Teamwork the key to Reardan win

CHENEY – No. 4 seed Reardan spread the ball around, as well as the points in its 53-36 win over No. 5 seed Napavine in the opening round of the WIAA 2B Girls State Basketball Tournament Saturday, March 1, at Cheney High School. Seven players scored five or more points in Reardan's well balanced attack.

The Screaming Eagles opened the game scoring the first six points, and it appeared they were on their way to another blow out win, which is something their fans have grown accustomed to this year. Napavine did not fold. The Tigers scored the next seven points to take a 7-6 lead. That's when Reardan sophomores Emersen Sprecher and Rylynn Green stepped up. Sprecher scored six points and Green hit a long three to put the Screaming Eagles ahead 17-11 at the end of the quarter.

"Tonight, I played with more of a chip on my shoulder and with more confidence," Sprecher said.

The Screaming Eagles tightened their defense in the second quarter, limiting Napavine to one 3-point basket. Reardan freshman Chasyn Waters scored four points in the quarter as did sophomore Raegan Soliday. The Screaming Eagles outscored Napavine 12-3 to take a 29-14 halftime lead.

In the second half, Reardan displayed its most unselfish play of the season. The team looked to find open players under the basket rather than force shots themselves. This resulted in easy baskets and greater player involvement. Seven players scored in the third quarter as Reardan extended its lead to 47-28.

Napavine outscored Reardan 8-6 in the last eight minutes, but the Screaming Eagles prevailed, winning 53-36.

Chasyn Waters led Reardan scorers with 11 points. She also had seven rebounds and four steals. Sprecher was two points shy of a double-double. She scored eight points but controlled the glass with 10 rebounds and a blocked shot.

"I had the mindset that I could get every rebound tonight," she said.

Tenice Waters scored eight points, but her most notable contribution was the number of times she dished the ball to her teammates for easy scores. Soliday and Green both scored seven points. Lillie Whitman, Mackenzie Bjornberg and Olivia Wicks scored five, five and two points, respectively. Bjornberg also grabbed seven rebounds.

Hayden Kaut led the Tigers in scoring with 14 points.

Sprecher thought her team moved the ball better than in any game this season.

"We did a good job of pushing the ball ahead and sharing it with everybody," she said. "That was the difference maker in the game. I would give us an eight out of ten in the way we played. Winning this game was a huge milestone for our team."

Reardan coach Bob Swannack was pleased with his team's ball movement.

"We've been talking about sharing the ball and making extra passes all season," he said, "and tonight and the last three games we've done just that. It changes the whole dynamic of the game. It gets other players involved and they can't just focus on a couple players."

Swannack praised Sprecher for her play.

"Emersen battled all night. It was the best game she's played all year. I've been telling her that she should get every rebound, and she embraced that role tonight. She was fantastic."

Swannack said his team was prepared for whatever Napavine might throw at them.

"I watched 15 of their games and knew that we were a better team if we executed and I knew we had better athletes," he said. "The key to this game was holding them in the 30s or below, boxing out, limiting their possessions, playing fast and sharing the ball. I'd give us a B-plus, because we've still got room for improvement."

With the win, Reardan improves to 22-2. They will play the winner of Columbia/Mount Vernon Christian in a quarterfinals game Thursday, March 6 at the Spokane Arena. Tip-off is at 3:45 p.m.

Napavine will play Colfax in a loser out game on March 5.