2A Girls State: Lynden Stomps Prosser, Returns To Finals

Lynden girls basketball coach Rob Adams likes to preach “be where your feet are” as a reminder for his team to be in the moment.

Well, his Lions’ feet will soon be exactly where he hoped and everybody else thought they’d be — on center court in the Yakima SunDome for the Class 2A state championship game.

Lynden used a dominating first half to pound Prosser, 62-44, in their semifinal Friday evening, March 7, advancing the Lions to the state final on Saturday at 7 p.m.

There the top-ranked and undefeated defending state champion Lions will meet second-ranked and undefeated Ellensburg, which won the previous two state championships. And in case you hadn’t heard, Lynden’s victory over Ellensburg in last year’s title game is the Bulldogs’ lone defeat in the past 101 games.

Adams, however, was sticking to his philosophy and enjoying the moment.

“Our goal is always to play on the last day, to be with each other until the last day,” Adams said of Saturday’s trophy round. “It’ll be a big atmosphere, but this is their turn. We appreciate the opportunity. We tell them, that pressure is a privilege. You’re going to get somebody’s best effort .”

Lynden got Prosser’s best effort Friday, but it wasn’t nearly enough to stop the Lions from winning their 27th straight game this season.

The Lions jumped out to a 10-2 lead and used a 21-point second quarter to stretch their advantage to 15 at the half. When Lynden star Finley Parcher sat out early in the third quarter with foul trouble and the Mustangs closed to within 10, junior Degitu Bowler came off the bench to hit two big 3-pointers to end the threat.

Parcher would finish with 17 points and Lynden’s other all-stater, junior Payton Mills, dominated inside, making eight of her nine shots for 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Parcher added 8 boards as Lynden outrebounded Prosser, 34-24.

Bowler would sink three of her four 3-point attempts for 11 points, and sophomore Lexi Hermanutz added 7 points to Lynden’s attack.

Adams again praised his reserves — the Electric Company, he calls them, because they provide the energy — for playing so many minutes in Thursday’s quarterfinal win over Columbia River and again on Friday against the Mustangs’ constant pressure that the starters were well rested.

“Our bench did a great job,” he said. “In the first half, we had a nice rotation and kept fresh legs. Without our bench, that wouldn’t have happened.”

He also highlighted the play of junior forward Rian Stephan, who used her new role on offense as a facilitator to set up several easy buckets for the Lions. “Rian played her biggest game and was lights out on offense,” he said.

Although only a sophomore, Parcher was able to put some perspective on making a return trip to the finals in only her second year.

“This means a lot to us,” she said of returning to the championship game. “It shows all our hard work and dedication.”

When asked if it mattered who the Lions played on Saturday, Parcher shrugged even before the Ellensburg-Deer Park semifinal started.

“Bring on whoever,” she said. “They’ll get our best effort.”

Parcher also was awarded the team’s sportsmanship medallion for the game.

Lynden 62, Prosser 44

Prosser 8 13 10 13—44

Lynden 15 21 11 15—62

Prosser: Adriana Milanez, Keelyn Cox 23, Herbie Wright 10, Lay’lee Dixon 1, Kennedy Bailey 3, Deidra Phillips 15, Naomi Chavez 3.

Lynden: Degitu Bowler 11, Lexi Hermanutz 7, Reese Nyhoff, Rihanna Newcomb, Jules Slayton, Rian Stephan 4, Izzie Stephan 2, Melanie Anderson, Kiki York 5, Finley Parcher 17, Audrey Basart, Payton Mills 18.

CLASS 2A GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT

At Yakima SunDome

Wednesday, March 5

Prosser 71, Eatonville 24 (loser out)

Columbia River 38, Port Angeles 33 (loser out)

W.F. West 68, North Mason 32 (loser out)

Bainbridge 44, Woodland 40 (loser out)

Thursday, March 6

Prosser 68, Archbishop Murphy 49

Lynden 59, Columbia River 20

Deer Park 56, W.F. West 45

Ellensburg 63, Bainbridge 37