By Oly Archibald
YAKIMA — The state 2A basketball tournaments start up Wednesday morning in Yakima and for the first time in several years none of the 4 local teams will be tipping off.
The Roughrider girls had their chance Saturday but were out gunned by West Valley’s all-state senior point guard Chloe DeHaro who hit for 27 points. That was just one point under her 28 points per game average. The Roughriders led 32-31 at the half but were outscored 27-18 in the 2nd half as the Eagles advanced to Yakima with the 48-41 win.
The Roughriders led early 20-12 and had a chance to create a more than comfortable lead but like in last year’s 13 point blown lead to Renton and last week’s one point loss to Sammamish, the Roughriders went to the bench often and the lead quickly evaporated. Time after time the Roughriders worked the ball down on the low blocks but instead of shooting inside, the Roughriders would quickly kick the ball back out and settle for low percentage 3-point shots.
Meanwhile the Roughriders couldn’t keep DeHaro from filling up her box score. DeHaro’s half court buzzer beater was just one of her game highlights. Even though she did not have one of her hot shooting nights, she still had 16 points at the half. In the 2nd half DeHaro only attempted two field goals but the Roughriders let her make a living at the free throw line where DeHaro scored 9 of her 11 2nd half points.
DeHaro killed the Roughriders defense with her radar dialed in no look passes too her orange-jerseyed teammates beating the Roughriders down the floor for lay ups. If fans want to know what life in the weight room looks like just gaze at DeHaro she would fit right in at Neah Bay!
As expected, the Eagles put DeHaro on Roughrider point guard Izzy Felton and DeHaro completely played Felton to her right side where Felton had been lethal getting the ball in the paint against the other Roughrider opponents. Keeping Felton out of the paint was the Eagles’ main goal.
Roughrider Sophomore Teanna Clark led the Roughriders with 12 points. Paige Mason hit for 9 points, Izzy Felton hit two, 3-point shots for 7 points and Lindsey Smith hit for 6 points. Sammamish, Enumclaw and White River, all made it to Yakima out of the District. Ironically, those 3 teams will step up to the Class 3A level next year leaving the district with just Port Angeles as the only legitimate state tournament program. Although with Bainbridge dropping down to 2A, returning their entire team and having the best coaching staff in the district, the Spartans will be a favorite to get to Yakima next year. With the Roughriders losing just 2 seniors and bringing in one of the deepest and most talented classes in years, one would think the Roughriders will run away with the district next year along with the Spartans.
Stevens’ standouts Storey Schmidt, Sariah Doherty and Madison Smith will be part of a deep talented pool of freshman coming to the Roughriders program next year