2A girls state hoops: W.F. West's sets state tournament record for fewest points allowed in 36-18 win over Cedarcrest

By Meg Wochnick
Staff writer

YAKIMA -- None of the W.F. West Bearcats knew what kind of record-setting game it was for them.

It was only after the Bearcats’ 36-18 victory over Cedarcrest in Thursday’s 2A girls state quarterfinal game at the Yakima Valley SunDome did they learn the feat: the Bearcats set a record for fewest points given up in a 2A girls state tournament game.

“That’s pretty cool,” said senior Olivia Erskine, who finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.

The previous record was 19 points by Elma in 2004 a loss to Connell.

Another state record was tied for fewest combined points by two teams in a 2A girls state tournament game. The 54 points between the Bearcats and Red Wolves ties the record of 54 points between Pullman and Eatonville, also from 2004.

W.F. West (21-4) will face Renton, a 38-34 winner over Wapato in today’s 7:15 p.m. semifinal with a berth in Saturday night’s 2A state title game on the line.

Cedarcrest’s strength is points off transition, and the Bears made sure there was very little of that.

“We wanted to make a statement and started off our weekend well,” Erskine said.

W.F. West held Cedarcrest to 18 percent shooting (8 of 44) and had a lead that was never in jeopardy. Its largest lead was 32-12 in the fourth quarter and no player finished with more than four points; Courtney McKinney, Kailyn Campbell and Susan Kenney each finished with four.

The stats weren’t particularly flattering for W.F. West, either, shooting 28.8 percent (15 of 52 shooting), but it outrebounded Cedarcrest, 46-31.

When 6-foot-3 center Jamika Parker took a seat after picking up her second foul with 7:10 left in the second quarter with her team leading 6-4, she sat out until halftime. That didn’t hurt the Bearcats, as they went on a 12-2 run during that span Parker was out and had a 18-6 lead at halftime. Parker finished with six points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and Julie Spencer and nine rebounds.