This was one the Kentlake High girls basketball team desperately needed.
It also was one the Falcons almost gave away at the end.
Jessica Barnes poured in 13 points and Alyssa Simonson added 11 as Kentlake held off Kent-Meridian 47-45 at the ShoWare Center in the Les Schwab Kent Shootout.
“We needed that just to stay in the playoff hunt,” said Kentlake coach Scott Simmons.
Indeed.
However, a huge performance by Kent-Meridian forward Aubreyana Anderson almost wiped out the win for the Falcons (4-8, 5-11). Anderson, a junior, entered the day averaging a team-leading 11.1 points per game. Anderson dropped 20 points and 14 rebounds on the Falcons.
“That’s an amazing performance,” Simmons said.
Kentlake led Kent-Meridian (0-13, 1-16) 27-12 at halftime. The Royals, however, didn’t back down, eventually knotting the game 45-45 with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, when Anderson delivered baseline runner off glass. Kentlake’s Nicole Luce immediately responded on the other end, draining a 12-foot baseline jumper with 5.4 seconds remaining. The shot sealed the win for the Falcons.
Simmons was glad Luce took the shot she did.
“Anywhere inside 15 feet, she’s got a great shot,” Simmons said. “I’m happy for her. She’s a senior and one of the hardest workers on the team. And it should be good for her confidence to hit a shot like that.”
Alex Witherspoon added 11 points for the Royals while Kariona Hicks chipped in nine rebounds.
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