The Inglemoor High School girls basketball team fell just short of one of the biggest comebacks in state finals history, losing 57-52 to Gonzaga Prep in double overtime to finish second in state on March 7 at the Tacoma Dome.
“We were just one shot shy,” said Inglemoor girls basketball head coach John Augustavo. “I am really proud of these girls. This is a great team.”
The Vikings entered the fourth quarter trailing 43-33. However, it was a deficit that the team had been trying to whittle away at since the first quarter. The Inglemoor girls never gave up during the final eight minutes of regulation, dominating the defensive end of the floor. Their zone defense disrupted the Bullpups scoring long enough for senior Alex Hagen to catch fire on offense.
“She is a big-game player. She loves the bright lights,” Augustavo said.
Hagen scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, including two three-pointers that brought the Viking faithful to their feet. Kennedy Nicholas then took the reins, scoring on a fast break and hitting a jump shot to give Inglemoor the lead for the first time during the game, 45-43.
“It was just patience, maturity, getting stops and making baskets,” Augustavo said. “Our defense was good but [Gonzaga] also got tired. Our 2-3 zone really helped.”
Despite the monumental effort on defense to completely shutdown the Bullpups, Gonzaga finally broke through, scoring its only basket of the fourth quarter with 34 seconds remaining in the game and forcing overtime.
“There were times that we could have taken it,” Hagen said. “Deja [Strother] was awesome during the fourth quarter and really stepped it up.”
Strother finished with a team high eight rebounds and two blocked shots, but dominated the paint during the fourth.
“We just wanted to give it our all and finish strong,” said Strother, a senior. “Our coaches always say, ‘if you can do anything, step it up in the fourth quarter’ and we did. I am just really proud of everyone on this team.”
Prep started the game with a 11-2 run that was only interrupted when Strother grabbed a rebound, put it back up and through the net. However, foul trouble forced Strother to the bench and Gonzaga pushed a four-point lead to a 15-4 advantage by the end of the quarter.
Strother returned to score nine of her game high 22 points during the second quarter and keep Inglemoor alive.
The Vikings showed signs of a comeback during the third quarter beginning with a 9-0 run, cutting the lead to 33-28. Gonzaga pushed the lead back to 10 points by the start of the fourth quarter.
The first overtime was a defensive battle with both team scoring just four points each. Strother drove the to basket, scoring and taking a very hard foul to give the Vikings a two-point lead with 30.2 seconds remaining but the Gonzaga scored the last points of the period, forcing a second overtime. The Bullpups scored the final four points of the game to win the state title.
The contest was only the second loss of the entire season for Inglemoor after claiming the 4A KingCo regular season title, KingCo tournament title and district title.
“This is a great team,” Augustavo said. “They have 70 wins in three years and three state tournament appearances.”
During that time the Vikings finished second, fourth and sixth in state.
Many of the seniors will move on to play in college, including Strother, who will play at the University of Washington.
“She is a great kid, all the seniors are,” Augustavo.
The 2014-2015 Inglemoor High School girls basketball team is comprised of players Mackenzie Gardner, Hannah Shimek, Talea Culp, Alex Hagen, Sydney Clanton, Sammi Williams, Jordana Price, Hannah Mccausland, Melanie Schakohl, Kennedy Nicholas, Amanda Luckett, Deja Strother and Nicole Rauch.
