The Clipper Women's Basketball team secured their passage into the NWAC Basketball Championships two week ago, but now they know their Sweet 16 opponent after locking down the #3 seed in the West Region. The team fought hard against Green River on Sophomore Night, but fell just short of a result that would have catapulted them into the #2 seed. With the third seed in hand, the Lady Clippers take on the second seed from the East, the Big Bend Vikings, on Thursday, March 5 at 2 p.m. in Pasco, Wash.
"For couple of sequences, we were running a zone and we didn't shift the way that we needed to shift. [The Gators] have great shooters and their shooters hit. I think a couple of those lapses allowed them to go on their runs and that's what basketball is; it's a game of runs," said Head Coach Darah Vining after their 66-58 defeat to the Green River Gators.
The game got off to a great start for the Lady Clippers as they shot the ball well and looked like they carried the momentum in the first quarter, carrying a 20-11 lead. However, like Coach Vining said, the Gators went on runs that helped keep the Clippers on the chase to get the game back to level. The second quarter was when the Green River team played extremely well on both sides of the court, holding the Clips to only 8 points while scoring 20.
After that, the Clippers were on the chase for the rest of the second half and they couldn't find a way to unlock the Gators' tough defense. Despite a double-double (20 points, 13 rebounds) performance from Jaynee Tanner and double-digit point efforts from Vy Tran and Bryten Gumke (16 and 13 points respectively), the ladies needed just a bit more to best the visiting team.
With that past game behind them now, the team sets their sights on the NWAC Basketball Championships as they travel to Pasco to faceoff against Big Bend. Earlier in the season, the Lady Clips bested the Vikings at the Skagit Holiday Classic and look to replicate that result as they focus on a deep tournament run.
"It's really exciting to be back at the tournament," said Vining. "We have seen Big Bend; they are a great team. We [beat them before] in Skagit and, being able to play a team that we've already faced, I'm hoping we can prepare better for our first opponent at the tournament."
The Lady Clippers take on the Big Bend Vikings at Columbia Basin's Holden Court on March 5 at 2 p.m. in Pasco, Wash. Tickets are available for purchase and the games will be livestreamed on NWAC Sports Network's website. The livestreams are available for purchase for $14 a game or $35 for the entire women's tournament.
For more information about Clipper Athletics, be sure to visit www.spsccathletics.com.