Aspyn Adams scores 20 points and Mt. Spokane shuts down Bethel in state regional clash

Aspyn Adams scored 20 points with six 3-pointers and second-seeded Mt. Spokane handled seventh-seeded Bethel 63-32 in a state regional round game at University HS.

Mt. Spokane advances to a state second-round game on Thursday at the Tacoma Dome, while Bethel faces a loser-out first-round game on Wednesday.

Niveya Henley scored 13 points and Jayda Noble added 10 points – all in the first half – with 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (22-1).

The Braves (20-4) went undefeated in league to emerge champion from the Pierce County Conference, but were held to single digits in the first and third quarters.

“We talked a lot over the course of the last couple of practices, if we want to go where we want to go we have to play defense at an elite level,” Mt. Spokane coach David Pratt said. “We watched film, we knew what they were doing. And we just did our job.”

It was a bit of a sloppy start and the officials allowed a lot of contact, but Noble was a beast on the boards, grabbing six in the first 6 minutes. Adams drilled a couple of 3s late and Mt. Spokane led 16-6 after one.

In the second, Henley picked up a couple of inside baskets while Adams and Emma Main popped from the outside and the Wildcats took a 14-point lead into the break.

Adams and Henley hit from 3 at the start of the third, and Adams’ steal and fastbreak layup made it a 20-point game with 4:29 left in the frame.

Mt. Spokane limited the Braves to two points in the quarter and led 47-20 after three.

Adams made two more 3s in the fourth quarter.

“In my opinion she’s one of the best shooters in the state,” Pratt said. “She got good looks and put them in the hole.”