Two-time defending champion LC eases past Puyallup

| February 28, 2008 8:00 PM

4A girls basketball tournament recaps

TACOMA (AP) - Brittany Kennedy scored 10 points and two-time defending champ Lewis and Clark overcame a sluggish first half to beat Puyallup 46-27 Wednesday in the first round of the Class 4A girls state basketball tournament on Wednesday.

The Tigers (26-0), looking to become the first 4A girls basketball team in state history to three-peat, led just 16-9 at the half and shot just 25 percent from the field. The Tigers heated up in the second half, shooting 50 percent (13 of 26) to pull away.

Kentwood 66, Skyview 46

Lindsey Moore scored 24 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists, and the Conquerors overcame an early deficit to beat the Storm and advance to Thursday's quarterfinals against Moses Lake.

The Conquerors (22-4) also got 10 points from Courtney Johnson.

Snohomish 49,

Bellarmine Prep 27

Katie Benson scored 24 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and the Panthers beat the Lions easily.

Benson, a junior, was 12 of 18 from the field to lead Snohomish (20-5). Benson's 12 field goals were double that of the entire Bellarmine Prep team. The Lions (23-5) were just 6 of 41 from the field, shooting just 14.6 percent.

Prairie 64, Inglemoor 49

Senior guard Ashley Corral scored 26 points and dished out six assists, leading the perennial power Falcons to a first-round win over the Vikings.

Corral, a McDonald's All-American headed to USC next year, was 8 of 17 from the field and hit four 3-pointers to pace Prairie (19-3), which has 10 straight top-six finishes in the state tournament. Emily Lashua added 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting.

Lake Stevens 67, Mount Tahoma 43

Alona Personius scored 23 points and Mary Ochiltree added 18 to lead the Vikings to a 24-point win over the Thunderbirds.

The senior-laden Vikings (22-2) won their state opener for the first time in three years.

Ballard 48, Rogers-Puyallup 39

The Beavers held the Rams to 18.6 field-goal shooting and advanced to the quarterfinals on Thursday night.

Ballard (22-2) plays the winner of Wednesday's late game between Graham-Kapowsin and Pasco at 8:30 p.m. tonight.