Welcome back to state, Eagles.
Cedar Park Christian defeated Cascade Christian, 42-38, Thursday night at Mountlake Terrace High in the second round of 1A tri-districts and qualified for the state tournament for the first time in six years March 3-6 at the Yakima SunDome.
Cedar Park will tip off at 9 a.m. this Wednesday against Okanogan.
Sophomore Rachel Staudacher led the Eagles (15-7 overall) with 14 points against Cascade, followed by sophomore Brie Boroughs with 10, junior Mikaela Raschick with nine and junior Erin Halvorson with seven.
“They’re really unselfish and they really like each other. They just work really hard and we’re really proud of them,” said coach Sara Land. “This one’s special because they’re so young and inexperienced, they didn’t have anyone showing them how to win in big games. So it’s really fun watching them grow, because every game it’s like they get a little bit better and a little more confident.”
Raschick hit a free throw with two seconds remaining to give the Eagles a 45-44 win over Port Townsend in the first round of districts.
Both Raschick and Staudacher made the All-Emerald City League first team. Staudacher is averaging 17.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 steals and 3.1 assists per game.
“I have a good surrounding cast, they make amazing passes and we all work really well together, so it’s not just me,” Staudacher said. “It’s been a good year. We’re a really young team, so hopefully we can keep going (at state).”
Land noted that Cedar Park lost senior starter Anna Brown before Christmas due to a concussion, another starter had eligibility-grade issues and Staudacher got mononucleosis, but the Eagles rebounded to make state.
“It’s kind of amazing,” she added. “Since Christmas until playoffs, we didn’t play a game with all five starters — we’ve always had someone out.”
Land, a 1996 Bothell High grad, coached Cedar Park Christian from 1997-2000, her alma mater for five years and then returned to the Eagles’ nest in 2007.
“This one’s actually probably one of my favorites — there’s no fighting, there’s nothing, they get along so well … it’s a lot of fun to coach,” she said.
Added Sherri Staudacher, assistant coach and Rachel’s mom: “These kids love each other and that’s why they did this, it’s not because they’re the best players in the world.”
