Nearly every measure of the defensive chaos that Ellensburg's girls brought to bear in their Class 2A state quarterfinal on Thursday proved wickedly effective.

View all photos for this story.

Lynden, after all, struggled its way through 22-percent shooting and scored just seven field goals in the game, including a 27-foot shot at the buzzer to end the first half.

But the price the Bulldogs paid for that supreme effort was steep.

Drawing 26 fouls and flirting with tournament records by making 26 of 41 free throws, the gritty Lions avenged three losses to Ellensburg in the last three seasons with a 42-32 victory Thursday afternoon in the SunDome.

"We knew it would be a tough, physical game, and aggressive defense is our type of game," said Ellensburg coach Craig Faire. "But, wow, 41 free throws -- that was the difference. We still had our chances but just didn't knock down the shots."

And some of them were painfully close.

The crucial sequence came early in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs pulled within 26-25 on Deaira Gordon's basket and had a chance to take the lead the next time down. But three short-range misses later, Lynden dashed the other way and Kellie Fluit drew Casey Kelleher's fourth foul in a drive to the baseline.

Fluit hit both free throws and that started an 8-0 run that saw Ellensburg come up empty on five straight possessions. Brandi Benner, who hit the first-half buzzer-beater, canned another 3-pointer at the 6:47 mark and added a pair of free throws 15 seconds later.

"That was big when Casey got her fourth and we had to pull her," Faire said of Kelleher, who up to that point had been providing most of the offense. "When we missed the three short shots, that was a turning point because it sort of deflated the girls. Then Casey gets her fourth, and they went on their run."

Capping the 8-0 run was Ellensburg's 10th team foul, which put Lynden in the double bonus with 6:02 left in the game.

"In a game like this we told the girls they would have to pick moments to pin their ears back and go to the rim," said Lynden coach Rob Adams. "You'll get hit and bloodied, but (in the fourth quarter) this is where you do it."

Hannah Shine, a 5-10 sophomore with a 7.3 scoring average, broke through with 15 points and seven rebounds. She made her first eight free throws and finished 9-for-12.

"I told her before the game, 'You need to come out and score. In the biggest game of your life, can you do this?,'" Adams asked. "Her eyes just lit up."

Kelleher countered nicely with 14 points and eight rebounds, but the foul trouble held her scoreless in the final period. Gordon added nine points and 11 rebounds.

"We played them four times and we won three. We just didn't get it done today," said Faire, whose team defeated Lynden 56-50 two months ago. "It was sloppy at times and we forced things a little, but it was still a good game. We had our chances."

"They had beaten us three times, and when Brandi hit that shot at the buzzer it was a big lift," Adams said. "That gave us the feeling maybe today we get them. Last time we gave up 56 and today 32 - our defense flipped that around."

Ellensburg (17-9) will play Hockinson (21-4) on Friday at 12:30 p.m. in a loser-out game. Hockinson fell in the second quarterfinal 50-46 to West Valley of Spokane. The Bulldogs have a run of three straight state trophies, a history that Faire discussed with his despondent team.

"Tomorrow's a big day," he said. "It hurts when you've lost the dream of playing for a state title. But there's nothing wrong with fourth. This is a new group, but I've never seen an Ellensburg girls team quit. I don't think this one will."