Lady Raiders win two in first week of playoffs

The Lady Raiders won both games in the first week of the 2B District 5-6 tournament, and move on to the second week this Friday in Chelan.

At Hanford Middle School in Richland Friday, the Lake Roosevelt defeated Liberty Christian 55-47.

“This was a good team win,” Coach Matthew Pleasants said. “We had some girls step up in their limited playing time to provide a spark for the team and give us the edge we needed to win.”

Hannah Wapato was the leading scorer for the Lady Raiders with eight points, followed by Kelsie Olbricht, Audrey Hansen, and Ellie Hansen, who each scored seven.

The Lady Raiders pulled down 15 offensive rebounds and 24 defensive, adding up to 39 rebounds total, compared to Liberty Christian’s 21.

The next day, the Lady Raiders played Columbia Burbank, defeating them in a close one, 46-43.

“This time of the season, you are playing against the best teams in the state,” Pleasants said. “The girls left it all on the floor and we couldn’t have asked for more.”

“We took the lead early in the game, then lost the lead for the majority of the game because we kept shooting ourselves in the foot due to us getting anxious out there,” Pleasants said.

Down by seven points at the half, Pleasants said, the Lady Raiders had a calmness about them in the locker room. “It showed they were confident in themselves, that they could dig themselves out of the hole and get the win,” he said.

“In the second half, we came out and showed how dominant we can be defensively by getting two consecutive 30-second shot clock violations,” Pleasants explained. “This led to us slowly chipping at their lead until we were in the position to hold the lead. It came down to free throws, and the score shows that we made them when it counted most.”

Ellie Hansen led the Lady Raiders, scoring 16 points and grabbing 14 of their 35 total rebounds.

Olbricht was the next highest scorer, with 12 points; she also had six rebounds and a steal in the game.

The Lady Raiders continue the district tournament Friday, Feb. 15, at the Chelan Community Gym, where they’ll play at 5 p.m. against the winner of a Tuesday game scheduled between Brewster and Mabton.

A win would put them in the district championship Saturday at Chelan High School at 2 p.m. A loss would mean they play for the third- or fourth-place spot at 10:30 a.m., also at Chelan High School.

The Lady Raiders have already qualified for regionals/first round of state the following week, for which district results will determine seeding.

Lady Raiders vs. Liberty Christian

LR 55 - LC 47

Lady Raider points - Wapato - 8; Olbricht - 7; Audrey Hansen - 7; E. Hansen - 7; Pakootas 6; Reyes - 5; Addison Hansen - 5; Clark - 3; Nomee - 3; J. Hansen - 2; Edmo - 2

Lady Raiders vs. Columbia Burbank

LR 46 - CB 43

Lady Raider points - E. Hansen - 16; Olbricht - 12; Reyes - 6; Pakootas - 6; Addison Hansen - 4; J. Hansen - 2