Ephrata girls roll to CWAC victory over Selah
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald Ephrata junior Katelyn Ostrowski (31) plays aggressive defense against Roni Rasmussen of Selah during Friday Night’s Central Washington Athletic Conference game in Ephrata. The Tigers won 58-45.
EPHTATA — The plan was to not let Central Washington Athletic Conference player of the year Adriel Willis beat them and the Ephrata Tigers did just that in their 58-45 victory over the Vikings Friday night.
Madison Martin scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the second and third quarters to lead the Tigers (4-2, 2-2 CWAC), who outscored the Vikings 18-10 in the final eight minutes.
“We have to get to the rim, kick and have our post finish up in there, and get to the free-throw line,” Ephrata coach Aaron Ross said. “We had a game plan going on defense and I thought we executed as well as we could have.”
The Tigers held Willis to 13 points. The 5-foot-8 wing scored most of those points at the free-throw line where she was 10-of-11. In fact, Wills only scored two baskets from floor the whole night, two in the first quarter. She didn’t have a field goal for the remaining 24 minutes.
“We had plan to swarm Willis and stop her, and make somebody else beat us. She didn’t beat us and we ended up winning and that’s what really matters,” said 6-foot Avery Mickelsen, who finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. “We love to run. We love to press. Just because we’re young, doesn’t mean we don’t know how to play basketball. The big thing is that we do it together.”
Ephrata junior Katelyn Ostrowski scored seven of her 10 points in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers spread the gap. The Tigers outscored the Vikings 18-10 in the final eight minutes to secure their second CWAC victory of the season and win at home.
“People say we’re a young team, but that doesn’t matter to us,” said Mickelsen, whose team has just one senior. “We’ve played our whole lives and we’re ready for it.”
Ephrata got off to a slow start, but Martin scored a couple of baskets and a free throw in the first quarter and Kenedee Peters gave them a much needed perimeter game, knocking down a 3-pointer to help keep things close.
“We don’t really have a bunch of 3-point shooters. We’re working through it, but our game is to get to the rim and score anyway we can,” Ross said. “I’m really proud of the girls in the way they stuck to the game plan. One down, one more tomorrow night.”
Score by quarters Sehla 10 10 15 10 — 45 Ephrata 10 15 15 18 — 58 Selah — Rillie Wilkey 5, Kayla Snodgrass 5, Ashley Shurtleff 9, Kylie Wilkey 12, Roni Rasmussen 1, Adriel Willis 13. TOTALS — Field goals: 12. Three-pointers: 4. Free throws: 17-22. Score: 45 Ephrata — Sarai Kibbyf 4, Avery Mickelsen 11, Mya Buchert 2, Jamie Oxos 1. Kendee Peters 3. Katelyn Ostrowski 10, Sydnee Pixlee 4, Madison Martin 23. TOTALS — Field goals: 21. Three-pointers: 2. Free throws: 14-30. Score: 58