RIDGEFIELD — The Washougal girls basketball team has taken on a sense of urgency.
It turns out urgency suits the Panthers just fine.
Washougal won its second straight loser-out game in the 2A district tournament, beating Mark Morris 64-49 at Ridgefield High on Wednesday.
Washougal will face Woodland or Columbia River on Saturday for the district’s final berth to the state tournament.
Since losing to Columbia River in the first round, Washougal has responded with two convincing wins.
“With their backs against the wall, they want to fight,” Washougal coach Britney Knotts said. “Sometimes I have to ignite it a little bit, but for the most part they’re ready. They don’t want to go home.”
Beyonce Bea, who was recently named 2A Greater St. Helens League MVP for the second straight year, scored 24 points. But it wasn’t just the Panthers star who led the charge Wednesday.
Kiara Cross scored 13 points. She hit back-to-back 3-pointers in an 11-1 third-quarter run that saw Washougal open a 36-26 lead.
Skylar Bea added 12 points and four blocks. Tianna Barnett scored 8 points and McKinley Stotts added 7.
“When teams key in on me, it’s really nice for others,” Beyonce Bea said. “It helps spread out the defense so there’s more room to drive. It gets us going when the whole team is hitting shots.”
Washougal was the scrappier, more aggressive team. As a result, the Panthers went to the foul line 31 times, making 20. Beyonce Bea was 11 for 13 from the line.
Washougal (18-5) hopes to earn its third consecutive state berth on Saturday. The key, the Panthers believe, is playing like there’s no room for error.
“We really came into this game with an urgency,” Skylar Bea said. “We wanted to get the ball. We wanted to get this game.”
Libby Bartleson scored 16 points to lead Mark Morris (16-8).
WASHOUGAL 64, MARK MORRIS 49
MARK MORRIS – Katie Troy 3, Kalina Makaiwi 2, Gabby Bennett 0, Kylie Grisham 0, Madison Mosier 11, Kathy Allred 0, Sarah Russell 0, Stephanie Burns 3, Alexis Troy 14, Rufina Berishev 0, Jacie Rismoen 0, Libby Bartleson 16, Kierra Clark 0. Totals 14 (2) 19-24 49.
WASHOUGAL – Kiara Cross 13, Alexis Maniscalco 0, Maggie Hungerford 0, Beyonce Bea 24, McKinley Stotts 7, Erin Miner 0, Grace Graham 0, Audrey Thompson 0, Emilee Smart 0, McKenna Jackson 0, Skylar Bea 12, Tiana Barnett 8, Paige Wilson 0. Totals 13 (6) 20-31 64.
M. Morris 11 7 12 19–49
Washougal 11 9 23 21–64
