Photo: A proud Sequim Wolves team with their 4th-place trophy
By Oly Archibald
YAKIMA — The 4th and final day of the three high school state tournaments are called “trophy days” by most. All six teams in each classification will receive a trophy. But some, such as the KONP Broadcast team in Yakima, call it “tear fest Saturday”. Whether teams win or lose, there is enough Kleenex being used to clear an acre of timber.
After the “Little General” Hannah Bates, as nicked name by Eric Tiejen KONP tournament color commentator, took matters in her own hands with the score tied at 32 and 11 seconds left. Bates took the ball right down the boulevard with a sweet kiss off the glass that fell into the mesh to make the biggest basket in the history of Sequim Wolves girls’ basketball. Othello still had 4 seconds left and they almost pulled of an incredible play to get a layup but that stories for another day. The final buzzer sounded and the Sequim players, fans and KONP Broadcast team went into a wild frenzy only up staged by the 4 state Champions that night.
Assistant coach Darren Steven’s and all the Sequim players were all in tears hugging anybody and everybody around them. Rumors have it from family members at the game that their family members listening to the broadcast on Newsradio KONP were all in tears as well. So that’s why this day is called tear fest Saturday.
It was an unbelievable comeback that one KONP broadcaster had not seen in his 41 years of broadcasting. Like their game against White River, turnovers killed the Wolves in the first half as they shot an artic ice cold 12% from the field. The Wolves trailed 22-11 at the half and 29-21 after the 3rd. At this point, the Sequim defense had kept them in the game. The Wolves, also unlike the White River game, went 5 of 5 from the charity stripe and the Wolves stopped the turnover barrage and ended up with only 13 total turnovers. The key play of the game came with just over a minute left when Wolves’ junior Jolene Vaara stole the ball from 1st team all-state guard Annalee Coronado and took it to the glass to pull the Wolves within 4 points. The rest was history, as Wolves point guard Hannah Bates vowed she would not lose to Othello. It was important to her to place 4th over White River if the Hornets lost to Prosser. They did lose and the nicknamed “Little General” got her hard-earned wish.
In big games every point matters, and the points were hard to find for most of the game except when the Wolves outscored Othello 13-3 in the 4th quarter. Senior Jelissa Julmist, in foul trouble all game, saved her best half of the season in the 2nd half getting double and tripled team. Julmist finished with a hard fought 11 points and 8 rebounds. Jolene Vaara, besides making the steal on Coronado, hit for 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
Bates ended her Sequim high school career with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 Assists. Sophomore Libby Turella scored the last 3 points with a 3 ball earlier in the game. Sequim outscored Othello 23-10 in the 2nd half.
It’s not a coincidence that the AP media members had the Wolves ranked 4th for most of the season and that’s exactly where the Wolves finished.
Vaara and Bates both made the 2nd team “All-State Tournament” team as picked by the media members unlike the all-league teams which are picked by coaches and are often over ripe with politics.
Bates, Julmist and Sammie Bacon played their last game in their purple and white jerseys carrying out their state tournament 4th place trophy with tears in their eyes. “Tear fest Saturday” would not want it any other way!
Hannah Bates puts the ball off the glass
Jolene Vaara and Hannah Bates tell the KONP audience how they pulled off their 4th-place finish