OLYMPIA — All five starters scored in double figures as Grays Harbor College notched its first-ever division women’s basketball championship by downing South Puget Sound, 72-55, in an NWAC Western Division finale on Wednesday.
The Chokers (13-1, 25-2) finished one game ahead of Lower Columbia in the Western Division race. While they have competed in several past NWAC tournaments, this will be the first time they will enter the playoffs as division champions.
“Great effort by all the players,” GHC coach Chad Allan said.
The NWAC women’s tournament, spread over two weeks. begins March 7 in Everett.
Grays Harbor ace Alexia Thrower mustered a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Estelle Wilson contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Choker wing Sandin Kidder barely missed a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. The other two starters, Katie Brisbois and Angela Sikora, added 11 points apiece.
Shooting only 32 percent from the field, the Chokers were locked in a 28-all standoff at the half. But they capitalized on South Puget Sound turnovers to score 44 points in the second half.
“We had great energy all game, even through our shooting slump in the first half,” Allan commented. “The ball just would not drop in that first half and we were settling for jump shots. In the second half, our pressure caused turnovers and we were able to separate ourselves from South Puget Sound.”
Raymond High grad Mikayla Collins scored seven points for the Clippers.
The draw for the NWAC tournament will be conducted Sunday afternoon.
Grays Harbor 13 15 24 20 — 72
S. Puget Sound 10 18 13 14 — 55
Grays Harbor (72) – Brisbois 11, Wilson 10, Thrower 19, Sikora 11, Kidder 16, Feaster, Bell, Sunchild 3, Hernandez 2. FG — 31-78 (.397). FT — 3-5.
South Puget Sound (55) — Moore, Whitehead 9, Campana 9, Collins 7, Moloney, Bergquist 15, Harn 15. FG — 22-63 (.349). FT — 1-2.
MEN
Clippers 74, Chokers 56
OLYMPIA — South Puget Sound wrapped up the NWAC men’s Western Division title by beating Grays Harbor College on Wednesday at Olympia.
Guy Bean scored 24 points and Caleb Thomas 11 for the Chokers. Further details were not reported.
The Chokers concluded their season at 1-13 in league and 4-24 overall.
