LACEY — It seemed fitting to see that by winning the program’s first district title Friday, the trio of seniors who’ve paved the way in the success of the Washougal girls basketball team were the first to hoist the championship trophy.
Fitting, too, since the three seniors — Beyonce Bea, Kiara Cross and Ashley Gibbons — each played pivotal parts in different ways in the Panthers’ 54-48 victory over W.F. West of Chehalis at Saint Martin’s University.
“This is so unreal; I never thought this day would come so fast and so hard as it did,” Cross said.
” … We dug deep and got it done. We knew we could do it.”
Added Gibbons: “This is what we’ve worked for and it’s awesome to be able to say we’re district champs.”
Bea had a game-high 21 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, five blocks and five assists.
Sophomore Skylar Bea poured in a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, as interior play, second-chance opportunities, and clutch outside shooting proved to be key for the Panthers late that gave them the lead for good inside 5 minutes to play.
As winners of four league titles in a row, no Washougal team before Friday ever won a district title. But if history is any indication, the District 4 champion tends to fare very well at the Class 2A state tournament in Yakima.
Since 2012, two schools (Mark Morris, W.F. West) over three different years went on to win the state championship after winning the district title
Washougal hopes this is its year, too.
“We haven’t been a super successful program before now,” Beyonce Bea said. “This group of girls is ready to make a name for Washougal. We’re not here to make state and go home on the first day again. We’re going to go far because we’re worked for it. I think we can do it.”
As a top-8 RPI ranking, the Panthers virtually are guaranteed a spot in the Yakima Valley SunDome.
The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind for the Panthers.
Beyonce Bea’s shot inside 10 seconds left helped lift Washougal to a 50-49 district semifinal win Thursday over 2A Evergreen Conference co-champion Tumwater, and turned around Friday to face a team it defeated 77-48 in the first week of the season.
But the defending state champion Bearcats are experienced and have been in this spot before, playing in their seventh district title game over the past eight years. W.F. West led for much of the first half, including 23-21 by halftime.
In a back-and-forth game throughout, neither team had more than a two-possession lead until Gibson’s second field goal of the game made it 37-31 Washougal a minute into the fourth quarter.
By that time, Beyonce Bea and Skylar Bea combined for 11 of the team’s 14 third-quarter points.
Offensive rebounds by Washougal proved key, too, as did clutch shots late by McKinley Stotts, Savea Mansfield and Cross.
The trio were responsible for all three 3-pointers by the Panthers, including Cross’ only points of the game that made it a 49-44 Washougal lead with 1:51 to play.
Now, the Panthers hope that momentum of Friday carries over past regionals and into Yakima after hoisting a district title trophy.
“We came in fighting these last two games probably two hardest of the season,” Beyonce Bea said. “It showed that we’ve been working hard and we were prepared. I’m super proud we were able to finish strong.”
WASHOUGAL 54, W.F. WEST 48
WASHOUGAL (19-4) — Maggie Vadala 8, Drea Brumfield 9, Courtney Bennett 11, Annika Waring 13, Madi Haakenson 11. Totals 21 (5) 4-7 48.
W.F. WEST (17-6) — Kiara Cross 3, Jaiden Bea 2, Savea Mansfield 6, Beyonce Bea 21, McKinley Stotts 3, Ashley Gibbons 4, Skylar Bea 14. Totals 22 (4) 10-16 54.
Washougal 11 10 14 19–54
W.F. West 15 8 8 17–48
