YAKIMA — About 30 minutes after the fourth-place game, the W.F. West Bearcats began to make their way out of the locker room.
As the first batch of players exited the Yakima SunDome tunnel, family, friends, and a group W.F. West cheerleaders cheered them on. One of the last people out was coach Kyle Karnofski, sixth-place trophy in hand.
“This is a culmination of a long process,” Karnofski said with tears welling in his eyes. “I couldn’t be more proud of the group as a whole.”
The Bearcats lost their season finale on Saturday in the SunDome, a 62-50 loss to Archbishop Murphy in the fourth/sixth place game, but they were still able to secure their first state trophy since 2022. It’s the ninth time since 2011 that the Bearcats will return to Chehalis with a state tournament trophy.
“This was one of our goals, to come home with a trophy,” senior Ellie Clinton said. “I’m just really proud that I gotta do it with this group of girls. We worked really hard this year, and I’m really proud of us.”
It was the second meeting between the Wildcats and Bearcats in the last eight days, and the rematch went very similar to their Regional Round matchup.
W.F. West was able to limit Ava Marr and Brooke Blachly early, and the Bearcats led 24-22 at the break thanks to a strong defensive effort.
Just as they did last week, though, the Wildcats got going from beyond the arc. They opened the second half with five threes in a four-minute span, including three straight from Marr, who went on to finish with a game-high 26 points. As a team, Archbishop Murphy finished the second half 8 for 14 from deep.
“They got hot,” Karnofski said. “We had a great first half. We still battled, they went on that little run, and we just never came back. I’m still really proud of our girls as a whole.
Julia Dalan followed up a historic defensive effort with another outstanding night, as she scored 23 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and blocked five more shots. She finishes the tournament with 24 blocks, a new 2A State Tournament record.
Add in Grace Simpson’s block from Thursday’s matchup against Deer Park, and the Bearcats finished the tournament with 25 blocks as a team, also a new 2A State Tournament record.
Kaitlyn Chloupek hit double-figures for the second time this week by scoring 12 against Archbishop Murphy, and she also added three assists, three steals, and a pair of rebounds. Dilyn Boeck scored 10 points, and she logged nine rebounds and three assists.
“This group’s phenomenal,” Karnofski said. “It’s just some of the best kids top to bottom. It’s a special group.”
It was the final game for Dalan, Simpson, Clinton, and Amanda Bennett, the team’s four seniors. Karnofski honored them by wearing a tie that had photos of each of them, and the four made up four-fifths of the starting lineup.
“That’s never been my role this entire year,” Clinton said. “But to go out with our last game all together, it was very special for me … These are some of the sweetest, most amazing girls you’ll ever meet. Their friendship means more to me than any basketball game ever. I love them dearly.”
There’s a lot for those four to hang their hat on. Over the last four years, the Bearcats have gone 87-24 (including a 45-3 mark in EvCo play), winning three straight league titles, back-to-back district titles, and two state tournament trophies.
This season, they finished 25-4, tying the school record for most wins in a season.
“This is the most special group I have ever played with,” Bennett said. “I’m gonna miss them so much. We’ve grown such a bond together. Starting with those three and Dilyn (Boeck) was just amazing. I’m never gonna forget that game, or this season, or anybody on this team.”
Bennett also got emotional when talking about Karnofski, saying that he’s the best coach she’s ever had and that he’s become one of their best friends.
Karnofski has known the four since they were in seventh grade, when he became the head coach at W.F. West.
“They just went out and were phenomenal,” Karnofski said. “I love them for that. I really appreciate who they are as people and for this program. They’re really good basketball players, but they’re really great people.
“We represented Chehalis well,” Karnofski added. “We can hold our heads high. There’s nothing to be upset about. You can be upset that it’s over, but be happy for what you’ve done and what you’ve accomplished.”
