[ t o u r n e y t o w n . c o m -- 2009 Class 1B girls state tournament ]

Sunnyside Christian -- Bangs 4-6 1-2 9, den Hoed 0-1 0-0 0, Bosma 3-10 0-0 8, Duim 0-0 0-0 0, Long 1-3 1-2 3, Van Oostrum 0-1 0-0 0, As. Haak 0-1 0-0 0, J. Van Wingerden 2-3 2-4 6, Al. Haak 0-0 0-0 0, M. Van Wingerden 4-9 2-2 10, Newhouse 3-4 2-3 8, Dalrymple 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 19-42 8-13 48.

Columbia (Hunters) -- J. Kieffer 0-5 0-0 0, Loe 1-5 0-0 2, E. Larrew 0-0 1-2 1, Osborn 0-4 0-0 0, Colvin 5-14 7-10 20, Parrow 2-7 0-0 4, Flett 0-0 0-0 0, J. Larrew 1-6 0-0 2, C. Kieffer 0-3 0-1 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 9-44 8-13 29.

Sunnyside Christian

Columbia (Hunters)

3-point goals--SC 2-5 (Bosma 2-3, Bangs 0-1, Long 0-1), C 3-10 (Colvin 3-8, J. Kieffer 0-1, Osborn 0-1). Rebounds--SC 36 (M. Van Wingerden 12), C 29 (Loe 5). Assists--SC 8 (den Hoed 3), C 5 (J. Larrew 2). Steals--SC 15 (den Hoed 3, Long 3), C 12 (Colvin 4). Blocked shots--SC 4, C 5 (Loe 3). Fouled out--None. Total fouls--SC 16, C 14. Technical fouls--None. Turnovers--SC 22, C 23.

What a bunch of perfectionists, these girls from Sunnyside Christian.

“We didn’t play a great game,” confessed junior Kelly Newhouse after the Knights left the SunDome floor Thursday in the Class 1B state tournament. “In fact, we have yet to have a good game here.”

Sunnyside Christian's Analisa Van Oostrum takes a shot past Columbia's Selena Osborn during the second half of Thursday's
Class 1B state quarterfinal game.

SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic

“More intensity,” chimed in junior Hilari Bosma, “we need more intensity.”

And this after a 48-29 quarterfinal humbling of Hunters that appeared to have Sunnyside Christian at its defensive best.

But, in this case, seeking perfection is a good thing because that’s what the Knights believe they will need in Friday’s 6 p.m. semifinal showdown with unbeaten and top-ranked Colton.

“It will take our best game, no doubt about that,” said SC coach Al Smeenk. “They are playing awfully well.”

True, Colton’s rock-em, sock-em scores of 66-15 and 65-15 would send shivers down anyone’s spine, but the Knights have turned in some quality work here as well.

After playing Hunters to a 9-9 draw in the first quarter, SC held the young Lions to five field goals the rest of the way. It was season low in scoring for the fifth-ranked Panorama champions, who shot 20.5 percent for the game.

“Once we got going with the defensive pressure we did a nice job,” Smeenk said. “We shot a lot better than yesterday (improving from 30.8 in the first round to 45.2 against Hunters), and we did OK on the boards. Still too many turnovers, though.”

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Four different players scored during an 8-0 run that gave the Knights separation in the second quarter, then the defense delivered the knockout blow by holding Hunters scoreless for more than eight minutes in the second half.

Melanie Van Wingerden turned in a second straight double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, Bosma hit a pair of 3-pointers and Newhouse made 3 of 4 shots and grabbed four rebounds.

Most of SC’s lineup is now 3-0 in 1B state quarterfinal games.

“We’ve been here before and that experience helps a lot,” Bosma said. “Each day we know we have to get better and we have.”

That experience was in sharp contrast to Hunters, which is talented but extremely young with three starting freshmen. One of them, Krista Colvin, scored 20 of the team’s 29 points.

“I made that very clear to the girls before the game,” Smeenk said. “Half of their girls were in junior high last year, I said, and you guys are juniors and seniors. They’re a good team for as young as they are, but we have to take advantage of having older, more experienced kids.”

Now the Knights (19-5) will set their sights on Colton (22-0), which has put up a prolific 146 shots in two games and forced 71 turnovers.