DEMING - Mount Baker's all-senior starting lineup has played or practiced together since fourth grade, so it was appropriate that all five contributed outstanding efforts in their most pressure-packed game to extend their treasured time together.
Baker's 62-54 victory over Ferndale gave the Mountaineers fourth place and the final guaranteed spot in the Class 2A Northwest District Tournament. The Mountaineers (15-5 overall, 9-4 Northwest Conference) will open at Cascade Conference co-champion Archbishop Murphy (15-4, 13-1) on Friday, Feb. 10.
Ferndale (12-8, 6-7), tall and talented yet without a starting senior, will be the NWC's No. 2 seed in the Class 3A Northwest District Tournament. The Golden Eagles will open on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Glacier Peak.
"I think back to when the girls would tell me in seventh grade how they couldn't wait to play on our varsity," said Baker coach Brenda Ellis. "It's a great story. The work our girls have done without anyone looking is what has made me really want this for them."
In a post-game interview, the five seniors made sure they gave recognition to fast-improving 5-10 freshman post Emily Yost, who made a difference as sixth man with 5 for 9 shooting for 11 points, with nine in the first half. They figure she's an "honorary senior."
But this was a night for this pure senior team - no transfers, no newcomers - who combined to play 137 of the 160 minutes and rallied from a 15-4 first-quarter deficit with an 11-0 run. That included a half-court 3-point shot at the buzzer by guard Anna Davila, who more than doubled her scoring average with a career-high 17 points, including three 3-pointers.
"I never shoot like that (7 for 16)," Davila said, overwhelmed with emotion at knowing her career wasn't over.
Shooting has been the team's weak spot all season, but Ellis said the Mounties came through with just enough.
"That's the best we've shot (22 for 72 for 30.6 percent) all season," said Ellis, who has told her girls to play with a fearless, aggressive style both offensively and defensively.
Ferndale's Kendra Bodger scored on a hook shot off her rebound to cut Baker's lead - 49-36 at one point - to 56-49 with 3:37 remaining.
At that point, Katie Stalin took a pass from Davila to score and Connor Hart tallied off an assist from Kristen Frey.
Frey, the only four-year starter among the seniors, then fittingly iced it with two free throws with 1:18 to play, making it 62-49.
Ferndale received a smooth effort from 5-10 sophomore post Hannah Carlson, who played her most productive game with 6 for 10 shooting for 15 points and had four of the team's seven assists. Freshman post Linsey Honeycutt had 10 points and 7 rebounds, and sophomore Taryn Knutson scored 12 with a pair of 3s, but Baker's balance was too much for the Golden Eagles.
Hart, who recently scored 31 in a game, missed her first 10 shots from the field, extending into the third quarter, but hit 5 of her final 8 attempts including a 3-pointer to finish with 12 points. Frey finished with 11 points, Katie Stalin with six and Jordyn Lallas with five. Stalin had 10 rebounds and Frey grabbed eight, while Davila had five assists and Stalin contributed four.
The Mountaineers, as usual, played buzz-saw defense and collected 16 steals, including five by Frey, four apiece by Hart and Davila and two by Lallas, who seemed to spend more time tumbling to the floor with all-out hustle than anyone else.
And what did the team think when they saw Davila shooting so well?
"We just said, 'Give Anna the ball!' " said Lallas, talking of the team's unselfishness.
The girls talked of how much they genuinely care for each other after all those years together.
"Hey, we really all like each other. There's no drama," Hart said.
Frey agreed.
"We just have great chemistry," said Frey, talking about how it's been the seniors dream to play at state since they saw Baker do it before they got to high school.
"It's been our dream forever," said Hart.
Now they're hoping they'll have something to talk about forever.
MOUNT ABKER 62, FERNDALE 54
Ferndale 15 12 13 14 - 54
Mount Baker 12 19 18 13 - 62
Ferndale: Hannah Carlson 15, Taryn Knutson 12, Linsey Honeycutt 10, Kendra Bodger 6, Hannah Burgler 3, Taylor Knutson 4, Taylor Reid 4, Brooke Benson 0, Koral Weidenkamp 0, Katie Brudwick 0. Team totals: 22-60 8-14 54.
Mount Baker: Anna Davila 17, Connor Hart 12, Kristen Frey 11, Jordyn Lallas 5, Katie Stalin 6, Emily Yost 11, Emma Lallas 0. Team totals: 22-72 13-28 62.
3 ptg: Ferndale 2 (Taryn Knutson 2); Mount Baker 5 (Davila 3). Rebounds: Ferndale 44 (Honeycutt 7); Mount Baker 57 (Stalin 10). Assists: Ferndale 7 (Carlson 4); Mount Baker 14 (Davila 5, Stalin 4). Total fouls: Ferndale 20 (Reid fouled out); Mount Baker 15.
