Miserly Bearcats set state mark for fewest points allowed

YAKIMA — None of the W.F. West players were aware of their record-setting performance.

It was only after the Bearcats trounced Cedarcrest, 36-18, in Thursday’s state quarterfinals at the Yakima Valley SunDome that they learned of their stinginess: a record for fewest points allowed in a 2A girls state tournament game.

“That’s pretty cool,” said senior Olivia Erskine, who had a game-high 10 rebounds. Teammate Julie Spencer led all scorers with eight points.

Connell held the previous record, limiting Elma to 19 points in 2004.

Thursday’s performance also tied the state record for fewest combined points (54) in a 2A girls state tournament game set by Pullman and Eatonville, also in 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 title game on the line.

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

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

W.F. West held the Red Wolves to 17 percent shooting (8 of 46) and was never in jeopardy. Its largest lead was 32-12 in the fourth quarter and no Red Wolves

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, as the Bearcats shot 28.8 percent (15 of 52) but it outrebounded Cedarcrest, 48-34.

When 6-foot-3 center Jamika Parker picked up her second foul with 7:10 left in the second quarter and her team leading 6-4, she took a seat and remained there until halftime. But that didn’t hurt the Bearcats, as they went on a 12-2 run during that span for an 18-6 halftime advantage. Parker finished with six points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots, and Tori Weeks had six points.

Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com theolympian.com/southsoundsports @megwochnick