2A girls state tournament: East Valley does it again with 'D'

YAKIMA — Co-Most Valuable Player Angie Ibach scored a game-high 17 points to lead third-ranked East Valley of Yakima to its second straight Class 2A girls state basketball championship, 44-31, over seventh-ranked Pullman last night at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

La Donna Downs scored nine of her 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Red Devils pulled away with a 14-6 run in the final period.

"Our program is built on defense because defense wins championships," said East Valley Coach Jack Cleveland. "It always has been everywhere I coached, and it always will be."

East Valley beat fifth-ranked Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls, sixth-ranked Tenino and second-ranked and previously unbeaten Blaine en route to the championship game. The Red Devils finished with a 26-2 record.

The Red Devils, who led the entire game, grabbed nine steals and helped force Pullman into 20 turnovers. Downs also came up with three of her team's four blocked shots.

Ibach, named co-MVP along with Chelan's Coco Poirier, made 5 of 8 shots, including 3 of 4 three-point attempts. She also had four rebounds, three assists, four steals and a blocked shot.

Andrea Muehling led Pullman with 10 points, but the Greyhounds shot only 27 percent (10 of 37) for the game.

The Greyhounds, who finished with a 21-6 record, were playing in their first championship game.

Other games

Blaine 51, Connell 33 (3rd-6th places) — Jessica Summers scored 13 of her 20 points in the second half as Blaine pulled away in the second half to claim the third-place trophy. The Borderites (25-1), rated No. 2 in The Seattle Times' final state rankings, entered the tournament unbeaten but lost 50-43 in overtime to East Valley in Friday's late semifinal game.

Summers also had a 11 rebounds as the Borderites outrebounded Connell 49-28. Shela Robertson added 12 points for Blaine.

Janica Wood scored 13 points for Connell (20-8), which placed sixth.

Chelan 45, Nooksack Valley 42 (4th-7th places) — Coco Poirier scored 20 points as top-ranked Chelan (24-3) captured fourth place. Chelan, second a year ago, was knocked into the consolation bracket by a Thursday loss to Blaine.

Poirier scored seven points during Chelan's 17-4 third quarter, including a three-pointer with 2:25 to play that gave the Goats their first lead. They never trailed again.

Sarah Schramm added seven points and 14 rebounds, three assists, a blocked shot and a steal for Chelan.

Katie Robinson and Devin Dykstra scored 11 points each for Nooksack Valley (18-8).

Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 39, Ephrata 23 (5th-8th places) — Tiffany Corigliano scored 15 points to lead fifth-ranked Lakeside (22-4) to fifth place.

Corigliano scored seven points and Megan Griner had six during Lakeside's 15-2 third-quarter run, putting the Eagles ahead 33-10 after three periods. Corigliano made 7 of 9 shots and collected 11 rebounds, including six offensive boards.

Traci Mickle led the Tigers (14-13) with seven points and Tiffany Moncrief had seven rebounds. Ephrata shot only 21.1 percent (8 of 38), including just 3 of 18 in the first half.

All-tournament team

The all-tournament team is voted on by select members of the media covering the 2A tournament.

First team — Angie Ibach, East Valley-Yakima (co-MVP); Coco Poirier, Chelan (co-MVP); Jessica Summers, Blaine; Jessi Reome, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls); Nikki Johnson, Tenino; Devin Dykstra, Nooksack Valley.

Second team — La Donna Downs, East Valley; Amanda Troutt, Pullman; Whitney Evander, Tenino; Janica Wood, Connell; Jana Flannery, Ephrata; Brittany Graham, Pullman; Sarah Schramm, Chelan.

Honorable mention — Becca Johnson, Connell; Shela Robertson, Blaine; Megan Griner, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls); Brittany Driver, Woodland.