Girls 4A: University eliminated by Kentlake in consolation bracket

Aniston Denckla and Aolani Talamaivao-Calderon scored 14 points apiece and 10th-seeded Kentlake (21-8) eliminated No. 14 seed University (18-10) 49-48 in a state 4A consolation matchup at the Tacoma Dome on Friday.

The Falcons were a different team than on Thursday, when Central Valley limited them to 16 points and shut them out in the second half.

Ellie Boni paced U-Hi with 15 points and Claire Dingus added 12 points with 18 rebounds.

“We just didn’t play well,” University coach Jay Kennedy said. “We didn’t do what we do. We looked tired. We just didn’t play well today.”

The Titans trailed by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, but put on a late charge.

Kinsley Barrington halted a 10-point run by Kentlake with a jumper in the lane.

Dingus followed with a pair of free throws and Barrington knocked down another short jumper. Boni hit one from the wing and Dingus hit made a layup to draw withing three with under 1 minute to go.

The Titans got a stop on the defensive end and Elana Rhodes made her only bucket of the day to make it 49-48.

U-Hi got one last possession but the ball was knocked loose and the Titans couldn’t get a game-winning shot off.

University led 26-18 at halftime and got the lead out to 11 early in the third quarter on a pair of free throws by Dingus.

Kentlake roared back. The Falcons went on an extended 25-5 run into the fourth quarter.

Kentlake advances to the fourth-place game on Saturday at 8 a.m.