Mustangs win in a shootout

YAKIMA, Wash. — They shot better than 52 percent for the game, nearly broke the tournament record for assists and put up the biggest number by far during the first day of the Class 2A state girls tournament.

So why all the long faces for the Prosser Mustangs?

Well, that was only half the game. Defense for the state’s top-ranked team was a little slow to show up at the SunDome.

Prosser plays Bellingham during the State 2A Basketball Tournament at the SunDome in Yakima, Wash., Wednesday, March 11, 2009. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

After rolling up 40 points in the first half, Prosser built a 17-point lead over unranked Bellingham in the third quarter. But it took a frantic finish by the Mustangs to prevail 72-68 and survive Wednesday’s first round.

The 140 points set a tournament record for highest combined score.

“That’s not a record we want to be a part of,” said a relieved and somewhat exasperated coach Mark Little. “Bellingham shot pretty well, but we can’t give up 68 points. That’s the most we’ve given up all season.”

Sophomore Tayshia Hunt helped save the day when, after her teammates missed nine free throws in the final period, she sank a pair of foul shots with 37 seconds left for a 71-68 lead.

The Red Raiders, who trailed 67-52 with 6:16 left, had a shot at tying the game but Devin Pearsall’s deep 3-point attempt was short. Thirty seconds earlier Pearsall banked in a trey to get Bellingham within 69-68.

“It’s a win and that’s the main thing, but our defense as to be better,” said Hunt, who scored 13 points. “We were trying to attack and draw some fouls at the end and that’s what I did. I looked around at my teammates and I knew I had to make those shots.”

Scoring leaders Tamara Jones and Lacie French took care of their business with 23 and 22 points, respectively, on 20-for-32 combined shooting.

With French leading the way, Prosser’s offensive execution and passing was exceptionally sharp. The Mustangs connected on 29 of 55 shots and racked up 22 assists, one off the tournament. French had 10 helpers and freshman Helen Petersen collected six.

Not that any of that impressed French, the CWAC’s no-MVP.

“We have to take better care of the ball (20 turnovers) and get our heads into the game,” she said. “And mostly we need better defense and in a major way.”

Bellingham (13-13), the Northwest District’s No. 4 seed, shot a brisk 49 percent from the field but couldn’t make enough defensive stops to get back in the game.

Until the final five minutes.

Tawny Julius’ 3-pointer started an 11-0 run that required just 1:37, bringing the Red Raiders within 67-63 with 3:30 remaining. Pearsall scored nine of her 23 points in the last seven minutes, including six straight free throws as part of an 11-for-12 night at the foul line.

“We did a good job with the offense, getting open and hitting the shots,” Little said. “But we’re obviously disappointed with the defense. It’s going to have to be a lot better tomorrow and they know that.”

The Mustangs (22-1) move into the quarterfinals and will face Elma (17-5) today at 7:30 p.m. The Mustangs beat Elma in last year’s state final for third and sixth place.

Elma had no such issues on defense Wednesday, beating Fife 48-20 while holding the Trojans to 13-percent shooting.

“As soon as we get on the court,” French said, “we have to bring the defense.”