Othello holds on to advance
Derrick Pacheco/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Othello guard Christine Kirkwood (30) goes up for a basket against the Grandview Greyhounds during the CWAC tournament last month in Othello. The Lady Huskies eliminated the Hockinson Hawks Thursday to advance at the 2A state tournament.
YAKIMA, Wash. — The Othello girls basketball team moved one step closer to placing at the 2009 Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 2A state tournament Wednesday with a win over the Burlington-Edison Tigers Thursday.
The Lady Huskies eliminated the Tigers from the state tournament with a 37-36 victory.
Othello and Burlington-Edison battled through 12 lead changes and eight ties Thursday morning before the Lady Huskies advanced in the consolation bracket.
Burlington-Edison clawed their way to an early first quarter lead, taking a 5-3 lead just two minutes into the game. Othello battled back to tie the game with 4:13 left in the first.
Othello continued to push the Tigers in the first quarter, taking their first lead of the game at 7-5 with 3:41 left in the quarter.
The Lady Huskies would take their largest lead of the quarter when Othello senior and Central Washington Athletic Conference co-Player of the Year Allison Walker sank a field goal attempt with two minutes left to put the Lady Huskies ahead 12-9.
Burlington-Edison fought their way back in the second quarter, eventually pulling even with the Lady Huskies at 14-14.
After the Tigers erased the Othello advantage, the Lady Huskies went on a 6-1 run over the next three minutes to take their largest lead of the game at 20-15. Burlington-Edison managed to close the gap late in the second but the Lady Huskies took a 21-17 lead into the half.
The Tigers fought their way back in the third quarter to take a 27-25 lead— their first lead since the 4:13 mark in the first. Othello pulled even with the on their next possession when Christine Kirkwood sank a pair of free throws.
Following a defensive stand from the Lady Huskies, Othello reclaimed the lead and took a 31-29 lead into the final quarter.
After just 90 seconds, Othello push their advantage to 34-29, tying their largest lead of the ball game.
While the Lady Huskies led late in the contest, they would only score one field goal over the final six minutes and 30 seconds of the contest.
With their season on the line, the Tigers stormed back to tie the game at 34-34 with 3:23 left on the clock.
After an Othello turnover gave the Tigers possession of the basketball, Burlington-Edison missed a field goal opportunity on their next trip down the court. A key rebound from the Othello gave the Lady Huskies a chance to reclaim the lead.
The Lady Huskies didn’t disappoint.
Walker put the ball in through the net and was fouled in the process and Othello reclaimed the lead at 36-34. Walker made her free-throw attempt to put Othello ahead 37-34. Walker led all scorers with 17 points.
Burlington-Edison closed the gap to 37-36 with 58 second remaining, but the Lady Huskies managed to hold on to eliminate the Tigers.
The Lady Huskies returned to the court this morning at 9 a.m. when they took on Black Hills in another loser-out consolation contest.
Should Othello get past Black Hills, the Lady Huskies are guaranteed at least an eighth-place finish at the state championships.
Othello head coach Laurie Stickel was unavailable for comment.