GIRLS BASKETBALL | South Kitsap rides ‘lefty’ to district win
Published 11:26 pm Wednesday, February 11, 2015
SPANAWAY — South Kitsap’s Kaylee Yergeau uses her dominant hand for everything from writing to dribbling a basketball.
Except in the low post.
That is when the 6-foot senior displays her left-handed prowess as she did multiple times Wednesday night during the waning minutes of the Wolves’ 45-40 win at Bethel in the first round of the Class 4A West Central District Tournament.
South (11-8) advances to play Curtis (17-4) in a winner-to-state game at 7:45 p.m. Friday at Mount Tahoma.
That opportunity might not have been present without its quasi-lefty. Freshman guard Tianna Brown, who scored a game-high 19 points, hit an NBA-range 3-pointer to cut the Wolves’ lead to 38-34 with 2 minutes, 47 seconds remaining.
“It was getting close toward the end,” said Yergeau, who scored a team-high 18 points. “We had to keep calm, stay relaxed and that’s what we did.”
Yergeau was a significant factor in that as she produced consecutive left-handed bank shots off the glass to increase South’s advantage to 42-34 with 1:53 left.
“It seems to be working for me,” said Yergeau, laughing. “I’m dominate on my left side with the post moves.”
South coach Mike Hulet said Yergeau’s poise and creativity in the post is not a recent development, though.
“Everybody all these years since she was little was like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to develop your offhand,’ he said. “She’s more comfortable being in the block going to the left.”
Yergeau felt she had an advantage in the post — none of the Braves’ starters were taller than 5 foot 9 — but Hulet saw an additional edge for his player.
“It’s just unnatural defending a left-hander,” he said. “Whatever it is, it’s just something kind of goofy.”
Even with Yergeau’s efforts, the Wolves struggled to secure the win. They missed the front end of a 1-and-1 on consecutive possessions and then split a pair of free throws when they reached the double bonus. That enabled senior guard V-Chanti Carson to hit a 3-pointer with 45 seconds remaining to reduce Bethel’s deficit to 43-40. Senior forward Me’osha Mack then made it a one-possession game for the Braves (13-6) when she split a pair of free throws 10 seconds later.
But Libby Borgonia and MaryBeth Bray did the same from the stripe during the team’s next two possessions, which sandwiched an unsuccessful Bethel possession, and secured South’s first district win since it defeated Kentridge 67-49 on Feb. 15, 2012.
Perhaps more significantly, the victory also ended a three-game losing streak. Even though the Wolves lost their regular-season finale 54-49 at Bellarmine Prep, Hulet praised his team’s focus in that game. He felt it might have been a harbinger of good play to come.
Or, at least, resiliency.
That was important as South trailed 5-2 at the end of the first quarter. Yergeau and Brown, who converted a jumper just before the period ended, made the only field goals during the quarter as both teams combined to shoot 2 of 24.
“I think it was a little bit of nerves,” Hulet said. “You’re in a different building and the band’s kind of loud. But that’s OK as long as you play good defense and don’t give up a lot of points. Once you get into the flow of the game it’s a little easier.”
Behind a bank shot from Yergeau with 15 seconds left, the Wolves took a 15-13 advantage into halftime. Hulet encouraged his players to find more of those shots after the intermission.
“At halftime, we talked about being a little more disciplined,” he said. “We can get those 18- to 19-foot shots anytime we want.”
In addition to Yergeau’s inside presence, 5-11 senior wing Brianna Shafer was able to penetrate past defenders for multiple layups during the second half. She finished with 11 points. Hulet also praised the distribution skills of Borgonia and her teammates.
“They really put it together and I’m so proud of them and happy for them,” he said. “This is a terrific group of young ladies and they have been pretty resilient all year.”
South now is in position to vie for its first state berth since the 2010-11 season in the double elimination district tournament. Even with a loss Friday, the Wolves would play again at 1 p.m. Monday at Stadium. In that scenario, they would be forced to win twice to advance to state. But a win Friday would thrust them into a state seeding game at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at Puyallup.
“I’m so happy,” Yergeau said. “We’re already doing better than last year. I’m ready to go win Friday and get to state.”
Class 4A West Central District III Championships
First Round
South Kitsap 45, at Bethel 40
South Kitsap 2 13 17 13 – 45
Bethel 5 8 9 18 – 40
Bethel-Marquissa Bowie, Tianna Brown 19, Ghionna Porreca 2, Ayriannah Elgin, V-Chanti Carson 8, Me’osha Mack 8, Kenisha Tabb 1, Kaitlyn Reiman, Jeronesia Lewis, Jamia Moore 2.
South Kitsap-Savannah Foster 6, Libby Borgonia 2, MaryBeth Bray 3, Brianna Shafer 11, Alona Lund 3, Sophia Canton, Kaylee Yergeau 18, Kaylee McEdward 2.
