YAKIMA – The third time was another charm for the Washougal girls basketball team.
The Panthers beat W.F. West for the third time this season, 49-39, in the 2A state quarterfinals Thursday at the SunDome.
No. 7 Washougal advances to face No. 3 Clarkston Friday at 9 p.m. It’s the Panthers’ first trip to the state semifinals in program history.
“It’s so awesome,” freshman guard Jaiden Bea said. “This year we’re going to try and get the big thing. It has been super fun together. We’re really building team memories.
Jaiden Bea scored 18 points, Beyonce Bea added 12 and Washougal’s scrappy defense smothered their District 4 rivals, who shot just 31 percent from the field.
Thursday’s win comes less than two weeks after the Panthers beat W.F. West 54-48 in the district championship game. Washougal (21-4) also opened the season with a 77-48 win over the No. 8 Bearcats (18-8).
“It’s harder to play a team three times,” Jaiden Bea said. “Each time they get to know you more and more. We had to compromise and make new plays.”
McKinley Stotts and Beyonce Bea each hit 3-pointers to help Washougal open a 10-2 lead. But W.F. West responded with seven straight points and ended the first quarter down 12-9.
Jaiden Bea picked up the scoring load in the second quarter for Washougal. She scored eight of her team’s 14 points as the Panthers led 26-20 at halftime.
Then Washougal’s defense took control. The Panthers allowed only three points in the third quarter to open a 34-23 lead. Skylar Bea scored seven of her team’s nine points in the quarter.
Skylar Bea, who had 10 points and nine rebounds, said defense continues to be the team’s emphasis.
“We said box out hard because they really go in hard for the rebound,” she said. “Defense is the big thing because defense wins championships.”
W.F. West closed within 34-28 early in the fourth. But Washougal put the game away with an 11-2 run capped by a Beyonce Bea three-point play that put the Panthers up 45-32 with just under two minutes to play.
Washougal has made the state tournament four straight years and has now reached the final four for the first time.
“We need to keep doing what we did tonight,” Skylar Bea said. “Keep our energy level up, stay positive and keep up the defense.”
WASHOUGAL 49, W.F. WEST 39
W.F. WEST (18-8) – Maggie Vadala 4, Drea Brumfield 5, Madi Mencke 6, Courtney Bennett 6, Sarah Haakenson 0, Kyla McCallum 0, Makayla Mencke 0, Annika Waring 13, Tehani Henry 2, Madi Haakenson 3. Totals 15 (3) 6-16 39.
WASHOUGAL (21-4) – Kiara Cross 0, Jaiden Bea 16, Savea Mansfield 3, Beyonce Bea 14, McKinley Stotts 6, Ashley Gibbons 0, Sammy Mederos 0, Skylar Bea 10. Totals 16 (2) 15-22 49.
