The Columbia Basin College women were hoping to lock up the No. 2 seed to the NWAACC tournament beginning March 1 at Toyota Center and build some momentum to defend their NWAACC title.
But after Saturday’s 70-59 loss to Spokane in Pasco, the Hawks have to wonder if they’re ready for the emotion and physicality of the three-day postseason test of toughness.
They didn’t pass against the Sasquatch, who pounded the ball inside in the second half to avenge a loss to the Hawks in Spokane on Jan. 26.
But CBC coach Cheryl Holden, who led many of the same Columbia Basin players to the school’s third NWAACC championship last year, isn’t ready to panic yet.
“The second round is always tougher. Things change, you get to know the teams and everybody fights a little harder,” Holden said. “And everybody wants to take us down.”
CBC (13-12 overall, 9-4 NWAACC East) still holds a one-game lead over Spokane for the No. 2 seed out of the East. But if the Hawks lose their final game — at Treasure Valley CC in Ontario, Ore. on Tuesday — and Spokane (15-10, 8-5) can win at home against Yakima Valley (14-11, 7-5), that would set up a tiebreaker for the No. 2 spot. The two are tied head-to-head, and if there’s a tie in the quality wins category, the Sasquatch would get the No. 2 seed based on a predetermined draw.
The Hawks started the game well, as Hannah Depew converted a three-point play after taking the ball aggressively to the hole in the first 1:39. She scored four more points over the next 2 minutes to give CBC a 12-9 advantage.
But Spokane used an 11-2 run, fueled by a couple of transition buckets by Riley Holsinger, to grab a 20-14 lead with 11:27 left in the first half.
The Hawks pulled to within 34-33 on a 3-pointer by Kellie Ross. The Sasquatch went up 36-33 after Hanford graduate Morgan Freeman grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the putback, but Alicia Jones swept the lane for a layin, again bringing the Hawks to within one point with three seconds left in the half.
But when Jorden Brons put up a last-second, desparation heave from 28 feet out, Brenda Bingham was called for the foul, and Brons drilled all three foul shots to give Spokane a 39-35 lead.
“We haven’t been playing very good defense. We’ve got to figure it out and come out and play strong together,” Holden said.
Kelsey Yenney came out firing for CBC in the second half, hitting three 3-pointers in the first 5:31 to pull the Hawks within 49-48.
But Freeman helped Spokane put together a 12-2 run, scoring six points during a 2 1/2 minute stretch, to put the Sasquatch up 62-50 eiyh 9:38 left in the game. Freeman, a 6-foot post, finished with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and four rebounds in just over 11 minutes.
“It was a little intimidating because this is my home, and they killed us at our place,” Freeman said. “But we started driving more in the second half and kicking the ball inside. They didn’t have as many bigs as we do.”
Holsinger was a killer, leading both sides with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She also dished out three assists.
“We’re kind of a Jekyll and Hyde team. We’ve played really well at times, but it’s funny — when we want to play defense, we’re hard to beat,” said Spokane coach Bruce Johnson. “They tried to press us, and we got some passes over the top to Morgan.
“She was huge. She does a great job scoring for us. She’s not as good on defense as Tamar (Williams), but she’s been key for us.”
Jones, a 5-9 sophomore center, led the Hawks with 13 points and 10 rebounds despite being pinched inside by bigger opponents.
“They came out harder than we did, and we didn’t play together,” Jones said.
SPOKANE — Brons 3-6 3-3 9, Rylie Holsinger 8-15 1-3 18, Cook 3-11 3-3 11, Wilson 1-6 1-4 3, Wiliams 1-4 4-6 6, Pleasants 1-3 2-4 4, Corona 2-4 0-1 5, Chrisiansen 1-2 2-2 4, Freeman 5-6 0-0 10. Totals 25-57 16-26 70.
COLUMBIA BASIN COLLEGE — Ross 2-11 0-0 5, Yenney 4-10 0-0 12, Avery-Winchester 0-1 0-0 0, Higheagle 2-12 2-4 7, Depew 5-16 2-3 12, Jones 4-10 5-7 13, Williams 0-0 2-2 2, Bingham 4-4 0-0 8. Totals 21-64 11-16 59.
Halftime— Spokane 39-35. 3-point goals—Spok 4-10 (Cook 2-5, Holsinger 1-1, Corona 1-2, Brons 0-1, Wilson 0-1), CBC 6-22 (Yenney 4-5, Ross 1-8, Higheagle 1-9). Rebounds—Spok 46 (Holsinger 13), CBC 38 (Jones 10). Assists—Spok 11 (Holsinger 3), CBC 10 (Yenney 3). Turnovers—Spok 12, CBC 13. Fouls—Spok 15, CBC 18.
Spokane men 103, CBC 65: The Sasquatch (18-8, 9-4) put six players in double figures, led by Brady Bagby’s 17 points, in a decisive road win over the Hawks (1-22, 0-13).
Spokane outrebounded CBC 40-24 and scored 23 points off turnovers to the Hawks 2.
Kyler DeWitt led CBC with 18 points. Jerid Ronquillo added 17 for the Hawks.
