SPOKANE — Chris Bannish doesn’t beat around the bush. Even though his Adna High School girls basketball team lost by seven to Northwest Christian in the opening round, he was adamant about one particular aspect.
The first quarter.
It’s been a mixed bag of results this winter. The overall record after the opening eight minutes is 16-7-2, but since the Cle Elum-Roslyn game back in late-January, the Pirates have only taken a lead into the second quarter twice.
That includes a six-point effort versus the Crusaders that put them down 15 points.
“I don’t think we’re getting that good sweat we need to start games,” Bannish stated. “Your second wind should come in warmups, not at the four-minute mark.”
Seventh-seeded Adna had no issues waking up on Wednesday morning.
It jumped out to a 22-3 lead after one and pressed the cruise control button en route to a 53-30 blowout over No. 10 Colfax in the Round of 12 inside Spokane Arena.
The Pirates are into the double elimination part of the bracket for the fourth straight tournament and the opponent is one all too familiar – top-seeded Napavine, also for the fourth consecutive postseason.
Tip is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
“We were able to gut it out, so I am proud of us,” senior wing Rhylee Beebe said.
Adna (21-5) puts its warmup on film. Bannish called it “lazy” and since it remained over on the east side for the duration of the weekend, it changed up its pregame warmup. Beebe mentioned it featured more quick movements, less relaxation.
Did it result in a better start?
“I don’t know,” the uncertain Bannish said. “Bad starts have doomed us.”
“I would (credit) our warmups,” the optimistic Beebe said.
Numbers don’t lie.
The Pirates scored the first seven points of the day, then ended the first quarter with a 15-0 spree. Beebe and McKenna Torrey, like they have been all year, took on the scoring load. Yet it was the defense that aided the large lead.
Beebe faceguarded Colfax freshman star Allie Jenkin and held her to nine points in the first half. Adna’s press defense stifled the Bulldogs guards and caused 15 first half turnovers. The Pirates only had four.
The final differential: Colfax 18, Adna 8. And the latter scored 13 points off those turnovers.
“I take pride in my defense, it is one of my better attributes,” Beebe said. “One of my old coaches always taught me to look at their stomachs. I just stare at her belly button and I’m fast enough to react to it.”
Beebe led the way with 17 points and Torrey added 15 for the Pirates. Alyssa Carroll, Kamryn Freeman and Ava Humphrey all finished with seven. Carroll notched seven rebounds and Torrey recorded four steals.
Even after Colfax went on a small 6-0 run to cut the margin to 22, it was too little, too late. Adna responded with a 9-0 outburst in the fourth. After the final buzzer and the sportsmanship medals, every Pirate gave a purple flower to Jenkin.
Her father and Colfax head boys coach Reece Jenkin passed away last week. Jenkin finished her season with a game-high 19 points despite a 6-for-20 shooting day.
“We had to double her on ball screens, it is a team effort,” Bannish said. “We knew they had one primary. I understand you can’t sustain scoring the way you’d like to. Just really proud of the way they responded.
“That is a helluva defensive effort. Wholeistically, I love it.”
Now, the Pirates get a must-anticipated second meeting with Napavine. In the lone regular season meeting, the Tigers triumphed 37-34. Torrey and Carroll scored 28 of their points while Napavine had several clutch plays down the stretch.
The meetings in Spokane have been decided by two, 24 and 11 points.
“I'm ready to play them,” Beebe said. “I’m really excited. We want it.”
For a group that graduated a decorated senior class off a state runner-up finish, Bannish was far from certain Adna would get the chance to leave with a trophy. It’s one win away from guaranteeing hardware coming home.
“It is remarkable,” Bannish said. “We’re here and we have a chance.”
