[ t o u r n e y t o w n . c o m -- 2004 State Tournament]

Seattle Christian -- Harney 0-0 0-0 0, K. Peterson 1-11 0-0 2, Ventoza 2-11 5-8 10, Klebs 0-0 0-0 0, Duff 0-3 0-0 0, Holmes 0-1 0-0 0, Santie 8-17 0-1 20, Fredricksen 0-4 0-2 0, Ames 0-3 1-2 1, Simpson 0-0 2-2 2, C. Peterson 2-4 0-0 4, Fanslow 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-54 8-15 39.

Zillah -- Wentz 0-1 0-0 0, Perrault 2-7 4-5 9, Hall 1-8 0-0 3, Mortensen 1-3 0-0 2, Affholter 0-2 1-2 1, Guthrie 3-5 1-4 8, Schilperoort 0-0 0-0 0, Alcala 1-1 0-0 2, Delvo 0-3 5-8 5, Calhoun 1-8 7-10 9, Griffin 2-4 4-4 8, Cameron 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 11-42 22-33 47.

Seattle Christian

Zillah

3-point goals--SC 5-20 (Santie 4-8, Ventoza 1-4, Ames 0-1, K. Peterson 0-7), Z 3-12 (Perrault 1-1, Guthrie 1-2, Hall 1-5, Mortensen 0-2, Affholter 0-2). Rebounds--SC 39 (Santie 9, Ventoza 5), Z 44 (Calhoun 9, Hall 8). Assists--SC 5 (Ventoza 2), Z 11 (Perrault 3, Affholter 3). Steals--SC 14 (Santie 9), Z 12 (Perrault 6). Blocked shots--SC 1, Z 2. Fouled out--Duff, Calhoun. Total fouls--SC 25, Z 17. Technical fouls--None. Turnovers--SC 22, Z 25.

Leopards Pass Elimination Test

Zillah beats Seattle Christian 47-39, will play for fifth

By MICHAEL ANDERSON
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Cherie Perrault started Friday’s Class 1A state tournament elimination game with Seattle Christian as the shortest player on the floor.

When the final buzzer sounded -- with the ball in the 5-foot-4 guard’s hands after grabbing the final rebound -- she was standing as tall as any 6-footer could.

The tiny Zillah point guard -- her listed height in the program is, shall we say, generous -- scored nine points and grabbed six steals as well as wreaking general havoc all over the floor as the Leopards knocked the Warriors out of the tournament, 47-39, at the SunDome.

Zillah (23-3) will play Saturday morning for fifth place against Tonasket. For Perrault, who played a scant 20 seconds as a sophomore during the Leopards last visit -- a quick two-and-out in 2002 -- the chance to play on Trophy Day is the right end to her prep career.

“We get to play on Saturday,” the bubbly Perrault said outside the Leopards locker room. “It’s not the latest game, but we’re still playing.”

The Leopards defense, keyed by Perrault, shut Seattle Christian down in the final minutes, holding the Warriors to just three points in the final 4:43. In that same time period, Zillah scored 12 points, including hitting nine of 11 free throws.

Perrault’s resourcefulness was never more evident that her step-through 3-point attempt with 43 seconds remaining in the game. Stranded with no dribble about 30 feet from the basket with the shot clock running down, she stepped around Jessica Ventoza and drew a foul and three free throws.

The Leopards were the epitome of the balance that first-year coach Tony Fritz has preached. Two players -- Carrie Calhoun and Perrault -- had nine while reserve Rondelle Guthrie and Jennifer Griffin had eight points each.

“That tells you they’re starting to get it,” Fritz said. “It’s a team game and if everyone does their part, it works.”

Even losing Carrie Calhoun -- who had nine rebounds -- to a fifth foul with 2:27 remaining worked out for Fritz.

“I wanted to get Chelsey Delvo in so we could change defenses,” he said. “When Carrie got that foul, that was a sign it was time.”

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