TACOMA — The strategy was working for a half.
The Skyview girls basketball team was getting the ball inside, getting good looks, making their shots.
Unfortunately for the Storm, that only lasted for a half.
Moses Lake held the Storm to 11 points in the second half, beating Skyview 47-36 in the Class 4A state quarterfinals at the Tacoma Dome.
Skyview will play in the consolation bracket at 12:15 p.m. Friday.
“We were really strong in the first half, and we came into the third quarter ready to win,” Skyview post Ashlee Comastro said. “But the other team is a great team. We worked hard, but there was a lid on the basket.”
Skyview turned the ball over 27 times — 13 in the first half, 14 in the second — but the Storm managed to lead 25-23 at the half because when they did take care of the ball, they were making their shots and they had a big rebounding advantage.
The Skyview shots failed to hit their marks in the second half — 28 percent — and Moses Lake took care of the boards. That combination, along with the turnovers, spelled doom for the Storm.
“Moses Lake was scrappier than us in the second half,” Skyview coach Jennifer Buscher said.
Jessie Loera led Moses Lake with 15 points. McKenna Walker added 11.
This was not a sudden defeat for the Storm; more like a slow, painful process until the end of the game. Tied 29-29, Moses Lake would get points from four different players the rest of the quarter to take a five-point lead going into the fourth.
Skyview had more turnovers than points in the second half, crushing the comeback attempt.
Comastro’s basket with 5:10 to play got Skyview within four points at 38-34, but Moses Lake scored the next eight points — four different players again in the balanced attack.
Comastro led Skyview with 13 points. She was 5 for 7 from the floor.
Skyview jumped out to a 7-0 lead and led 15-12 after the first quarter. The Storm bench provided a spark, with Maddie Lord, Hanna Van Nortwick, and Riley Friauf combining for eight points in the period. Both Lord and Van Nortwick would finish the game with six points apiece.
Next for Skyview is Bellarmine Prep in the consolation bracket. Friday’s winner will play Saturday for fourth place.
“I’m real proud of them,” Buscher said of her athletes. “Nobody thought much of Skyview this year. Just to be here, it’s a special thing.”
Comastro said she and her teammates heard the doubters early in the season, that Skyview would be fortunate just to get out of the district tournament.
“Here we are, one game away from getting to place,” Comastro said. “This team is coming ready (Friday). We’re ready to battle.”
MOSES LAKE 47, SKYVIEW 36
MOSES LAKE — Alysha Overland 8, Madison Tudor 1, Jamie Loera 5, Taylor Yamane 0, Maggie Strom 0, Jessie Loera 15, McKenna Walker 11, Jessica Olson 2, Avery Clark 2, Alyssa Balderas 0, Alexya Sandmann 0, Abby Rathbun 3. Totals 17-57 (5-17) 8-13 47.
SKYVIEW — Hannahjoy Adams 3, Riley Friauf 4, Sydney Friauf 4, Hanna Van Nortwick 6, Genevieve Lo 0, Mimi Kalani 0, Tiana Klutz 0, Kirsten Johnson 0, Ashlee Comastro 13, Maddie Lord 6. Totals 14-38 (0-1) 8-10 36.
M. Lake 12 11 13 11—47
Skyview 15 10 6 5—36
