AUBURN – It makes perfect sense that Daesha Henderson aspires to be a dentist. She and the Snohomish Panthers girls basketball team play defense that reminds at least one opposing coach of a traumatic dental checkup.
“It’s like going to the dentist,” University (Spokane) coach Mark Stinson said of Henderson, a quick senior guard, and Snohomish’s other defenders. “It’s painful but you gotta do it because it makes you better.”
Led by a game-high 20 points from stellar junior Angie Bjorklund, University found enough holes in Snohomish’s ‘D’ to pull off a 48-38 victory Friday night in a non-conference battle during the final day of the Riverside Invitational at the Auburn Riverside High gym.
Henderson blanketed the versatile Bjorklund, who has already verbally accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Tennessee, and tallied a team-high 17 points for Snohomish (5-3 overall). But a young Panthers squad committed 16 turnovers and never got closer than six in the fourth quarter.
It was the second-consecutive loss against a high-caliber opponent for Snohomish, which fell 47-35 against highly regarded Lincoln Thursday night at the Riverside Invite to end a five-game winning streak. Snohomish coach Ken Roberts said the defeats were valuable.
“Everything from this tournament was positive for our team,” said Roberts, who guided Snohomish to the Class 4A state championship game last season. ” … I felt that we played with the intensity level that we have to play at in our league schedule and the rest of the year. But we have to do it the whole game.”
Snohomish will face another major test when it hosts undefeated Monroe (5-0 Western Conference North Division, 9-0 overall) Jan. 6 in a key division clash. Snohomish is 4-0 in Wesco North games.
“It’s been a good spot to kind of see where we are,” said the Seattle Pacific University-bound Henderson, who drained three 3-point baskets and scored 10 second-half points. “It was good especially for our younger players to get experience at this tough of a level.” Three freshmen and two sophomores play significant minutes for Snohomish. Freshman forward Katie Benson fueled the Panthers’ youth movement with nine points off the bench.
Henderson said Snohomish’s youngsters were timid Thursday versus Lincoln but showed more fire against University: “I saw a little bit more of a spark.”
Bjorklund, a Parade All-American fourth-team selection last season, appeared in just her second game of the season. She missed five games with a stress fracture in her shin but scored a game-high 20 points Thursday in her season debut, a 68-65 victory over invite host Auburn Riverside. Against Snohomish Bjorklund appeared a bit winded but displayed remarkable offensive versatility, sinking long jump shots, knifing into the lane for a silky mid-range fadeaway and using a vicious jab step to attack the rim.
Post Dara Zack added nine points for University.
Bjorkland and the Titans earned some payback against Snohomish. The teams split two games in 2004-05, but Snohomish won the far more important clash: a 58-52 triumph in the Class 4A state semifinals. Snohomish ultimately fell short of winning its first state title, falling 63-58 in overtime against Garfield in the 4A title game. But the Panthers clearly made an impression on University.
“They’re just a great program, just class people,” University’s Stinson said of Snohomish. “It’s a pleasure playing them.”
At Auburn
Snohomish812711-38
University1217712-48
Snohomish-Marshall 7, Henderson 17, Adams 2, Yates 3, Benson 9. University-Zack 9, Bjorklund 20, Crisp 3, Schnibbe 7, Erickson 2, Mitchell 4, Schiermeister 3. 3-point goals-Henderson 3, Benson 1, Bjorklund 1, Crisp 1, Schnibbe 1, Schiermeister 1. Records-Snohomish 5-3 overall. University 5-2.
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