Olympia girls roll Timberline with team effort

Depending on the match-up, a number of different players have the potential to step up and lead the team, or just as likely, they could share the scoring duties.

The latter was what took place Friday in the Bears’ 50-35 non-league victory over Timberline in Chick Rockey Gymnasium at Olympia High – balanced scoring and sharing the basketball.

“We have our times to shine – everyone has them,” said Bears sophomore forward Faith Cebula, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals. “Everybody’s equal.”

This was the third game of Cebula’s high school career.

She sat out her freshman season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee during fall basketball. In all of the games, she has scored in double figures.

She was one of three Olympia players to reach double figures against Timberline. Sophomore guard Sarah Snodgrass had 11 of her game-high 13 points in the first half as Olympia (2-1) raced out to a 26-20 lead at halftime, and Jenna Randich was 3-for-6 from 3-point range en route to 11 points. Mackenzie Cooper was 4-for-4 from the field for eight points.

Passing the wealth around – and passing the ball sometimes seven or eight times before a shot – is what Olympia coach Rod Tripp said his team has worked on.

“We pass up pretty good shots for better shots,” Tripp said.

While this was Olympia’s third game of the season – and first in nine days since a 43-41 win over Lincoln on Nov. 28 – it was Timberline’s season opener.

The Bears’ man-to-man pressure defense limited the Blazers offensively, especially around the perimeter. Timberline shot 11-for-40 from the floor and had a five-minute scoring drought in the third quarter as Olympia stretched its lead to 40-24.

The Bears’ largest lead was 45-26 with less than 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Senior Kiera Allen led the Blazers with 10 points, and sophomore Callan Russell finished with nine.