Al Smeenk threw open the door to the locker room, let out a deep sigh and announced with equal parts exasperation and delight, "I'm getting too old for this!"

Listen here, coach, things like this aren't easy on the youngsters either.

Sunnyside Christian's Andrea Schutt bends backward for a rebound during the Knights' game Thursday against Entiat in the SunDome.   ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic

Smeenk's Sunnyside Christian girls were sailing along with a 14-point lead with less than four minutes to play but were in full escape-mode to preserve a 49-45 victory over Entiat in Thursday's Class 1B state quarterfinals.

"That was way too close, but we kept it together," said senior Emma Newhouse. "We played a great game even with the way it ended. It's special to be playing in the semifinals."

The Knights (21-2) will get that chance tonight at 9 when they face Garfield-Palouse (22-4). Colton (22-3) will take on Touchet (21-4) in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m.

Up until Entiat's late rush, Sunnyside Christian played an impressively complete game, passing well enough to handle the Tigers' constant pressure and spreading its offense from its trademark inside dominance to four 3-point baskets — a day after hitting no treys.

"I feel good about that today, the way we executed things in the half-court (offense)," Smeenk said. "Entiat's a good team and we knew we would bring a lot of pressure. But, for the most part, we handled it."

Andrea Schutt scored 12 of her game-high 22 points in the second half, helping the Knights break open a tight game with a 14-2 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters. Melanie Van Wingerden's basket with 4:06 left ballooned the margin to 47-33.

That's when things got a little crazy, thanks mostly to Shawnee Ledbeter's red-hot hand. Entiat's 5-foot-4 senior wing chucked a trio of 3-pointers at 3:06, 2:31 and 1:28, powering an 8-0 burst that brought the Tigers suddenly within 47-44.

Sunnyside Christian's Abby Bangs defends Entiat's Shawnee Ledbeter during the first half Thursday. ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic

And it could have been closer than that. Entiat had two chances in the final minute to tie it — Zaira Quezada's 3-pointer rimmed out with 37 seconds left and Taylor Montgomery made 1 of 3 free throws after she was fouled on a 3-point attempt with five seconds remaining.

Schutt flipped in a pair of free throws at :02 for the final margin.

"We had trouble with our passing at the end and had to fight to keep our composure," said Schutt, who connected on 9 of 18 shots and grabbed eight rebounds. "We worked hard to build that gap and it was too close at the end because of our turnovers."

Schutt is the only starting 6-footer in the tournament but that doesn't mean her game is entirely in the paint. She cast in a 3-pointer in the first and third periods.

"I like to shoot out there. They say (tall players) are guards at heart and that's me," she said. "It also helps spread our offense around."

Newhouse also popped in two treys, including one just before the break for a 22-20 lead at halftime, and finished with 12 points.

"At the beginning of the year I was hitting them, then I began faltering," said Newhouse, who missed SC's run to the state final last year because of an injury. "Now when I hit one I get real excited. I'm a senior and I want to give my team a lift like that."

Ledbeter accounted for three of her team's six 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for Entiat (21-3), which placed fifth here a year ago.

With Schutt and Van Wingerden leading the effort, Sunnyside Christian outrebounded Entiat 40-26. In two state games the Knights have a 93-52 advantage on the boards.

Smeenk was a bit concerned about his team's 18 turnovers, especially the six in the final 3:28.

"We got a little lazy on the passing after doing such a good job before. I think we got tired," the coach said. "But we're playing on Saturday — that's what matters. I don't know what game we'll be playing in Saturday, but we're there."

Saturday at state? Nobody's ever too old for that.