the team never counted on reaching the state finals for a third successive time, but just played every game as it came.

“This is exciting,” he said. “But we have one game to go.”