St. John-Endicott pulls upset in opener

YAKIMA – The St. John-Endicott Eagles came into the State 1B girls basketball tournament as something of an outsider looking in.

After all, SJE’s 16-4 record included three losses to co-favorite Colton, and the first-round draw of powerhouse Almira/Coulee-Hartline didn’t seem to be doing the Eagles any favors either.

But for SJE coach Bob Clements, that was all fine. He knew his squad, by virtue of three tough games with top-ranked Colton, was tested and he relished the thought of a tough state tournament opener.

In the space of four minutes early Wednesday evening in the SunDome, the Eagles kicked the door down and grabbed a nice comfortable chair for the rest of the week with a 60-42 rout of the Warriors (22-1).

“I knew our kids were capable of rising to the occasion,” Clements said. “That’s what they did tonight.”

St. John-Endicott (17-4) moves into tonight’s 7:30 quarterfinal against Lummi. It’s the third straight trip to the quarterfinals for the third-ranked team in the state.

The loss extended a two-game state tournament losing streak for the Warriors and drops them into the 12:30 p.m. loser-out game against Pateros.

The showdown between two of the three better teams in the girls tournament lived up to its billing for the better part of three quarters. But SJE ratcheted up the defensive intensity in a 3-minute stretch, turning a 31-28 lead into a 49-31 advantage.

“We changed our pressure on No. 12 (Madeline Issak) because we felt we were wearing her down,” he said. “They have three quality players, but even as a freshman, she makes them go.”

The Eagles extended their lead from three to 13 at 41-28 after a turnover and ensuing layin by Alyssa FitzGerald followed by a technical on the ACH bench and the accompanying free throws.

FitzGerald led SJE with 22 points. Kadee McCanna chipped in 17 and eight rebounds.

Issak and Sarah Gloyn had 15 each for ACH.

St. Michael’s 55, Taholah 49: The Warriors stunned the Chitwins (18-3) – snapping a 14-game Taholah winning streak – in the late opening-round game, rallying from 16 points down to open their first state tournament appearance with a win.

St. Michael’s (11-13) will play North Sound Christian in the late quarterfinal tonight at 9.

Taholah dashed out to a 22-8 lead after one quarter. The Warriors closed the gap to 30-21 at halftime and just kept plugging. Poor free-throw shooting (1 for 8 in the first half) kept St. Michael’s from being close at the break.

Coach Amy Vogel said she told her charges that a couple of adjustments could make a difference.

“I told the girls we had to stop the 3-pointers (Taholah made 6 of 12 in the first half) and pick up our defense,” Vogel said in the midst of small but rowdy St. Michael’s crowd. “I knew we could shoot free throws better.”

St. Michael’s finally tied the game at 41 with 3:03 left and by the 1:17 mark had a five-point lead.

Katie Drass paced four Warriors in double figures with 17 points. Katie Urann – who had 19 rebounds – and Tina Raynor had 14 each and Marianne Raynor contributed 10.

Columbia (Hunters) 41, Neah Bay 39 (OT): Julie Ann Larrew’s layup with 10 seconds remaining lifted the Lions into the second round with a narrow win over the Red Devils. Columbia (20-4) will play Sunnyside Christian at 5:30 p.m.

The Lions rallied from a 32-22 deficit in the third period. After taking the lead at 2-0, Columbia didn’t lead again until Selena Osborn’s putback with 3:01 left in overtime.

Shayla Nagel tied the game with a layin with 47 seconds remaining and then Krista Colvin’s steal with 21 seconds left set up Larrew’s winner.

Osborn led Columbia with 11 points.

Colton 66, Wishkah Valley 15: The top-ranked Wildcats wasted little time with the Loggers, racing to a 23-0 lead after one quarter and never looking back.

Colton (21-0), which has won all of its first-round games in three trips to the 1B tournament, advances to today’s 4 p.m. quarterfinal against Sprague-Harrington. A win would put Colton in the semifinals for the third straight year.

Kelsey Moser led the Wildcats with 17 points and Mollie Kramer had 13.

Colton forced 43 turnovers.

Sprague-Harrington 31, Moses Lake Christian 26: The Falcons took a 10-4 lead after one period and then held on to win. The win is S-H’s eighth straight state tournament win, including the program’s 2007 state title in the initial 1B tournament.

Justyne Talkington, who had five points and an assist in the first quarter, scored 13 points to lead the Falcons (10-11). Katlyn Lowman added 12 and 10 rebounds.