Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
After her team’s 57-51 loss in the 1B Regionals last Friday in Walla Walla, Tekoa-Oakesdale senior Courtenay Perry was called back onto the court for the sportsmanship award.
Tekoa-Oakesdale junior Mattie Jo Johnson reaches for a rebound Friday night in a 1B Regional loss to Sunnyside Christian. The game took place at Walla Walla High School.
She stood in front of the scorer’s table as Oakesdale High School Athletic Director Ken Lindgren put the medal over her head and hugged her. She held on, then turned away and ran, wiping tears, running back to the locker room. It was her last time as a high school basketball player.
Before having to come out to receive the individual award, Perry and the Nighthawks lost to Sunnyside Christian by six points in a chase at Walla Walla High School.
Senior forward Alex Overton led the team with 17 points while Cassandra Mendoza had 10 and Perry 8. Meanwhile, Kara Den Hoed lead unbeaten Sunnyside Christian with 26 points while Stormee Van Belle scored 19 for the Knights.
“It was close, evenly matched but we just ran out of time,” said Nighthawks coach Dan Brown. “They’re undefeated still.”
The game began with a burst from Tekoa-Oakesdale, going up 10-2, then 15-8 when senior forward Overton hit a three-pointer. The Knights’ Van Belle answered for two from the top of the key to cut it to 15-10, countered by another three-pointer from Overton, for 18-10.
Then the Nighthawks’ Alexa Lindgren made a three-pointer to keep them up 23-17 at 2:55 left in the second with Overton on the bench with two fouls.
It was 25-23 at halftime.
The third quarter began and stayed frantic.
Overton drove for a four-footer to keep the Nighthawks ahead before Sunnyside Christian’s Kara Den Hoed hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to give them their first lead, 28-27.
Overton then scored on an offensive rebound from seven feet.
On the next possession, Perry passed inside to Overton for a one-point lead before Den Hoed stole a ball and scored.
Then Perry hit a three-pointer with a foul after the shot to tie the game 34-34 with 2:08 left in the third quarter.
Two free throws followed from Olivia Pakootas to put the Nighthawks up by four when the Knights’ Den Hoed downed another three-pointer from the top of the key.
Perry scored from ten feet on a fast break to keep the Nighthawks up three. At the end of the quarter, Lindgren put up a shot from halfcourt, bouncing off glass and rim.
It was 40-39 starting the fourth quarter with Overton on the bench in foul trouble.
The pace kept up.
Mendoza scored on an offensive rebound and Den Hoed drove to put her team up by one.
Overton came back in and forced a three-pointer which missed.
Mendoza then drove through the key like a gazelle to cut S.C.’s lead to one, 45-44 with 4:15 left.
With under two minutes remaining, Mendoza knocked a pass away and Tekoa-Oakesdale took possession with a chance to tie or take the lead.
They passed the ball around, Perry missed a shot and Lindgren fouled Den Hoed with 1:24 left.
Back on offense, Overton secured a key rebound to keep a possession alive. The ball came back to her and she missed from the top of the key.
The errant ball ended up in the hands of Sunnyside Christian’s Brouwer, who missed a free throw and Mendoza went to the line on the other end for an over-the-back call.
She missed.
Lindgren fouled Brouwer and she made one, keeping the Knights up three, 51-48. She made another for 52-48.
Then Perry hit a three-pointer to cut it to one.
Den Hoed answered with two free throws and the Nighthawks called time out with 28 seconds left, down 54-51.
Back on the floor, Tekoa-Oakesdale worked the ball to Overton, who missed another three-pointer. Mendoza came down with the rebound but her feet landed on the baseline.
From there, the Knights made free throws to win by six.
Sunnyside Christian
57-Tekoa/Oakesdale 51: 10/15 12/10 16/15 18/11: Brouwer 8, Den Hoad 26, Van Belle 19, Dalyrmple 4. Tekoa/Oakaesdale: /Alexa Lindgren Lindgren 4, Courtenay Perry 8, Mattie Jo Johnson 2, Alex Overton 17, Olivia Pakootas 4, Cassie Mendoza 10, Kim Groom 6.
Cassie Mendoza looks to Mattie Jo Johnson on a fast break.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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