Lady Bears finish fourth at state basketball tournament

SPOKANE – The Brewster girls varsity basketball team capped its trip to state with the fourth-place trophy following a 77-71 win over Mabton last Saturday, March 2.

The Lady Bears opened the game with a quick 11-1 lead and appeared to be running away with the floor before encountering a four-minute cold streak where they went scoreless while the Vikings tied the game. Brewster recovered its shooting range enough to take a 15-11 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Bears used the second quarter to build as large as a 12-point lead before settling for six, 34-28.

Mabton closed within three points early in the third quarter after a basket and steal for back-to-back four points but got no closer. Free throws helped the Lady Bears maintain a nine-point margin at the end of the quarter, 57-50.

Brewster led from wire to wire through the fourth quarter letting Mabton within three before the Lady Bears opened a 10-point lead in the closing minutes. Brewster ended with five players scoring in double figures. Morgan McGuire led the Bears with 19 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Senior Gimena Hurtado had the best game of her high school career, scoring 13 critical points in the Bears’ victory. Pepper Boesel scored 14, Kara Schertenleib had 11, and Grace Becker 10.

On the heels of the previous day’s possible record 33 of 37 free throws against Toutle Lake, Brewster had 38 attempts against the Vikings, and just three shy of 100 free throws in the last three games.

The Lady Bears will lose three seniors to graduation from a team comprised of three juniors, two sophomores, and four freshmen.

Brewster scoring:

Morgan McGuire – 19

Pepper Boesel – 14

Gimena Hurtado – 13

Kara Schertenleib – 11

Grace Becker – 10

 Paige Wulf – 8

Hyleah Aparicio - 2

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media