TACOMA – Jordyn Battle’s career-high 20 points weren’t enough to help the Monroe High School girls basketball team overcome a woeful shooting performance on Saturday.
Battle scored 13 in the second half as the Bearcats tried to battle back from a deficit that got as big as 19 points, eventually losing 68-55 to Prairie in a battle for fourth place. Monroe (23-5) took seventh.
While Battle was 7-for-14 from the field, including five 3-pointers, her teammates combined to shoot just 13 of 40.
“Some days you just don’t have it,” Battle said of the team’s shooting woes. “We kept trying to shoot because (the Prairie defenders) were all sinking down on (6-foot-6 center Kirsten) Thompson.”
Battle was part of the problem in the first half, hitting just three of nine shots as the Bearcats fell behind 31-22. But she got hot over the final 16 minutes, making four of five shots – all from 3-point range.
Playing against a team that didn’t have a single senior play more than two minutes, the Bearcats sent their graduating foursome off on a forgettable note. Thompson, Dani Drivstuen, Marjani Muhammad and Sharolette Hill combined for just 20 points in their final high school game. Drivstuen accounted for 11 of those points, hitting two of three attempts from behind the 3-point line.
Thompson, an Arizona State-bound center, was held to seven points on 2-for-6 shooting. Muhammad started but played just 10 minutes due to illness.
Sophomore Sarah Morton added four points and seven assists for Monroe. Prairie (26-4) was led by junior Katie Madison’s 17 points and 13 rebounds and freshman Ashley Corral’s 16 points and six assists.
“I feel good about the season,” Monroe coach Alan Dickson said. “Our only two losses (at state) were against great programs – University and Prairie.”
The Bearcats played without sophomore Chelsea Drivstuen, who sprained her ankle in Friday’s win over Richland. She took warm-ups in uniform but did not play.
Prairie19121819-68
Monroe8141221-55
Prairie-Cameron 12, Corral 16, Donovan 8, Madison 17, Gelhar 8, Porter 5, Riggan 2. Monroe-Battle 20, Morton 4, Thompson 7, D. Drivstuen 11, Muhammad 2, Hopkins 6, Heilman 5. 3-point goals-Corral 4, Donovan 2, Battle 5, D. Drivstuen 2, Hopkins, Heilman. Records-Prairie 26-4, Monroe 23-5.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.
