Frigid early shooting buries Lady Devils
Sunday, March 2, 2008 6:13 AM PST
By Rick McCorkle
rmccorkle@tdn.com
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E-mail this articleKENNEWICK - If Lower Columbia College was going to have a chance of knocking off fourth-ranked Yakima Valley, it had to be solid in every aspect of the game.
The Lady Devils rebounded and played strong defense against the Yaks, but their offense suffered - again.
LCC made 28 percent of its first-half shots and buried themselves in a 17-point hole in the first half as Yakima claimed a 77-61 victory in a consolation game of the NWAACC Women's Basketball Championships at the Toyota Center on Saturday.
LCC finished its season 22-8.
"We had to do everything right," LCC coach Chad Meadors said. "We did everything right except shoot the ball well in the first half. Against a team like Yakima Valley, you have to be on all cylinders. We did a great job in every aspect, kicked their tails on the boards and forced them into 10 more turnovers than they're accustomed to, but we didn't make our shots."
The Lady Devils, who managed just 35 points in a quarterfinal loss to Spokane on Friday, were an ice-cold 10-of-35 in the first half, but did manage to warm up to make 12-of-29 in the final 20 minutes. Yakima Valley hit 15-of-33 shots in the opening half, which included a sizzling 5-10 from outside the 3-point arc.
Nadra Evans was the bright spot for the Devils, hitting 10-of-18 shots for 20 points in her final LCC game. But while she was scoring, the Devils' other offensive threats struggled. Heidi Jackson made 2-of-10 shots for six points, Katie Garcin hit 2-of-6 for four points, and Jessi Hanna netted 1-of-11 shots for two points.
Yakima led by as many as 21 points in the second half.
"The ball wouldn't fall for us and that's unfortunate," Meadors said. "We hit enough shots to maintain or close in a couple of times, but it's hard to come back from a 21-point deficit."
LCC chipped away at the Yaks' lead and trailed 66-57 with 2:57 left, but Yakima's Kylie Shaw drilled a trey 41 seconds later to boost the lead to 12, and the Lady Devils would get no closer.
"I couldn't be more pleased with our effort and how far we've come this season," Meadors said. "These kids exceeded every expectation we've set. I would've liked to have played a little better on Friday and given ourselves a chance to be in the semifinals."
Evans also made four steals. Rene'e Evans added eight points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Hanna pulled six rebounds and dished five assists.
Yaks 77, Lady Devils 61
YAKIMA VALLEY (77) -
Chelsey Nill 16, Andrea Bladgett 13, Tana Stickney 12, Kaiti Harris 10, Taitum Dixey 3, Kylie Shaw 7, Alex Moore-Porter 5, Brittany Weaver 5, Donjanique Baker 4, Gena Woodke 2, Denise Gonzales 0.
LOWER COLUMBIA (61) -
Nadra Evans 20, Heidi Jackson 6, Katie Garcin 4, Holly Weston 4, Jessi Hanna 2, Rene'e Evans 8, Kelsey Forrest 5, Kourtney Craft 4, Jordan Budd 4, Kristina Craft 3, Megan Holmes 1, Kasey Craft 0.
Halftime:
YVC 45, LCC 28.
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