YAKIMA – Though the La Center girls basketball team’s stay at the Class 1A state tournament was brief, coach Brittney Stryker hopes her players appreciate all it took to get there.
The Wildcats’ season ended Wednesday with a 39-26 loss to a Colville team that wielded a smothering defense.
But La Center made plenty of memories along the way.
There was a regional-round victory Friday, when the No. 15-seeded Wildcats overcame a 19-point deficit to knock off No. 10 Annie Wright.
“That alone, that resilience,” Stryker said. “I’m just so proud of them and I hope they feel that as well.”
Many of this season’s moments were crafted by Kylee Stephens. The senior scored 18 points Wednesday, one game after surpassing 1,000 points for her career.
“We’ve had such a bizarre few years, but the consistency of having her as a leader on the team has been huge for the girls,” Stryker said of Stephens. “She’s not only a scorer out there, she’s such a great kid to have on the team and such a great personality that brings lightness to moments when we need them.”
Colville’s defense smothered the Wildcats the entire game. La Center shot just 3 for 20 in the first half and trailed 20-10 at halftime. La Center finished 8 for 40 from the field and was outrebounded 39-26.
“We’re not as big as them,” Stryker said. “Their pressure was something we had a hard time with. We saw a similar style of pressure against Tenino and unfortunately it was a similar outcome. When they apply that amount of pressure, our girls have a tougher time.”
No. 7-seed Colville moves on to a quarterfinal matchup against top-seeded Lynden Christian on Thursday.
The Wildcats finish their season 16-8. While some players wore glum faces and shed a few tears as the team prepared to leave the Yakima Valley SunDome, just reaching this stage is an accomplishment Stryker hopes they cherish.
“I just hope that they look back and are proud of themselves,” she said. “It’s such a long season and getting here is no easy task.”
COLVILLE 39, LA CENTER 26
LA CENTER (16-8) – Gainna D’Emilio 2, Annabelle Atwood 2, Alyse Webberly 0, Kylee Stephens 18, Malayah Cooley 4, Talia Wise 0, Mekenzie Schockelt 0. Totals 8-40 (1-12) 9-14 26.
COLVILLE (17-4) – Bayleigh Darnold 0, Morgan Palmer 0, Jordyn True 10, Olivia Ortner 0, Ashne’a Anderson 8, Ady Darnold 6, Brooklyn Martin 4, Kaelyn Malone 2, Mckenna Reggear 9, Eliza Fazzari 0. Totals 18-53 (0-6) 3-9 39.
La Center 6 4 4 12—26
Colville 6 14 8 11—39
