ADNA — Hannah Fay is a veteran when it comes to the rivalry between Adna and Napavine. Sophia Bittner got her first taste of the atmosphere between the two schools separated by 13 miles.
“It was something I wasn’t used to, but it was honestly the best experience I’ve had so far,” Bittner said.
In a game that featured a Division I recruit, stars on both sides and a packed gymnasium at Adna High School, it was Bittner and Fay that shined brightest in the final minute on Wednesday night.
Bittner buried three key 3-pointers, including her final one with under 45 seconds to go, and Fay’s only two points came from the free throw line with a handful of seconds left that lifted the Tigers to a 37-34 triumph over the Pirates to stay unbeaten in the C2BL.
“It was big,” Fay said.
After losing all three meetings a season ago, Napavine (9-4, 2-0 C2BL) earned part one of revenge on the road. Still, the broader picture of perhaps clashing two more times isn’t lost on head coach Shane Schutz.
“We both have high expectations from our players and you’re gonna get the best performance,” Schutz said. “There is no better atmosphere than what happened tonight. These are two top-eight teams that are going to grind, battle and compete.”
No lead was greater than seven either way and just like the first meeting nearly 365 days ago, it was a turnover-fest coupled with low field goal percentage. Both teams shot 26 percent from the field, combined for nine 3s in 49 attempts and registered 30 turnovers.
Yet the ending was eventful.
Hayden Kaut, held to just three field goals through three quarters, hit a wing triple to put Napavine up four and a layup with 1:09 to go to put the lead back to three. McKenna Torrey answered with five points of her own to keep Adna within a possession.
Bittner’s final shot in nine attempts – all from beyond the arc – gave the Tigers a four-point lead again.
“This is the first game I’ve had some confidence in (my shot),” Bittner said. “The play before, the second time we ran it, I was much more confident.”
“We needed a spark,” Schutz added. “She did an incredible job.”
Torrey nailed a top of the key trifecta to make it 35-34, leading Adna (11-2, 1-1) to call a timeout with 19 seconds remaining. With three fouls to give, the Pirates got the clock down to nine seconds before Fay stepped to the line.
“That wasn’t too bad,” Adna head coach Chris Bannish said. “I wanted to try and get a trap and I thought we did a decent job. We fouled the right person; I wouldn’t change anything we did late.”
Zero-for-nine from the field, Fay admitted her confidence level was not high when she attempted her two foul shots. She sank both with ease.
“It was a reliever,” the senior stated with a chuckle.
“Truly clutch,” Schutz stated.
Adna didn’t call a timeout and Torrey’s final heave while attempting to draw contact was just off and the Tigers erupted from their bench to celebrate.
“We have a higher level we can compete to,” Bittner said.
Despite giving up 13 offensive boards, recording just two assists and only having four players score, Bannish was far from frustrated.
“We put so much emphasis the last two days on how to stop them that I didn;t put enough emphasis on how to score on them,” he said. “We have to learn how to adjust on the fly. I thought we defended so well, but on the flip side, a couple of times we transitioned (slowly).
“We gave them the shots that we were willing to give up.”
Napavine jumped out to an early 8-1 cushion only for Alyssa Carroll to score seven straight to end the opening quarter tied at eight. It was a 17-all entering the locker room. Then in the third, a quick 5-0 spree brought the Tigers lead back to seven.
They held Adna to one field goal in the penultimate stanza. Kaut, signed to Montana, led Napavine with 12 points despite getting face-guarded by Rhylee Beebe all night. Bittner had nine, Ava Ondong chipped in eight and Taylen Evander had four.
Four Tigers grabbed at least five rebounds and Fay dished out five dimes.
“It was fun,” Fay said.
The Pirates held just three leads and all were not for long. Torrey had 15 points and Carroll registered a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. Ava Humphrey snared nine boards.
“She’s got the quickest first step that I think I’ve ever had as far as a (post player),” Bannish said of Carroll. “That is a kid that never saw a minute last year. She is playing like an all-league player.”
The tests for Napavine ratchet up in less than 48 hours when it battles Toutle Lake at home while Adna welcomes Onalaska, both set for Friday night. For the Tigers, they’re adding another quality opponent to an already battle-tested record.
“I think it was the difference in the game to be perfectly honest,” Schutz said. “Playing that kind of competition helps you prepare when you’re not playing your best.”
And the Pirates, whose 10-game winning streak was snapped, are hopeful this cranks the energy up another notch.
“They understand all the film work the last 2.5 days,” Bannish said. “We just couldn’t make shots. A game like that, (trailing by) six feels like 15.”
