Though the Rainier girls basketball team was bogged down to just one point in the second quarter, it responded with a 31-point second half to defeat Raymond in the consolation semifinals Thursday night, 45-29.
“I just settled them down,” Rainier coach Brandon Eygabroad said of the second half adjustment. “We were doing everything right but we had to slow down and take our time. Everyone knew what was on the line. Sometimes the moment gets you, and in the first half we let the moment get the best of us. Then we settled in and took our time on offense and played our game.”
The win clinches a second-straight regional round of state appearance for the Mountaineers, and a spot in the district third-place game against Forks Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at W.F. West.
Angelica Askey once again led the charge for Rainier offensively, scoring 15 points, while Haleigh Hanson got it going down low for 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Brooklynn Swenson scored nine points, and was the primary defender on Raymond standout Karsyn Freeman, who scored 45 points the last time the Seagulls squared off with the Mountaineers. This time, with Swenson as the primary guard with team help, Freeman scored just nine points.
“Brooklynn Swenson played great defense all game on Freeman,” Eygabroad said. “It was a team effort, but it was an inspiring defensive effort for Brooklynn tonight as well.”
