Girls consolation games: Kentlake assured of another trophy

TACOMA — Courtney Thompson scored 12 points as fourth-ranked Kentlake won its third consecutive morning game, beating Jefferson 48-36 yesterday in a loser-out game at the Class 4A girls state basketball tournament.

The Falcons (25-3) will earn a state-tournament trophy for the second year in a row. They play Lewis and Clark of Spokane at 11:30 a.m. today for fifth and eight places. If the Falcons win, it would be the best basketball finish in the school's six-year history. They were sixth last year.

Kentlake opened a 19-point lead in the third quarter and withstood a 10-0 fourth-quarter run to beat Jefferson for the second time in as many meetings this season. Jefferson, led by senior Chelsea Hunt's 11 points, finished 19-9.

"It finally felt like we were playing our game," said Thompson, whose Falcons lost to top-ranked Central Valley 59-45 in their tournament opener on Wednesday. "It just felt right. We've got a trophy and we'll just go from there."

Senior Kezia Long, a former home-schooled student in her third year of organized basketball, supplied nine points, six blocks and five rebounds in her final game as a Raider.

Kentlake forced Jefferson into 35 turnovers.

Lewis and Clark 60, Puyallup 54

The 10th-ranked Tigers of Spokane (22-7) put together a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to thwart a Puyallup comeback bid. The Vikings rallied from 13 points down to take the lead, but Lewis and Clark drained 7 of 10 free throws in the final 2:16.

Puyallup, which was led by senior Megan Clarno's 27 points and five three-pointers, finished 22-6.

Tiana Maua scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Lewis and Clark.

Allison Ampe had 11 points and Kim Krippaehne 10 in their final games in a Puyallup uniform.

Kennewick 36, Lake Stevens 27

The sixth-ranked Lions (24-4) survived a scoreless third quarter and a drought of 8:53 that stretched over the final three quarters to secure a state trophy.

Amy Hightower provided 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds for Kennewick, which will play Pasco for the fifth time this season at 1:30 p.m. today for fourth and seventh places. Pasco is 3-1 against Kennewick this season.

The Lions' scoreless quarter was the first since 1996 (Sehome) by a school at the 4A or 3A state tournament.

Gina Carbonatto's 10 points led Lake Stevens (19-8). The teams combined for only 25 percent shooting.

Pasco 70, Enumclaw 68 (OT)

Idaho-bound Emily Halliday calmly sank two free throws with 4.1 seconds left in overtime as the Bulldogs (26-2) assured that all four Eastern Washington teams will take home trophies.

Halliday, who finished with 15 points, stepped to the line for the winning free throws after Enumclaw's Brittney Osborn fouled out reaching to make a steal near the top of the key.

Halliday said Pasco is 5-0 in games when she's been at the free-throw line with the game on the line.

Osborn scored 25 points in the final game of her career to finish three tournament games with 62 points and a 20.7 average.

"That's just my aggressive side coming out," Osborn said of the reach foul with 4.1 seconds to go. "I went a little too far on that one. That was a tough (loss) to swallow. It was just one little thing; one call or hustle play could've changed the outcome of the game."

San Diego State-bound Michelle Elliott led Pasco with 17 points.

Enumclaw's Jessie Christensen rang up 15 points, seven rebounds and made 9 of 12 free throws. Her sister, Beth, finished with 12 points, six assists and two steals in her final game before heading to SPU.