SEATTLE – While good teams merely find a way to win when things go awry, great teams notch victories as matters tilt towards awful.
Having trailed the entire game, the never-quit Snohomish Panthers took their only lead with less than three minutes remaining and held on for a stirring 50-49 girls basketball victory over Redmond at the University of Washington’s Hec Edmundson Pavilion Thursday night.
After having reeled off six consecutive victories by a staggering average margin of 40 points per game, Snohomish (7-1) found itself in deep trouble against Redmond (4-3) in the championship game of the Oh boy! Oberta Christmas Classic.
The Panthers trailed the fast-breaking Mustangs by 10 or more points on multiple occasions in each of the first three quarters, including a grim 17-5 deficit after five minutes.
“We tend to start slow and get ourselves into a hole,” Snohomish point guard Daesha Henderson said.
“Then we dig out of it,” added forward Emily Cassidy who led all scorers with 19 points and sank the shot that put Snohomish ahead 48-46 with 2:35 remaining.
Offensive woes aside, Snohomish never stopped playing hard-nosed defense and dominated the boards.
“I looked up at the clock and said ‘How are we even in this game?,’” relieved Snohomish coach Ken Roberts said.
Behind 46-41, with less than six minutes remaining, Henderson’s offensive rebound and putback basket cut the gap to 46-43. Snohomish then drew even when Amanda Best made a 3-pointer at the five-minute mark.
After a series of fruitless back-and-forth exchanges, Cassidy calmly buried a shot from out front to put Snohomish ahead.
At 1:55 Kristin Moore’s perfect pass to Sydney Benson on an inbound play under the Snohomish basket resulted in Benson’s layin that gave the Panthers a 50-46 advantage.
Erika Edwards’ basket brought Redmond within two points with 1:10 remaining. Shifty Mackenzie Flynn, who led Redmond with 15 points, drove the lane and drew a foul by Cassidy with 18.5 seconds to play.
Flynn made one of two free throws to get the Mustangs within 50-49.
After a missed Panther free throw, Redmond had its chances in the waning seconds, including a shot that caromed off the rim at the buzzer.
“Defense keeps you in the game,” Roberts said. “Especially when the offense is pretty awful.”
A field goal shooting percentage of 38.5, and a 58-percent performance at the foul line nearly bedeviled the Panthers.
Normally noted for its balanced attack, only Best (9 points), Henderson (12), Benson (10) and Cassidy scored for Snohomish.
Defense – including Henderson’s relentless coverage of Flynn – and a 41-25 rebounding advantage proved pivotal.
“Daesha Henderson is one of the best defensive players in the state,” Roberts said flatly.
Moore snared eight boards, as did Cassidy. Best and Henderson grabbed seven and six, respectively.
At Seattle
Snohomish13121411-50
Redmond208165-49
Snohomish-Henderson 12, Benson 10, Cassidy 19, Best 9. Redmond-Perugini 2, Tews 2, Radtke 8, Flynn 15, Betterridge 7, Edwards 12, Leuning 3. 3-point goals-Best 2, Cassidy 1, Flynn 1, Betterridge 1, Edwards 2. Records-Snohomish 7-1, Redmond 4-3.
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