Who is No. 1 in 1A girls basketball? After win over 2A contender Deer Park ... it is Zillah
Leopards win on Makenna Klitzke's buzzer-beating layup in overtime, 67-65, in the 'SunDome Shootout'
Editor’s note: This game story was originally published by content-sharing partner Stat Hound Media, founded by journalist Jerrel Swenning. Support that venture at stathoundmedia.com.
YAKIMA, Wash. — What’s already been months of emotions for Zillah girls basketball had another night of big feelings inside the Yakima Valley SunDome.
This time, jubilation.
The Leopards, ranked second in Class 1A, took down 2A’s No. 2 Deer Park, 67-65, on Makenna Klitzke’s layup as time ran out in overtime Tuesday to cap the SunDome Shootout.
“That’s a program win,” Zillah coach Joel Yellow Owl said. “I was telling the girls there are going to be younger generations that see that win and remember it for years to come.”
Less than five months ago, the team – which is almost all back after finishing fourth at the state tournament – and the community lost Leopards legend Brandie Valadez, the longtime coach and former star athlete at Zillah. She died at 41 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
“I’m sure Coach Brandie is smiling right now, looking down and a couple of the girls were saying, ‘Hey, she took her wig off for that one,’” Yellow Owl said. “I saw Brandie through every single one of those girls tonight and I think that’s what matters – continuing her legacy with wins like this.”
To notch Tuesday’s win, the Leopards had to keep up with a team that hadn’t played a game closer than 20 points before Monday’s 11-point victory against 2A fifth-ranked Selah.
And the Stags, who had won 68 regular-season games in a row, and finished third at state last season, unleashed the frenetic defense that engulfs opponents.
Against the Leopards, though, Deer Park wasn’t able to convert the turnovers to points as much as usual. The Stags often looked rushed or too amped up, missing many point-blank shots.
Deer Park didn’t make a two-point shot until late in the second quarter, keeping pace with the Leopards with 3-pointers.
“We don’t rush, we generally rush people,” Stags coach KC Ahrens said. “We were worried about getting our shot blocked, and that’s something that we haven’t done.”
Despite taking less than half as many shots, Zillah took a 30-26 lead into halftime.
The Leopards built their lead to as many as eight points in the third quarter before Deer Park whittled the deficit to three going into the fourth.
Zillah never trailed the rest of the game, but couldn’t break away. Jacey Boesel scored 12 of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter for the Stags to force the extra session.
The Leopards held Deer Park without a field goal in overtime. Still, free throws by Boesel and Ashlan Bryant knotted the score at 65-65 in the final minute.
With the shot clock off, June Fiander – playing in her first game after transferring from Kennewick – dribbled the clock down before driving to the hoop and dishing to Klitzke for the game-winner.
“It’s been an emotional month and we’re handling it together,” Klitzke said. “That’s who we play for so I think that makes us push harder.”
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