Affholter scores 10 against depleted Tarriers

By DAVE THOMAS
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Their coach said they came into the girls Class 1A state tournament with something to prove, so the Zillah Leopards weren't quite ready to exit from the scene after just two days.

Unleashing its full-court pressure against an undermanned Charles Wright team, Zillah set the tone early and ran away for a 61-39 victory in a consolation game Thursday afternoon in the SunDome.

"We felt we played well (Wednesday, but lost) and we wanted to come back today and not let down," guard Cassie Ziegler said. "We kept playing hard and got the win."

Which kept Zillah (16-10) alive in the tournament and sent them into Friday's 10:30 a.m. loser-out game against Coupeville, a 49-35 winner over Cascade Christian on Thursday.

"They came out with something to prove," Zillah coach Tony Fritz said of his young team that has just three seniors. "A lot of people did not think we'd even get here. Our attitude is you don't have to give us respect, we'll earn it."

Zillah certainly earned Charles Wright's respect after a first half in which the Tarriers, who had six players and used only five, shot 29 percent and committed 15 turnovers against the Leopards' pressure, leading to a 36-18 halftime lead.

"Finally, our lack of depth caught up with us," Charles Wright coach Erik Haynes said. "I have to compliment Zillah's staff. They had a good game plan."

"Our whole game plan, even if we struggled early, was to keep pushing and pressing," Fritz said. "They did a great job."

Offensively, Zillah also improved from Wednesday's 50-37 loss to Freeman, most notably from 3-point range. The Leopards hit 6 of 13 3-pointers in the first half, with Brooke Mortensen hitting three and Gentry Affholter two.

Overall, Zillah made 9 of 24 treys and 23 of 55 shots.

"We've struggled all year with out shooting," Fritz said. "It was nice to see them come out of their slump.

"We told them going into today's game that they (Charles Wright) would play a zone, so if you're open (on the perimeter), you've got to shoot it. They shot the ball with confidence."

Fritz was also pleased with the balance, as all 12 Zillah players scored, led by Affholter's 10.

"That's what we're all about," he said.

Forward Lindsey McFerran led Charles Wright with 21, but Zillah limited her to three points in its 17-9 first quarter and eight in the first half.

Despite ending their season with two lopsided losses, Haynes said his Tarriers (18-6) had no reason to hang their heads.

"We played up to our potential this year; I've got no regrets," he said. "I'm awfully proud of the kids."

After the Leopards' first two tournament games, Fritz was also pleased, saying, "I'm really proud of the girls and their effort the last two games."

And he's looking forward to more before Saturday's curtain come down.