LYNNWOOD
Kristi Kingma isn’t a one-woman show. Sometimes it just seems that way.
After scoring all 13 of her team’s first-quarter points, Kingma started finding her teammates. It turns out there’s a lot more to the surging Jackson Timberwolves girls basketball team than its highly touted star guard.
Kingma tallied 10 assists, all in the final three quarters, and scored a career-high 32 points, leading Jackson to a surprisingly comfortable 67-58 victory Jan. 16 over the Meadowdale Mavericks.
In a high-profile battle for first place in the Western Conference South Division, Jackson prevailed despite the efforts of Meadowdale guards Eryn Jones (24 points) and Hanna Fjortoft (20 points).
“The good thing about our team is that anybody can finish and hit from anywhere on the court,” Jackson coach Jeannie Thompson said, “so once Kristi’s jump shot starts falling and (defenders double-team her) that’s why we have been so successful this year.”
Ashly Bruns, Erin Feeney and Ashley Todd all scored at least six points in the second half for Jackson, helping the Timberwolves grow a lead that peaked at 16 points (57-41).
Bruns finished with 13 points for Jackson, which won its 10th consecutive game and made program history by sweeping a season series against Meadowdale.
A little extra intensity helped Jackson do it, Kingma said: “Before the game we just came together as a team and said, ‘You know what, we’re going to do whatever we (can) to win.’”
Whether it was Bruns shifting her body to take a timely charge on the baseline or sophomore Chanel Sam using her outstanding athleticism to block shots and pester Meadowdale’s Jones, Jackson frequently got vital contributions from all over.
Jackson didn’t exactly have a blistering start, though. After falling behind by as many as eight points, the Timberwolves took better care of the ball and outscored Meadowdale 17-6 in the second quarter. Boosted by a 10-0 spurt, Jackson led 30-23 by halftime.
Kingma led all players with 19 first-half points. Her four assists in the final 6:41 of the half helped the Timberwolves take their first lead and build a solid cushion.
“It gives (Kingma) so much confidence because she knows if she gives it up, there are quality players there who are going to knock it down,” Thompson said.
Besides its impact on the South standings, the game was notable because it was the final prep clash between star senior guards Kingma, a University of Washington recruit, and Jones, headed to Portland State University. Jackson, a Class 4A school, and 3A Meadowdale will go separate routes in the postseason.
Both players consistently thrilled the sizable crowd. In the first quarter they combined to score 23 of the 30 total points.
But when Jones and her relatively short but speedy Meadowdale mates failed to generate fast-break points, and struggled to make jump shots, Jackson took over. Often, Kingma sliced to the top of the key and passed inside, creating uncontested layins.
“They just kept beating us with the dribble-drive and the dish. … I think we were too caught up in focusing on them hitting outside shots,” Meadowdale coach Dan Taylor said.
Meadowdale, which scored 14 points less than it had been averaging, was just 6-for-30 on field goals in the middle quarters.
“We just had an off night offensively,” Jones said. “We battled on defense and did all that we could but we couldn’t (make enough) shots.”
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