Lewis and Clark girls lose to Snohomish in OT

TACOMA – When the Lewis and Clark girls basketball team reflects on its season, the Tigers will wonder what might have been had they taken care of business in the closing minutes Thursday.

The Tigers missed the front end of three one-and-ones in the final 36 seconds of regulation and managed to make just 1 of 7 shots from the field in overtime as the Snohomish Panthers held on for a 54-50 decision in a State 4A tournament opener at the Tacoma Dome.

LC (18-7) meets Kentlake (21-6) in an elimination game Friday morning at 9.

After falling behind by 12 points early in the third quarter, LC clawed its way back. The Tigers got half of it back by the end of the period.

Snohomish led 41-34 when LC went on a 12-0 surge, capped when Riley Lupfer made two free throws for a 46-41 lead with 1:25 to go.

That’s when the great comeback was wasted.

Still, LC led 46-44 when Snohomish got the rebound following a miss free throw. LC had four defenders back but Madison Pollock drove three quarters of the court, weaving through traffic in the key before scooping up a shot that went in as the buzzer sounded, forcing overtime.

“I didn’t even know I made it until everyone was cheering,” said Pollock, who finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

Lupfer, who led LC with 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals, bemoaned the missed free throws.

“Free throws are an easy shot,” said Lupfer, who had the final miss with five seconds to go.

Lupfer said LC’s problem was getting into a 12-point hole.

“We got it back but if we never got down by (12) it wouldn’t have been a problem,” Lupfer said.

Snohomish coach Ken Roberts said his team was fortunate.

“We got lucky. They missed free throws,” Roberts said. “They don’t normally miss. At the same time we played our butts off.”

LC coach George Pfeifer said his team had opportunities.

“I told you before we had to make baskets,” Pfeifer said. “I thought we fought hard, tip your hat to Snohomish. They made some plays at the end and we didn’t make some plays at the end. It wasn’t like we weren’t trying to make plays at the end.”

Pfeifer said Snohomish’s triangle-and-two defense caused problems.

“We haven’t seen a lot of that,” he said.