SEATTLE — Imagine two marathon runners matching each other stride for labored stride.
They’re both utterly exhausted. Either could collapse any moment. The winner might simply be whoever survives.
Transfer that image to the basketball court and you’ve got Friday’s Meadowdale versus Fort Vancouver loser-out clash at the Class 3A girls state tournament.
Battling tired legs and mental lapses while playing their third game in three days, the teams got through a gritty clash marked by turnovers (43 altogether) and missed field-goal attempts (68).
In the end, Meadowdale held on for a 58-50 triumph, ensuring the Mavericks will leave Hec Edmundson Pavilion this weekend with a top-eight trophy.
“It’s tough. Our girls are tired. You can tell,” Meadowdale coach Dan Taylor said.
Senior guard Eryn Jones shot poorly from the field again (six of 17) but scored 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had six steals to help lead Meadowdale (23-5).
Meadowdale, which withstood a 24-point, seven-rebound performance by Fort Vancouver wing Kierra Harrison, will play Lakeside (23-6) in the fifth/eighth-place game at 10:30 a.m. today at Bank of America Arena.
Harrison scored 14 points in the second half (mostly on fast-break layins) for Fort Vancouver (18-9), which got within 53-50 when the Trappers’ Angela Gardner made two foul shots midway through the fourth quarter.
However, Meadowdale scored the game’s final five points. Three of them came when guard Hanna Fjortoft (12 points, two steals) drained a pivotal 3-pointer from the left corner with 3 minutes, 22 seconds to go.
Fjortoft’s clutch 3 gave Meadowdale a 56-50 edge and a lot of confidence. She ignited the play with a steal.
“That was a big shot. Hanna really stepped it up there. That possession made us feel like we had it,” said guard Alli Streit, who tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds for Meadowdale.
Thanks to an excellent start, Meadowdale was in control throughout the first half. The Mavericks zoomed to a 7-0 lead, went on top 15-2 midway through the first quarter and built a 14-point cushion in the final minute of the second period.
Instead of relying mainly on Jones, as it did in its first two games, Meadowdale got points from a variety of sources. Streit and Fjortoft combined to score 14 first-half points, complimenting Jones’ team-high nine.
In the third quarter, Meadowdale’s lead grew to 43-30, but Fort Vancouver ended the period with a 7-0 scoring run.
Solid offensive and defensive contributions from guard Danica Coronacion (eight points, three rebounds) and center Anna Molitor (three blocks) helped Meadowdale protect its frequently slim lead.
“I’m really proud of our girls,” Taylor said. “We didn’t want to leave here without a trophy. Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, I’m glad that we earned another one.”
At Hec Edmundson Pavilion
Meadowdale19141015—58
Fort Vancouver13101413—50
Meadowdale — Coronacion 8, J. Fjortoft 3, Jones 21, Carlow, H. Fjortoft 12, Molitor 4, Beyer, Streit 10, Lillquist, Zickefoose, O’Neill. Fort Vancouver — Nicola, Gardner 4, Vazquez 2, Endresen 2, Colpron 5, Powell 2, Harrison 24, Jackson 11. 3-point goals-Coronacion 1, J. Fjortoft 1, Jones 1, H. Fjortoft 2, Harrison 1. Records-Meadowdale 23-5 overall. Fort Vancouver 18-9.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
