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SPOKANE — In typical Shane Schutz fashion, he was upset about the final play of regulation the Napavine High School girls basketball team ran.
His back was turned as the second-most improbable shot in team history was up in the air.
“I didn’t see her make the shot,” Schutz said. “She did her own thing.”
The pop of the crowd told the story.
Hayden Kaut’s one-handed prayer from just inside the half court line was nothing but nylon to send the Class 2B third/fifth place into overtime, which thanks to some defensive stops, the top-seeded Tigers triumphed 62-61 over No. 9 Davenport on Saturday afternoon in Spokane Arena.
“I don’t know if I wanted to celebrate or start crying,” Kaut said. “We had a lot of momentum and it means a lot because I know the seniors wanted to end on a high note.”
In the locker room afterwards, the coaching staff asked Kaut what happened. The Montana recruit simply said, “I threw it.”
Right on target.
It came with under 10 ticks left in the fourth quarter when the play was blown up by the Gorillas defense and the ball found Kaut on the perimeter. She took one dribble backwards and just before the buzzer went off, she unleashed the shot.
“I honestly didn't think it was going in and I really thought about falling backwards to pretend she fouled me,” Kaut admitted after a 31-point, 15-rebound double-double.
“She shot a crazy ass shot, I guess it went in,” Schutz stated. “Play four more minutes, let’s go.”
Napavine (22-5) were running out of bodies in the extra frame. Ava Ondong, Hannah Fay, Clara Fay and Nicholle Valentine all fouled out in either the fourth or overtime. With no posts available, sophomore Aubrey Williams – all 5-foot-4 of her – had to play the 5.
Alexis Schutz was also in the game to join Williams, Kaut, Taylen Evander and Sophia Bittner on the floor. Davenport had three chances in the final 56.6 seconds of overtime for the game-winner and nothing fell through.
The Tigers were sent into euphoria. A day after tears of sadness, they were drenched in tears of joy.
“They played with the varsity all summer and throughout the season and they were so big to stay in the moment and not get overwhelmed,” Coach Schutz said. “In that scenario it is because of all the training they did. They were ready for it.”
It capped a second half rally that Napavine trailed by as many as 14. It opened the game already down a point due to wearing its road black uniforms instead of the home whites as the higher seed.
Davenport came out guns-a-blazing with a 7-0 run to lead 9-2 early, then answered a Napavine 6-0 spree with an 8-0 outburst to close the opening stanza. The Tigers, outside of the third quarter in the quarterfinals versus Adna, were out of sorts.
Assistant Coach Josh Fay was fiery in the locker room with them trailing 27-16.
“He chewed our butts; we’re better than this team and we need to figure it out,” Kaut said. “We were upset all night and all morning (about the semifinal loss).”
Evander’s triple in the third was the finishing touches of an 8-0 run to whittle the deficit down to six. Kaut scored seven straight to make it a two-point game and in the fourth, gave them the lead with 7:35 left.
In the fourth quarter alone, there were eight lead changes and three ties.
“We’ve been playing in fear the last week or two,” Schutz said. “Finally we let it loose.”
Hannah Fay and Evander each finished with 11 points while Clara Fay recorded a team-best three steals.
For the five-members senior class of Kaut, Evander, Bittner and the Fay sisters, they end their basketball careers with a state championship, two third place finishes and a fifth. It also includes three District 4 titles and three C2BL regular season titles.
In Schutz’s mind, it is by far and away the best class to come through the doors of Napavine.
“Without a doubt,” he said. “They are a special, special group of kids. I’m glad I had the privilege of coaching them. They wanted to do this; it wasn't parent-driven, it was kid-driven.”
Most of the girls will begin the softball season in earnest. Still, Kaut took a moment to reflect on what the last four years have meant to hear donning the black and orange.
“They are all like my family,” she said. “It is not something I expected to do when I got pulled up in my eighth grade year.”
Ondong and Valentine are expected to be the catalysts for a re-built Tigers team in 2026-27. Players like Williams, Alexis Schutz, Briley Fay and Ember Cagle will now be tasked to shoulder more responsibilities.
“We’re going to be different,” Coach Schutz stated. “I’m excited, they're excited. We’re OK with that.”
