Stevens' big night not enough for Wampus Cats
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Grace Shelton and the Wampus Cats saw their season end on Thursday.
RATHDRUM — Brooke Stevens had a big night with 18 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks to lead the Wampus Cats, but a tough third quarter proved the difference, as No. 2 seed Lakeside scored a 44-38 win over No. 3 Clark Fork in the loser-out game of the 1A Division II girls basketball tournament Thursday night at Lakeland High School.
The Wampus Cats (8-9) played even with the Knights for three quarters, but a 13-5 edge in the third proved the difference.
“We didn’t get beat physically, we got beat mentally. Lakeside just played smarter in the second half,” said Cats head coach Jordan Adams. “You have games like that, it’s a bummer that this is one of them.”
Ali Sutton came up big in defeat with 10 rebounds and three steals, Sara Hathaway nabbed four steals and Tessa Sutton had three blocks and two steals in the loss.
The Wampus Cats battled sickness all week, with just four girls at practice on Monday, which led to a couple of cold-shooting quarters with the season on the line.
“The whole team has been sick as a dog. Not being healthy, it took a turn for the worse,” lamented Adams. “It’s been an awesome season. The girls did a lot of things they’ve never been asked to do before. I’m looking forward to next year.”
Clark Fork 5 15 5 13 — 38
Lakeside 9 13 13 9 — 44
CLARK FORK — Stevens 18, Banks 6, Simko 5, A. Sutton 2, Kiebert 5, Hathaway 2, T. Sutton 0, Shelton 0.
LAKESIDE — SiJohn 6, Peters 8, Allen 7, T. Pakootas 16, Olson 1, Hendrickx 6.