For a time, it appeared that the energy and playmaking with which Ellensburg had logged a notable first-round upset in the Class 2A state tournament would sustain the Bulldogs for another night.

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But then two notable things happened.

West Valley changed from a man-to-man defense to a 2-3 zone, after which talented 6-foot junior Shanique Nilles returned from a first-half knee injury.

And the combination proved too much for 10th-ranked Ellensburg, which dropped a 35-28 decision Thursday night to the unbeaten and second-ranked Eagles of Spokane in the SunDome.

The quarterfinal defeat denied the Bulldogs (19-7) a fourth shot at CWAC rival Prosser in the semifinals, and left them in a 2 p.m. loser-out game Friday against Elma. West Valley (24-0) will oppose the Mustangs Friday night at 9.

"We were a step slow all night," said Ellensburg coach Craig Faire after his team made only four field goals after the first quarter and nine for the game. "We stood around and didn't get any post offense going all night. We didn't come to play."

Nilles, felled by an under-the-basket collision with 1:49 left in the first quarter, was helped to the bench and spent the remainder of the half with an ice bag on her right knee.

She didn't start the second, but returned to action with 6:24 left in the third quarter wearing a brace. And while her mobility appeared limited, Nilles scored eight of her game-high 15 points to key West Valley's triumph.

"It still really hurts," she said afterward, while being carried piggyback by an assistant coach. "But the team is too important, so I had to play."

Nilles described her injury as "a large contusion, but it will be fine."

On a night when neither team found an offensive flow -- Ellensburg also played a bothersome 2-3 zone -- the Bulldogs struggled mightily after leads of 10-2 and 12-7 at the first-quarter break.

They had made enough 3-pointers to help neutralize Archbishop Murphy's size advantage, but on this occasion were just 3 for 24 from long distance. Ellensburg also was outrebounded 44-37, with Nilles, 6-0 Hannah Love and active 5-8 Leah Peterson patrolling the back line of WV's zone.

Nilles helped West Valley move from a 16-16 halftime tie to a 23-20 lead starting the fourth quarter. She scored three straight points to give the Eagles a 30-25 cushion with 2:04 to play, but the Bulldogs' Shannon Bland hit 3-ball with 1:30 remaining made it 30-28.

Ellensburg would not score again, however, as WV sealed the game from the foul line.

Dearia Gordon, whose 27 points and 12 rebounds had carried the Bulldogs the evening prior, shared team scoring honors with Andrea Bland, totaling eight to go with 13 rebounds before fouling out.

Teammate Kim Kelly had seven points, but Ellensburg finished with 17 percent shooting (8 for 47), including 12 percent (3 for 25) during the second half.

West Valley, which shot 24 percent (9 for 38) got seven points and 13 boards from Love.