First CW2B league loss

BREWSTER – One of only two schools that came within three points of beating the Lady Bears varsity basketball team earlier this season got the job done the second time around last Friday, Jan. 18, when the Liberty Bell Lady Mountain Lions defeated Brewster, 43-39, on the Lady Bears’ home court.

Behind the seven first-quarter points of freshman Jadyn Mitchell, Liberty Bell took a four-point, 12-8 lead in the opening eight minutes.

Through the second quarter Liberty Bell padded its lead with another two points on five baskets while the Lady Bears experienced cold shooting with only three buckets from two-point range and a pair of three throws.

The anticipated momentum shift that often marks a second half rally did not show up in the third quarter as both teams exchanged point-for-point and both stayed in single digit territory. Trailing 31-24 going into the fourth quarter the Lady Bears made a run at Liberty Bell with junior forward Sammi Emigh leading the way.

Emigh began finding her range around the perimeter of the basket and scored 11 of Brewster’s 15 fourth-quarter points including three-of-four on a technical foul to pull the Lady Bears within two baskets of the leaders.

Brewster was unable to close the gap despite some good looks from the field. Emigh led all scorers with 15 points. Mitchell scored 11 for Liberty Bell.

The loss does not topple 11-1 Brewster from first place in the Central Washington and elevates 9-2 Liberty Bell to second place ahead of Waterville-Mansfield (9-3) and Lake Roosevelt (8-3).

Earlier on Tuesday, Jan. 15, the Lady Bears easily handled the Oroville Hornets on the road, 52-21, and defeated non-league Kittitas-Thorp, 60-34, in girls-only basketball last Saturday, Jan. 19.

The Lady Bears host 4-7 Soap Lake at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, and meet Lake Roosevelt on the road, Tuesday, Jan. 29.

Brewster: 8-8-8-15  39
LBHS: 12-10-9-12  43
Brewster scoring:
Sammi Emigh: 15
Michaun Kelpman: 10
Brooklynne Boesel: 5
Mikenna Kelpman: 4
Kimberly Nila: 3
Cynthia Sanchez: 2
Miriam Garcia
Kelsey Ochoa
Alexia Hurtado
Anah Wulf
Victoria Sanchez