Warriors finally claim state trophy

By WESLEY REMMER

Staff writer

SPOKANE — The King’s West Lady Warriors captured an all-time school best fourth-place finish at the WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires 2B girls basketball tournament, defeating Liberty Bell, 48-43.

Fourth place tops the school’s previous high mark, set by the KW boys’ sixth-place finish in 2005.

KW (21-6) won three of its four games at the tournament, losing only to eventual state champion La Salle in the second round.

“We are very pleased and very proud with this history-making performance,” coach Bryan Hanley said. “This team achieved every goal it set out to accomplish.”

After stumbling against La Salle, KW rebounded with a 45-40 victory over St. George’s. That win ensured the Lady Warriors at least a seventh-place finish.

“They didn’t fold, they didn’t panic,” Hanley said of his players after the loss. “Our seniors set the standard.”

It was senior SeaTac League MVP Megan Spence who carried the Lady Warriors the entire tournament, averaging 24.5 points per game and scoring more than half of the team’s total points.

She poured in 30 against Liberty Bell, receiving just enough help from supporting cast Irene Moore (seven points), Megan Morris (four points), Brielle Foley (three points) and Breyenne Mosey (three points). Hanley said the Liberty Bell and St. George’s victories were especially gratifying because those were the teams which knocked KW out of the state tournament in 2007.

“It was interesting that both those games were revenge games,” Hanley said of the victories. “They (the players) recognize they made history. This sets them apart from many, many teams.”

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