Prosser snaps WV’s win streak

YAKIMA – For 13 long years, the state basketball championship trophy the West Valley girls won in 1997 – the lone girls state championship in school history – has stood as solitary sentry in the school’s trophy case, silently upholding the honor of the school’s female athletes.

It will have to wait at least one more year for company.

Prosser brought an end to the Eagles’ state title dreams at the SunDome on Friday night with a 55-41 semifinal win in the girls State 2A basketball championship

The loss ended West Valley’s win streak at 25 games stretching over two seasons. The first win in that streak was a 63-49 win over Prosser in the game for third and sixth places last March.

The Eagles (24-1) will play Burlington-Edison (22-4) in the game for third and sixth places at 5 p.m.

“We turned the ball over too many times and didn’t shoot free throws well at all,” WV coach Lorin Carlon said.

“They were better than us tonight.”

West Valley’s Shanique Nilles was again magnificent. Nilles scored 23 points from all over the floor, 16 in the second half as she attempted to rally her team with high-scoring teammate Hannah Love struggling with her shooting touch and a nasty bump on the head suffered at the end of the third period.

Prosser’s Tamara Jones was equally impressive, scoring 25 points and hauling down 12 rebounds.

Pullman 71, Eatonville 46: The Greyhounds (18-7) made an emphatic statement in what their coach Phil Morgan had termed “a character game,” roaring out to a 28-12 first-quarter lead and never breaking stride.

Pullman will play Ellensburg in the game for fourth and seventh places today at 1:30 p.m.

Danielle Hodge, who scored just 10 points combined in Pullman’s first two games, led the Greyhounds with 23 points. Jordan Levenseller chipped in 14 and Shelby Cheslek had 12 and nine rebounds.

“We knew it would be a case of who wanted it worse on that day,” Morgan said.

Pullman clearly did. The Hounds led 22-7 midway through the first period and Eatonville never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

East Valley (Yakima) 66, Clarkston 52: East Valley’s struggling offense got healthy in a big way against the Bantams, eliminating Clarkston in the consolation semifinals.

The Red Devils had scored just 65 points in their two previous games but exploded for 37 in the second half against Clarkston.

Kellie McCann-Smith rebounded from a tough day on Thursday, leading Clarkston with 26 points. McCann-Smith had just 10 in the Eagles’ win over Tumwater.

Stephanie Gilchrist and KC McConnell had 12 points each.