Girls Hoops: Olympia builds big lead to hold off Emerald Ridge in SPSL 4A battle

1/5/2023

The SPSL 4A girls league looks to have two clear tiers early on in the season with Sumner at the top, Emerald Ridge and Olympia right behind with all 4 in the top 15 of the State RPI and Bellarmine Prep looming in 4th place. Rogers of Puyallup may be the other team waiting to break as they sit in mid-pack while the others are building their programs.

So when the top 4 teams meet in the regular season it is making these match-ups just that more important. Emerald Ridge Coach Arvin Mosely told ESN this is a huge game and if we can steal one on the rode that will really boost his Jaguars. Mosely said it was important to set an early tone and get off to a fast start.

Unfortunately for Mosely and Jags the vision he had staked out in his mind completely collapsed in the first 60 seconds when 6′ Freshman forward Ryah McGriff quickly picked up 2 fouls. Her presence in the key was one of the main ingredients for the Emerald Ridge defense to counter Olympia’s star center Senior Natalia McBride.

The Jaguars led early 6-4 but Olympia Head Coach Dustin Workman quickly adjusted the Bears attack and went inside to McBride and Senior guard Taylor Whaley. McBride sank 10 of her game high 18 in the 1st quarter and finished with 12 1st half points. Whaley then picked up the 2nd quarter scoring after knocking down 4 in the 1st it was her turn to sink 10.

Olympia led 18-6 after the 1st but Emerald Ridge would make a run with Semaj Williams coming off the bench to score 6 and forward Senior Maya Barnett leading the Jags with 8 and they cut the lead down to just 8 after trailing 22-7 at one point. But Olympia surged in the final 90-seconds to take a 35-22 lead into the break.

Emerald Ridge would make their best run late in the 3rd quarter when the starting 5 finally got some real playing time together and pulled within 6 by the end of the quarter trailing 44-38 holding the Bears to just 9 points. McGriff got some big inside hoops Marecia Barnett got some key buckets in the lane as well. The Jags took full advantage when the Bears McBride had to exit the game with a slightly turned ankle. McBride returned a short time later.

Olympia would bounce back once again early in the 4th running their lead back to double digits with a couple of huge baskets from Hannah Berschauer including a long ball. Whaley kept driving and scoring and Lauren Wolin heated up scoring 7 of her 9 in the 2nd half including a long ball. Emma Hankins played well defensively for the Bears expecially when McBride was out and Sophomore guard Lauren Juergens dished, rebounded and defended hard from start to finish and they kept the Jags at arms length to secure the 8 point win.

Both teams will likely spend a lot of time at the free throw line as Emerald Ridge went 3 for 15 at the charity stripe or a dismal 20%. If they shot a very makeable 73% or 11 of 15 they tie the game. The Bears weren’t a lot better going 40% or 4 for 10. If they shoot 70% their lead is more secure with a double digit win and these numbers do not include missed front ends of 1 and 1’s. Either team hot at the free throw line and we have a completely different game one way of the other.

Our MVP for the game went to Taylor Whaley who finished with 17 points had multiple rebounds and played a stiff defense. Olympia improves to 5-1 in SPSL league play and 9-4 overall while the Jaguars drop to 6-1 and 8-3. Emerald Ridge plays at Rogers on Saturday at 7p while the Bears host Curtis at 4:30p.

To watch the replay of the game you will need a subscription to the NFHS Network and the game can be found at this link: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/affiliates/eli-sports-network

Scoring

Olympia: McBride 18, Whaley 17, Wolin 9, Berschaurer 9
Emerald Ridge: Maya Barnett 11, McGriff 9, Williams 8, Marecia Barnett 8, Cammack 5, Carter 2, Sapilak 2