TUMWATER – Before Thursday, the Washougal girls basketball team didn’t have experience in close games.
But the Panthers do have one of the best players in Southwest Washington.
And they showed coach Britney Knotts something else in a 50-49 win over Tumwater in the 2A district semifinals Thursday at Black Hills High.
“Heart, big heart,” Knotts said.
Beyonce Bea scored 25 points, including a close-range basket to give Washougal a 50-48 lead with eight seconds left. That came 30 seconds after the Idaho-bound senior made two free throws to tie the game at 48.
Tumwater’s Isabella Lund was fouled attempting a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. She missed the first free throw, made the second, then missed the third, sending Washougal’s players jumping for joy after the rebound was secured.
Washougal is headed to the 2A state playoffs for a fourth straight year after coming up clutch in its first close game of the year. The Panthers also earned a spot in the district title game against W.F. West on Friday at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.
Washougal (18-4) hadn’t been in a game decided by less than 10 points all season. The Panthers’ average margin of victory was 29.9 points in an undefeated 2A Greater St. Helens League season.
But Washougal made plays when it needed to in a fourth quarter where the largest lead for either team was 3 points.
“We were super clutch,” Bea said. “We’ve been working all season for games like these. We were prepared and came in and did what we needed to do.”
With the game tied at 48, Washougal forced a turnover with 23 seconds left.
On the following play, Bea was initially double-teamed. But Kiara Cross, Jaiden Bea and McKinley Stotts worked the ball around the perimeter with crisp passes while Beyonce Bea got position on her defender under the basket.
“Beyonce is super good at finishing in the middle,” Jaiden Bea said. “We knew she would either get fouled and make her free throws or finish strong.”
When Stotts got the ball to Beyonce Bea, there was no hesitation. She banked her shot in off the glass.
“I’ve been working on that shot for a long time for moments like these, when you have to finish under pressure,” Bea said.
For Knotts, seeing her team perform in a clutch situation was extra satisfying.
“It’s stuff we’ve been talking about all year,” she said. “It’s about thinking next play, moving on quickly and focusing on your next job, instead of maybe dwelling on a mistake.”
Washougal has now won 12 straight games, stretching back to a holiday tournament in Las Vegas where the Panthers went 1-3 against tough competition.
After Thursday’s win over the Evergreen Conference co-champs who were 19-2, the Panthers know they’re ready to take on the state’s best.
“That was great to see because it has taken all year to build,” Knotts said. “Their together-ness was the best it’s been.”
WASHOUGAL 50, TUMWATER 49
TUMWATER (19-3) – Sophie Koelsch 5, Katie Cunningham 6, Natalie Sumrok 14, Aubrey Amendala 9, Isabella Lund 11, Cassie Kaufman 4. Totals 19 (3) 8-11 49.
WASHOUGAL (18-4) – Kiara Cross 0, Jaiden Bea 15, Savea Mansfeld 4, Beyonce Bea 25, Ashley Gibbons, McKinley Stotts 3, Skylar Bea 3.Totals 18 (6) 8-14 50.
Tumwater 12 13 14 10—49
Washougal 11 15 11 13—50
