Mercer Island snatches KingCo title from Patriot girls with 60-56 win
February 23, 2009
By Jim Feehan
Breanne Faehnrich (right), Liberty junior guard, loses the ball while going to the basket in the fourth quarter as Mercer Island junior forward Kate DaPron (left) defends during the 3A KingCo Basketball Tournament championship game. By Greg Farrar
Mercer Island used an explosive third quarter against Liberty High School’s Patriots to win the KingCo 3A tournament title, 60-56, at Bellevue Community College on Feb. 20.
The Islanders (17-5) scored 21 points in the third quarter, led by two 3-pointers each by Hailey Gullstad and Jae Shin. Mercer Island’s Janelle Chow hit two free throws with 4:35 remaining in the game to put the Islanders up by nine.The Patriots (17-5) made the game interesting with a furious fourth-quarter rally and closed to within two points with 1:28 left in the game when Katie Growden connected on two free throws to make it 58-56. But Gullstad hit two free throws in the closing minute to ensure the title for the Islanders.
“Third quarter, (Liberty post player) Danni (Sjolander) got in some foul trouble, and I decided to go two-three zone,” said Liberty coach Randy Leifer. “We had some success last time with the zone. We just didn’t get out on their shooters and they got us.”
Growden had a team-high 19 points for Liberty. Corrina VanHurston added 13 for the Patriots. Shin led Mercer Island with 18 points.
Both teams had to come from behind in their semifinal games Feb. 19. Mercer Island came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Bellevue 46-44. Liberty overcame a five-point, halftime deficit to win 52-46 against Mount St. The Patriots were led in scoring by Breanne Faehnrich’s 17 points.
Liberty led 25-24 at halftime Feb. 20. VanHurston scored the first seven points for Liberty as the Patriots raced to a 7-4 lead four minutes into the game. With 3:36 remaining in the second quarter, Corinna Fuentes scored to put Liberty ahead 20-11. The Islanders’ Chow and Gullstad each hit 3-pointers to close the gap to one point at halftime.
Sjolander, who finished with seven points, picked up her fourth foul about two minutes into the third quarter. Mercer Island went up by eight points, 43-35, with about one minute remaining in the third quarter. The Islanders scored one more basket, but Growden hit a 3-pointer and a 2-point shot to close the gap to five points going into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded baskets early in the fourth, with Faehnrich scoring six of her 10 points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
Sjolander hit a 3-pointer with 4:22 remaining to close within four points, 53-49. Shin scored the next five points (including a 3-pointer) to put the Islanders up by nine points with 3:11 remaining.
Following the game, the All KingCo league players were announced. VanHurston was named to the first team, while Growden and Liberty point guard Rayssa Lira were named to the second team. Leifer shared coach of the year honors with Jamie Prescott, of Mercer Island, and Sam Lee, of Juanita.
Liberty advanced to the SeaKing 3A district tournament and was scheduled to play at home 7 p.m. Feb. 24 against Rainer Beach.
Reach Reporter Jim Feehan at 392-6434, ext. 239, or jfeehan@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.
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