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Tonasket 43, Brewster 39
Game 3. (Championship, both to regional)
At Okanogan, WA
Only the most optimistic
Tonasket fan saw a big rally coming against Brewster in the North Central
District 1A championship game.
The Tigers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but won 43-39 to
earn a second straight district title.
Liberty Bell joins Tonasket and Brewster in repeat appearances in the
District 6/7 1A Regionals at Moses Lake. The Lions defeated Lake Roosevelt
60-39 in the loser-out game.
For Tonasket, both the deficit and the momentum created by Brewster, the
defending State 1A champs, were daunting.
"We had everything going for us in the first three quarters,"
Bear coach Bryan Boesel said. "We were putting pressure on
them on defense and hitting some shots."
Melanie Todd hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to
give Brewster a 30-19 lead.
For Tonasket senior Shayne Freeman, it was reminiscent of the 2003
district final where the Tigers faced a six-point deficit.
"We were in the same situation last year, so that helped,"
Freeman said. "We had to get the ball inside. That was tough since
Brewster plays very aggressive defense."
Both Freeman and Krissy Call fought through that tough defense to
start the comeback.
Call scored five points in two possessions, part of 11 that quarter.
Freeman then turned a steal into a layup, the start of her big finish. The
senior had seven of her team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter.
"We went to our experience," Tonasket coach Gary Smith
said. "Shayne, Krissy and Johanna (Stangland) are our most
experienced players in pressure games like this. Before the fourth quarter
started, I told them we're going to you."
Stangland's two baskets gave Tonasket the lead with three minutes left.
"We did what we had to do," Stangland said. "We knew we had
to go inside, that's what our offense does best."
Tonasket's stampede extended to 19 straight points, lasting until the
final minute of the game. By then, the Tigers owned a 38-30 lead.
Brewster freshman Kyla Evans broke it with a pair of free throws.
The freshman scored six points in 30 seconds, as part of her team-high 15
points.
Freeman matched those points with three free throws to seal the win.
Until the big run, Tonasket's offense showed little. The Tigers were
hindered by Brewster's full-court press.
"We were still getting the shots we wanted early, but they weren't
going in," Smith said. "Then we got out of our offense even
though we were down just a few points."
That margin started to grow as Brewster diversified its offense. Five
Bears scored in the third quarter with Evans and Chelsi Todd
hitting treys. Brewster drained three treys that quarter, but only one in
the fourth quarter.
"The 3s are a big part of our offense," Boesel said. "We
were taking open shots, but they just weren't going in."
| BREWSTER (16-6) - M.
Todd 3, C. Todd 6, Evans 15, Crane 6, Troop 5, Carlson, Youngers,
Divis. Totals 14-49 7-10 39. |
| TONASKET (20-2) -
Moser, Jones 4, Freeman 15, Call 13, Stangland 11, Hedlund. Totals
17-49 9-14 43. |
| Brewster |
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8 |
16 |
30 |
39 |
| Tonasket |
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4 |
13 |
19 |
43 |
3-point FG--
Brewster 4-15 (C. Todd 2, M. Todd, Evans), Tonasket 0-4.
Rebounds-- Brewster 28 (Troop 8, Evans 6), Tonasket 25 (Call 10,
Jones 5).
Turnovers-- Brewster 19, Tonasket 13. |
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