Cold-shooting Cats bow out of state tournament
Sophomore Tess Vogel, pictured in the state opener, was the Wampus Cats’ leading scorer at state. (Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY.COM)
NAMPA — It was like deja vu for the Clark Fork girls on Friday night at the 1A Division II state tournament in Nampa, as the Wampus Cats’ season came to an end with a 39-28 loss to Garden Valley.
Just like in a 37-28 loss to Mackay the previous night, the Wampus Cats (12-10) played excellent defense, got strong play from their post players and were in the game at half, but once again a poor second half proved costly.
Sophomore power forward Tessa Vogel posted her second straight double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and junior post Brocklynn Thornton finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and six steals to lead the Cats, who trailed 18-17 at half.
“Tessa and Brocklynn worked extremely hard down there. They were wanting badly to right the ship and try to get the thing going,” said head coach Dexter Vogel. “We were in the game, but just couldn’t get over that hump to get on that roll that we typically do. We did not show what Clark Fork can do down here.”
The Cats held Garden Valley to 23 percent shooting, but only managed to shoot 21 percent. Celeste Komanec and Dimi Kailang each had four steals in defeat.
Clark Fork 11 6 2 9 — 28
Garden Valley 5 13 10 11 — 39
CLARK FORK — Palmer 3, McMahon 0, Vogel 12, Komanec 1, Thornton 10, Van Buren 0, Kailang 2.
n 5A Coeur d’Alene and 3A Timberlake each won convincingly on Friday, giving the north two teams in state finals today.