TACOMA — Ashley Rodriguez is one of four departing seniors on Hudson’s Bay’s girls basketball team, but the shooting guard is certain of one thing.
The Eagles will be back.
It won’t be at the Tacoma Dome, though, where the Eagles lost to Lake Washington in Wednesday’s Round-of-12 game to end its season at 19-8. Since the school is reclassified as Class 2A beginning this fall, it’d mean their next would-be Dome appearance is the Yakima Valley SunDome.
Without a question, Rodriguez said, next year’s bunch will get there with a core nucleus returning, including 3A Greater St. Helens League MVP Jaydia Martin, all-leaguers Kamelai Powell and Paytin Ballard, and point guard Aniyah Hampton (elbow) returning from injury.
And with it comes new expectations moving forward.
“I’m very proud it makes me really proud my team made it this far,” Rodriguez said. “It sets the standard that we aren’t the underdogs anymore.”
Bay was trying to make its first state quarterfinal appearance since playing at KeyArena in 2007. And despite 15 steals and outrebounding Lake Washington, shooting struggles plagued the Eagles all game (27.6 percent).
An 8-0 run by Lake Washington gave it a 28-20 advantage at halftime and Bay just had one field goal in the third quarter when it got outscored 15-6.
Martin, who had seven points and five steals Wednesday, said the dome experience and atmosphere was everything and more she expected. She also saw it as rewarding. For a program that went winless four seasons ago, a 20-win season that includes a bi-district title appearance and reaching the Tacoma Dome is a feat Bay doesn’t take for granted.
“It was kind of overwhelming coming out,” she said,” but once we got on the court, everything cancels out. Just to be able to play here and get here and be the only 3A GSHL team to come up here is great.”
Paytin Ballard led Bay with 13 points and nine rebounds, and Mahaila Harrison added 10 points and four assists.
Three Lake Washington players scored in double figures, led by Ellie Pederson’s 14 points on 4 of 6 3-point shooting.
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LAKE WASHINGTON 57, HUDSON’S BAY 40
HUDSON’S BAY — Jaydia Martin 7, Ashley Rodriguez 0, Paytin Ballard 13, Mahaila Harrison 10, Kamelai Powell 6, Juliann Medrano 2, Mae Carse 0, Mickey Telesco 0, Maria Arroyo 0, Devon Johnson-Brown 2, Stacia Mikaele 0. Totals 17 (1) 7-17 40.
LAKE WASHINGTON — Sophie Liesse 11, Ellie Pederson 14, Elise Hani 8, Jen Estes 10, Rosa Smith 9, Sydney Hani 3, Emily Coma 2, Jolie Sim 0, Emma Boctor 0, Hannah Sitterud 0. Totals 29 (9) 7-14 57.
Hud. Bay 11 9 6 14 – 40
Lake Wash. 12 16 15 14 – 57
