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BELLINGHAM, June 8 - Challenged during the week by their coaching staff to step up and learn how to win a tournament, the Northwest HoopGurlz did so, immediately and incontrovertably.
Led offensively by their junior member, Katie Kirsch, the team's only 8th grader, the HoopGurlz toppled Title IX by a 50-36 margin in the Le'ale'a championship game.
Coming off a third-place finish in the Best in the West tournament in Yakima, high-powered Title IX had been ranked one spot ahead of the HoopGurlz, at No. 2, in the HoopGurlz High Five for 9th Grade girls.
Led by Katie's 12 points, including 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul stripe, the HoopGurlz hit a sizzling 53 percent of their shots inside the three-point line - 47 percent overall - in the championship.
In their last three outings, the HoopGurlz have overcome a tough pool draw to win their last three at the Best in the West, lost by just two in the varsity championship game of the Mill Creek Sports Card Classic, then took Le'ale'a.
The HoopGurlz had memorable performances from every player on their roster during the weekend in Bellingham.
During the team's next-most impressive game of the tournament, Erica Huffman shot the lights out for 18 points during a 50-42 pool play victory over the Northwest Heat.
Vivian Frieson hit seven of 10 shots for a team-high 14 points during a tourney-opening 54-14 victory over Chilliwack. Playing her first-ever game for the HoopGurlz, Brooke Helpenstell chipped in 12, off 5-for-8 shooting, and Rachel Kramer played stellar defense, also in her HoopGurlz debut.
Erica (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Melissa Reich (13 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles as the HoopGurlz beat Chilliwack 47-15 in the opening round of bracket play on Sunday.
Melissa, Danielle Greaby, and Stephanie West got the HoopGurlz rolling in the championship against Title IX. Danielle downed a three, then made a nifty feed inside to Stephanie. Melissa also made a nice kick-out to Steph for a baseline jumper, then made a hellacious power move for a layup.
Katie, who tossed in three three-pointers against the Heat, helped the HoopGurlz take control near the end of the first half. After Sassia Nelson drove the Title IX defense for a layup, Katie got a steal off the ensuing inbounds, dribbled the ball to just behind the three-point arc and nailed a dagger. Two possessions later, Katie was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three foul shots.
Continuing her offensive pyrotechnics at the beginning of the second half, Katie hit a short-corner jumper, then made took three Title IX defenders with a reverse layup off an unbelivable baseline drive. Sassia, the team leader in taking charges, then held steady on a drive by Title IX's star guard, Jessica Takara.
Title IX battled back, shrinking their deficit to 36-31 at one point. But the HoopGurlz's other microwaveable guard, Caitlyn Faidley, scored six of her nine points in an eyeblink. Rachel Houser then nailed a big jumper from the corner as the HoopGurlz seized command for good.
The HoopGurlz are entered in the tough varsity bracket of the School's Out Classic in Seattle this weekend (June 13-15), then play the Oregon City Shootout, MidSummer Nights Madness in Seattle and ARC Nationals in Las Vegas during the month of July.
Katie (42), Vivian (center) and Brooke (right) swarm a Chilliwack ballhandler (Darren Syverson, Sportspic.net)
Danielle takes on the Chilliwack defense
(Darren Syverson, Sportspic.net)
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Season in Pictures
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