Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Friday, Jan. 02, 2009

PREP GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Lions lose first game

LYNDEN - Lynden coach Rob Adams was as frank as he could be after his team's first loss of the girls' basketball season.

"Auburn Mountainview outplayed us in every aspect of the game, " said Adams following the Lions' 45-41 setback in the opening round of the Cloud 9 Sports/Lynden Christmas Tournament on Friday, Jan. 2, at Jake Maberry Gym.

"I warned the girls they would make this an 'excuse game, ' since we hadn't played in 15 days, " Adams said. "Take the rebounding (the Auburn team had a 41-29 advantage). That was pure hustle on their part."

Hustle isn't usually a problem for Class 2A Lynden (4-1), but the Lions met their match in 10th ranked Class 3A Mountainview (5-2), which didn't seem bothered by a 1 for 12 shooting start.

At that point, Lynden led 14-6. From there on, Mountainview shot 17 for 34, including 8 for 15 for a game-high 16 points by 6-foot-1 junior post Stephanie Smolinski, for whom Lynden had absolutely no answer in the final three quarters.

Mountainview will play for the title at 6:45 p.m.on Saturday, Jan. 3, against Class 1A Lynden Christian (4-1), a 53-47 upset winner over Class 4A and sixth-ranked Tacoma Bellarmine Prep (6-1). Lynden will face Bellarmine at 5 p.m.

As usual, Adams had his team playing at racehorse velocity with waves of substitutes. He used 12 players in all, but only senior forward Jill Toronchuk was effective in the fourth quarter, with eight of her 12 points. Senior guard Brandi Bender went 7 for 7 from the line and finished with 12 points, including 10 in the first half.

The Lions shot 1 for 13 from the field in the opening quarter and finished at only 26 percent (13 for 50).

Toronchuk took a pass from sophomore Hannah Shine and scored on a drive, cutting Mountainview's lead to 40-36 with 2:35 remaining. Shelbie Miller followed with a free throw with 1:41 left.

Mountainview, though, refused to fold as reserve forward Angel Pele made a 3-pointer and quick guard Purhsall Brown wrapped it up with a jumper for 45-37 with half a minute to play.

"We just got handled, " Adams said, refusing to accept any excuses. "It seemed like they capitalized on every mistake we made."

AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW 45, LYNDEN 41

Auburn Mountainview 3 12 15 15- 45

Lynden 5 14 10 12- 41

Auburn Mountainview: Purhsall Brown 4-6 0-0 9; Ida Huners 1-5 2-4 5; Brianne Wills 2-2 0-0 4; Stephanie Smolinksi 8-15 0-2 16; Lizzy Harrison 2-4 02- 4; Caitlin Carr 0-1 0-0 0; Kristin Herren 0-1 0-1 0; Angel Pele 2-10 0-1 5; Aalia Bradboy 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 19-44 6-14 45.

Lynden: Jill Toronchuk 4-7 4-4 12; Brandi Benner 2-10 7-7 12; Kellie Fluit 2-3 0-0 4; Leah Korthuis 0-7 0-0 0; Hannah Shine 4-11 0-1 8; Riley Beard 0-1 0-0 0; Hannah Swanson 0-6 1-6 1; Shelbie Miller 0-1 1-2 1; Emily Webb 0-2 0-4 0; Alexis Whiteis 0-1 0-0 0; Jessie Biecheuvel 1-1 0-0 3; Amanda Tapia 0-0 0-0 0 Total: 13-50 13-24 41.

3-ptg: AM 3 (Pele, Brown, Huners); Lynden 2 (Benner, Biecheeuvel). Rebounds: AM 41 (Smolinski 8); Lynden 29 (Shine 9). Assists: AM 6 (Brown 2); Lynden 6 (Benner 2, Toronchuk 2). Fouls: AM 22 (Smolinski, Pele); Lynden 19.