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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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1A girls basketball: Cascade Christian turns lights out on La Center’s season

Cougars fend off Wildcats' late charge

By , Columbian Sports Editor
Published:

PUYALLUP – The La Center girls basketball team was like a light switch during its Class 1A state playoff game Friday.

The Wildcats were either on or off.

But La Center’s shooters went dark at the worst time in a 43-37 loss to Cascade Christian at Rogers High School.

Trailing 33-32 entering the fourth quarter, the Wildcats went the next 5 minutes, 30 seconds without scoring.

Down 38-32 with 1:30 left, La Center had one last surge to pull within 38-37 with 54 seconds to play. But the Cougars hit free throws down the stretch to put the game away.

It was a sour end after La Center spent much of the game digging out of an early 10-point hole. The Wildcats made just two of 13 field goals in the first quarter.

“We battled hard, we just couldn’t hit a shot,” La Center coach Herm VanWeerdhuizen said. “They played good defense against us. Hey, it just happens. No excuses. They just played better than us.”

The Wildcats finish their season 19-5 while Cascade Christian (20-3) advances to the final eight in Yakima.

Cascade Christian, the No. 1 seed from District 3, has a knack for making opponents struggle. The Cougars entered Friday having not allowed more than 35 points in their past four games.

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Trailing 33-21, La Center ended the third quarter on an 11-0 run. Andrea Griffee made three consecutive 3-pointers while the Wildcats defense forced turnovers and bad shots.

Down 33-32 entering the fourth quarter, La Center had all the momentum. Then just as suddenly, the Wildcats had none.

“There were times when it started to click,” La Center senior guard Katie Whitten said. “Then I’d throw a bad pass or we’d play some bad defense and they’d get the momentum back. We picked the wrong night not to put all the pieces together.”

La Center’s game plan was thrown off when 5-foot-11 post Taylor Mills fouled out with 6:53 to play.

“We couldn’t go inside anymore,” VanWeerdhuizen said. “They spread their defense way out wide. Our gameplan was to go inside. Once Mills went out, we couldn’t do that.”

La Center also had trouble stopping Tristen Coltom. The sophomore guard scored a game-high 23 points, including three consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Griffee led La Center with 11 points. Bethany Whitten added nine while Katie Whitten, the Trico League Co-MVP, had six points.

The Wildcats entered Friday having won five of their last six, the only blemish being the district championship game against Montesano. Katie Whitten is the lone senior starter and five freshman made significant contributions on varsity.

“I’m very proud of everyone making it this far,” Katie Whitten said. “But it would have been nice to have one more.”

CASCADE CHRISTIAN 43, LA CENTER 37

La Center – Katie Whitten 6, Molly Edwards 0, Ashley Denney 0, Bethany Whitten 9, Taylor Mills 7, Shelby Vermeulen 4, Paige Stinson 0, Andrea Griffee 11, Rachel Moudy 0. Totals 15 (6) 1-8 37.

Cascade Christian – Hailey Brander7, Holly Suggs 2, Michal Jo Irish 0, Savannah Hunter 9, Tristen Coltom 23, Kiriana Shelton 2, Bailey Smelser 0. Totals 14 (4) 11-13 43.

La Center 7 12 13 5 — 37

Cascade Ch. 15 9 9 10 — 43

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