Washougal in position to capture the crown

WASHOUGAL — The Washougal girls basketball team is one win away from erasing the word never from its history.

The Panthers have never won a league championship in girls basketball.

That could change next week because Washougal picked up a monumental 55-47 victory over Mark Morris on Thursday night.

Alyssa Blankenship scored 25 points, RaeAnn Allen played her usual suffocating defense, and Washougal upended the mighty Monarchs, the program that has won two of the past three Class 2A state championships.

This year, though, it’s Washougal and Mark Morris atop the the 2A Greater St. Helens League standings. The Panthers tied the Monarchs at 9-2, each with one game to play. If Washougal wins at Ridgefield on Monday, the Panthers will get at least a share of the championship.

To have that chance, Washougal had to win Thursday night.

Blankenship’s final field goal, with 2:06 to play in the game, gave the Panthers a five-point lead. That turned insurmountable because the Monarchs were held scoreless the final 3 minutes and 22 seconds.

Allen scored the final basket with a couple seconds left, and the clock hit zero.

“That’s what we’ve wanted since our freshman year, to hear that horn, to hear that crowd, to do something fantastic,” Allen said.

“To do it on senior night makes it that much better,” Blankenship said.

The two seniors have a way of finishing each other’s thoughts, kind of like they finish on the court.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for …” Blankenship said.

“… all through high school.” Allen said.

“Beating Mark Morris for the first time in our four years …” Blankenship said.

“… and however many years before us?” Allen added.

“They’re a tough team” — Blankenship.

“They’re still fundamentally sound.” — Allen.

“That’s the greatest accomplishment we’ve had this year.” — Blankenship.

“Playing this game, for a chance at a league title, couldn’t ask for anything better or a bigger stage.” — Allen.

The Monarchs beat Washougal earlier in the season. The Panthers remember looking at all the league titles, the banners, at Mark Morris’ gym.

“We talked about that a lot,” Washougal coach Brian Oberg said. “It would be nice to hang one up here.

“The program has come a long way. And it’s all about the girls.”

Blankenship went 11 for 16 from the floor in this signature victory.

Lindsey Thomas gave the lead to Washougal for good early in the fourth quarter, beating the shot clock for one score, then getting a steal and a bucket to make it 45-42.

“Lindsey was a killer down at the end,” Allen said. “Absolute awesome composure.”

After a Mark Morris basket, Blankenship converted a three-point play.

“That was exactly what we needed at the exact right time,” Allen said.

Then Allen put an exclamation mark on that with a steal and basket to make it 50-44. Washougal was on its way.

Blankenship had six points in an 8-0 burst in the third quarter that gave the Panthers a four-point lead.

The Monarchs came right back with back-to-back 3-pointers from Brooke Walling to take a two-point lead. Walling would finish with a team-high 16 points.

Blankenship tied the game by the end of the period, setting the stage for the Panthers to win the fourth quarter, to get the best of the Monarchs for the first time in the seniors’ careers.

Their fans appreciated it.

“It was so thrilling, hearing that crowd just made us more pumped up,” Blankenship said.

WASHOUGAL 55, MARK MORRIS 47

MARK MORRIS — Kaylee Johnson 3, Kalina Makaiwi 6, Gabby Bennett 2, Madison Mosier 5, Brooke Walling 16, Zsaleh Parvas 4, Alexis Troy 0, Libby Bartleson 11. Totals 16 (4) 11-19 47.

WASHOUGAL — Maggie Hungerford 0, Beyonce Bea 10, Lindsey Thomas 6, RaeAnn Allen 10, Kiara Cross 0, Alissa Lenczoski 2, Alyssa Blankenship 25, Kayla Donahue 2. Totals 23 (0) 9-20 55.

M. Morris 11 11 17 8–47

Washougal 7 18 14 16–55