GIRLS BASKETBALL: KW blasts Mount Tahoma, earns berth in district championship game

  • BY Wire Service
  • Wednesday, February 25, 2009 2:11am
  • Sports

The scenario hardly matters to the top-ranked Kentwood High girls basketball team these days.

Regular-season game or postseason showdown, someone wearing the green and black is going to step up. That was exactly the case Tuesday night at Puyallup High against Mount Tahoma.

But instead of one or two girls taking charge against Mount Tahoma, Kentwood used its entire arsenal, routing the Thunderbirds 73-43 in a West Central District III semifinal game.

“If someone is sick or down or having an off night, we always know that there’s going to be someone there to step up,” said Kentwood forward Liz Mills, who came off the bench to score 14 points and grab 10 rebounds. “So we don’t have to worry about someone having an off night.”

Despite leading just 11-10 after the first quarter, Tuesday was anything but an “off night” for the Conquerors (24-0). Mount Tahoma, behind a flurry of 3-pointers, held a 21-16 midway through the second quarter before Kentwood turned it up a few notches and simply blew the Thunderbirds off the court.

After falling behind by five points at the 4:10 mark of the second quarter, the Conquerors finished the half on a frantic 22-5 run to put an end to any thoughts Mount Tahoma (21-5) had of an upset.

Mills scored 10 of her 14 points during the run while senior star Lindsey Moore added eight.

Moore finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with six assists and five rebounds. Jessie Genger and Kylie Huerta also reached double-figures scoring, pouring in 10 points apiece. But Kentwood also got eight points off the bench from Sanda Milovic.

Kentwood’s bench play was a big reason for the blowout, outscoring Mount Tahoma’s bench 24-2.

“I don’t know how many teams you see who can continually bring in people that can maintain the same (offense),” said Moore. “It doesn’t really drop off. We definitely have so many weapons on this team that anyone can score on any night.”

Eight Conquerors scored Tuesday night.

The Thunderbirds came at Kentwood with a flurry of 3-pointers and the plan seemed to work during the first 12 minutes, when Mount Tahoma connected on 6 of 13 from long range. The Thunderbirds hit on just 3 of 18 the rest of the way.

“It gave them a lot of momentum,” said Kentwood coach Keith Hennig. “The thing I like about our team is that we stay focused on the things that we need to do no matter what the score is. I have a lot of confidence in our girls even when we’re down early. I think that confidence outweighed (Mount Tahoma’s) hot shooting in the first half.”

With the win, Kentwood advances to the district championship game for the third year in a row. The Conquerors have won the last two district titles. They will play Auburn Riverside (19-6) at 8 p.m. on Saturday night at Puyallup High for the championship and top seed to the state tournament, which begins next week at the Tacoma Dome.

“There’s a lot more at stake now,” Moore said of the showdown against Auburn Riverside. “There’s definitely a lot going toward that game. Not only being rivals with them, (but) I know they’re sour a little bit because we’ve beaten them the last two times we played them.”

Kentwood beat Auburn Riverside 65-48 on Dec. 11 and 61-45 on Jan. 20. The Conquerors haven’t lost to a South Puget Sound League North Division opponent since Jan. 3, 2006 — a string of 53 straight wins — when they lost to Auburn Riverside.

The Conquerors are hoping to push that streak to 54 on Saturday.

“Riverside is always a tough game,” Mills noted. “And I like the tough game. We don’t always see a lot of competition and with Riverside, we know we’re going to get it.”

Kentwood 73, Mount Tahoma 43

Mount Tahoma 10 16 12 5 43

Kentwood 11 27 25 10 73

Mount Tahoma: Keana Magalei 0, Leana Magalei 15, Ashyna Davis 5, Carrie Ojeda 15, Jassitey Mamea 6, Charly Williams 0, Kimesha Johnson 2, Hallyanna Tialauea 0.

Kentwood: Lindsey Moore 22, Jessie Genger 10, Kylie Huerta 10, Sanda Milovic 8, Courtney Johnson 5, Liz Mills 14, Shelby Wahlberg 2, Kelli Rider 2, Maddison Rankin 0.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentwood

Dayna Vi (Jr.) wrestling and Brandon Tagle (Jr.) basketball take home this weeks awards.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi dribbles the ball up the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood girls basketball drops fourth straight

Team falls to Riverside for first time since 2017. Head Coach Jordan Nero: ‘We’ll find a way, we always do.’

t
Hundreds participate in Kent Christmas Rush run/walk

Seattle’s Nathan Morrisson wins 10K; Kent’s Travis Houser captures 5K

Graphic provided by KSD.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

Genesis Miller (Flag Football) and Gio Moimoi (Basketball) take home this weeks award.

Veronica Garcia gives an interview after winning the 2A girls 400-meter final at the 2024 Washington State Championships at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Screenshot from Runnerspace.com video)
Proposals seek new rules for transgender athletes in WA schools

Other proposals target student-athlete transfer rules and girls flag football.

Tyanna Sims drives to the basket against Auburn in the loss. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Trojans sweep aside Kentwood in doubleheader

Both boys and girls basketball teams lose to Auburn in NPSL opening play.

Kentridge girls soccer surprised the three signees at Kentridge. Photo provided by @ETDPI on Instagram.
National Signing Day for Kentridge | Photos

Four Chargers offically signed to play college sports.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Athlete of the Week for Nov. 22: Kentwood

Nick Greutman (tennis) and Rowan Parsons (swim and dive) take home this weeks honors.

Kentridge senior Sierra Wallace dribbles the ball against Woodinville. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer falls 4-0 in state

Chargers make round of eight for second time ever and run into Woodinville buzzsaw.

Senior running back Antoine Lee avoids a Trojan defender early in the game against Auburn. Ben Ray / The Reporter
4A NPSL all-league football teams announced

Kentwood’s Antoine Lee named Offensive Player of the Year.

Photo provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentridge

Addison Stendera and Riley Tricas take home this weeks awards.

Makenna Bennett in action against Tahoma back on Oct. 22 at Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer advances to state

Chargers make state for second consecutive year, take on Wenatchee.