Class 2A girls tournament: East Valley seeks repeat vs. Pullman

YAKIMA — Jami Sharp scored five of her 10 points at the free-throw line in overtime, and defending champion East Valley of Yakima earned a chance at a repeat title with a 50-43 victory over previously unbeaten Blaine last night in the semifinals of the Class 2A girls state basketball tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

The Red Devils (25-2), rated third in The Seattle Times final state rankings, will face seventh-ranked Pullman (21-5) in today's 7 p.m. championship game. Pullman beat No. 10 Connell 48-40 in yesterday's other semifinal.

Second-ranked Blaine (24-1) faces Connell (20-7) today for third and sixth places.

East Valley outscored Blaine 10-3 in overtime, with eight of those points at the free-throw line.

Jennifer Newlan led the Red Devils with 12 points, and Danielle Ducre added eight. Angie Ibach, who finished with six points, hit a jumper with three seconds left in regulation to knot the game at 40 and sent the game into overtime.

Blaine had a five-point lead, 38-33, with 2:34 to play before Sharp sank a three-pointer and Newland hit a jumper with 51 seconds left to tie it 38-38. Blaine's Shela Robertson followed with two free throws with 32 seconds to go before Ibach's game-tying shot.

Robertson paced Blaine with 16 points and Jessica Summers added 10 and nine rebounds.

Pullman 48, Connell 40 — Angela Muehling scored 17 points as seventh-ranked Pullman (21-5) beat 10th-ranked Connell (20-7) in a semifinal game.

Muehling, a 5-foot-5 junior guard, came off the bench and had the game of her life — a career-high five three-pointers and 17 points — and the surprising Greyhounds, who have only two seniors, claimed a 48-40 semifinal victory over Connell.

"Five, wow, that's the most I've ever had. I think maybe two was my best before," said Muehling, whose season scoring average was 4.8. "When I hit my first shot it felt so good I knew I'd have a good game."

Pullman led 39-23 early in the fourth quarter before the Eagles rallied. Becca Johnson scored eight of her 17 points in a 2:48 span, including a three-pointer with 2:24 to play that pulled Connell to 40-38.

The Eagles couldn't get any closer.

Pullman got to the foul line six times in the final 1:39 and made six free throws, including three in the last 31 seconds.

The first two trips to the free-throw stripe ended with misses, but Pullman's 6-foot junior, Mollie Hornfelt, muscled down the rebound to help slow Connell's fierce comeback.

Brittany Graham added nine points for the Greyhounds, who have only two seniors.

Loser-out games

Ephrata 48, Riverside 41 — Jana Flannery scored 16 points and Kellee Neal added 11 as Ephrata (14-12) eliminated eighth-ranked Riverside (19-8). Ephrata will play fifth-ranked Lakeside (21-4) of Nine Mile Falls today for fifth and eighth places.

Angela Hartill led Riverside with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 52, Hoquiam 39 — Megan Griner scored 20 points and Jessi Reome added 18 as fifth-ranked Lakeside (21-4) ousted Hoquiam (18-8).

Erica Tomlin and Keri Strom each scored 11 points for Hoquiam.

Nooksack Valley 67, La Center 52 — Devin Dykstra had 17 and 16 rebounds while Katie Robinson scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting as Nooksack Valley (18-7) eliminated La Center (19-7). Nooksack faces top-ranked Chelan (23-3) today for fourth and seventh places.

Nichole Jensen scored 12 points for the Pioneers.

Sarah Davis scored 15 points while Bridgette Sexton had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Chelan 57, Tenino 54 (2 OT) — Coco Poirier scored 11 of her 30 points after the fourth quarter as top-ranked Chelan (23-3) eliminated sixth-ranked Tenino (21-5). It was the first double-overtime game in the six-year history of the 2A girls tournament.

Poirier scored all but five of Chelan's points in the two extra periods, including six of the Goats' eight points in the second overtime.

Sarah Schramm and Kayla Pilkinton added 10 points each for Chelan while Schramm had 16 rebounds. Nikki Johnson had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Whitney Evander scored 15 points for the Beavers, and Jennifer Larson had 11 rebounds.