Metro League mastery! Lakeside girls fend off Prep for fifth state title

TACOMA — The Lakeside Lions had one final game together, and they wanted to make it memorable.

This one, they'll never forget.

Eleanor Miller made sure of that, leading Lakeside to a 55-48 victory over defending-champion Seattle Prep in the all-Metro League title game of the Class 3A state girls basketball tournament last night at the Tacoma Dome.

"This is it," said Miller, a senior who supplied 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists and was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player. "That motivated our whole team. It was our last game together. We didn't want to have any regrets."

They have none, putting together one of their best all-around games with key contributions from several players. Junior Mikaela Cowles, another first-team all-tournament choice, finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Glenna Wiley stepped up with 11 points, and Mary Kuder was a pest at both ends of the court, picking off six steals, grabbing five rebounds and scoring four points.

"We wanted this so bad," Wiley said. "This is a dream come true."

Sixth-ranked Lakeside (24-5) ended Seattle Prep's dream of winning back-to-back titles. The No. 5 Panthers (24-6) were trying to become only the fourth school in tournament history to win two straight and the first since Blanchet pulled it off in 1995 and '96.

Seattle Prep had plenty to be proud of, however. Few thought the Panthers would return to the final after losing Joy Hollingsworth, last year's state player of the year.

"A lot of people didn't think we'd get this far, but we got here," said senior Katie Urban, who scored a game-high 19 and joined teammate Che Oh as an all-tournament pick. "Even though we lost, I'm proud of everyone on my team."

"It's a great accomplishment for this team to be even one of the last two teams playing in the 3A state tournament," she said.

Lakeside Coach Sandy Schneider was all smiles after winning her fifth championship, but first since 1994.

"I'm so excited for my girls," Schneider said.

Especially since the Lions had fallen short the previous two years, losing both times in the semifinals. That fueled Miller and Cowles, who felt it was their turn.

"They've had it," Miller said of the title. "We wanted our chance."

This was the third meeting between two private Metro League schools who had split two games during the season. Prep won the late-January rematch, 49-46.