After 29 years, Bickleton's girls were not going to go quietly into the night.

Not even after a humbling 58-point loss that would've sucked the spirit from the most determined teams.

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No, these Pirates were back at the state basketball tournament after a nearly three decade absence and they had no intention of leaving the SunDome empty handed.

That resolve manifest itself in a suffocating defensive effort that forced a head-shaking 52 turnovers, and clutch second-half shooting from Star Kibby, Morgan McBride and Aymie Osborn as Bickleton pulled away from Wilson Creek 58-41 in a Class 1B state consolation game Friday afternoon.

The victory assures the Pirates (18-8) of a state trophy, either fourth or seventh depending on the result of Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game against fellow Greater Columbia League foe Sunnyside Christian.

"This feels great. Twenty nine years is a long time," said Kibby, who had a game-high 19 points and 10 of Bickleton's whopping 32 steals. "To be the team that finally ends that drought is awesome."

"We waited 29 years and now we're playing for a trophy," coach Emily Barnhart said. "This is so fantastic."

Following Thursday's 76-18 loss to top-ranked Colton, the Pirates could've been excused for still being in a daze Friday. Instead, the loss seemed to galvanize this group.

"We knew that game (vs. Colton) would be tough," Kibby said. "But we just put it behind us and played a great game today."

After a slow start, Bickleton scored six straight points to open a 10-4 lead, an advantage they would never relinquish, although Wilson Creek made numerous runs to get within one possession, the last at 40-37 with about 5 1/2 minutes to play.

That's when McBride nailed a 3-pointer, starting a 7-0 burst that featured baskets by Kibby and Osborn.

After a Wilson Creek basket, Kibby scored on a fastbreak layin and added two free throws and the Pirates were well on their way to victory.

"That's what kept us going. We were not going to let them get ahead of us," said Kibby, who scored 10 points in the second half, with six in the final period. "That got us fired up."

"Offensively, we looked for the girl who was open and everyone stepped up," Barnhart said.

In addition to Kibby, McBride scored seven of her 13 points in the second half, including five in the fourth quarter, Osborn added all eight of her points in the game's final nine minutes, and Nakai Kibby had six crucial second-half points.

That balance was necessary because top scorer Katelynn Clinton was held in check, scoring just seven points until a three-point play with 1:32 to play, and also got into foul trouble, sitting the final four minutes of the third quarter after getting her fourth. Still, she managed a double-double with 10 points and 10 steals.

"When Katelynn gets in trouble, we always have someone step up," McBride said. "Once we get rolling, everyone feeds off that energy."