Lady Braves one win away from Spokane tourney berth

One more win means one more trip to Spokane for the La Conner High Lady Braves.

But a loss Saturday night to Walla Walla Valley Academy would cancel any travel plans for the 20-2 Lady Braves, who played so well at last week’s District Tournament in Sedro-Woolley that not even a wing and a prayer could defeat them.

Just ask the Auburn Adventist Lady Falcons.

La Conner routed Auburn 62-42 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates.

The Lady Braves led at one point by 36 points before taking the foot off the pedal.

“We came out focused and ready to play,” La Conner head coach Scott Novak said afterward. “And for the first three quarters it was just a textbook performance. We played really awesome.”

There was no shortage of highlights for La Conner.

Freshman Justine Benson led all scorers with 24 points, going 10 of 15 from the floor and making both her free throws. Two of Benson’s field goals were deep treys.

“Justine had an excellent game for us,” Novak said. “She was definitely in a zone shooting the basketball.”

Matty Lagerwey finished with 13 points while filling the stat sheet. Lagerwey grabbed seven rebounds, dished off four assists, blocked a shot, and recorded a steal.

“Matty has been playing her best basketball of late,” noted Novak, “which has been great for us.”

Nakiya Edwards joined Benson and Lagerwey in double-digit scoring, meshing 11 points. She was six of eight from the field, including two from beyond the trey arc. Edwards also collected a team-best six assists.

Ashley Watkins chipped in six points, six rebounds, three steals, and a pair of assists.

Nakesha Edwards hit a trey and notched an assist.

Joanie Benson came off the bench to deliver a long three-pointer, and Kayla Hagen passed off for three scores while hitting a bucket herself.

As a team, La Conner shot a blistering 55 per cent – 26 of 47 – including six of 16 attempts behind the three-point line. The Lady Braves were equally efficient at the charity strip, converting four of five attempts.

La Conner will likely need a similar effort against 17-7 Walla Walla in Saturday’s Regional round, which tips off at 8 p.m. in Mount Vernon.

The winner goes to State. The loser goes home.

“They’ll post some challenges we haven’t seen for a while,” Novak said of the Lady Knights, whom he scouted last weekend in Wenatchee. “They have good size and an unusual amount of length.”

Five Walla Walla players stand 5’-10” or taller, including senior post Alissa Hendrickson, a standout volleyball player for the Lady Knights last fall.

“They’ll be a tough matchup,” acknowledged Novak, “but, fortunately, we’re playing very good basketball right now.”