YAKIMA – It won’t be a three-peat for the Pioneers who came out hot, cooled off in the second, got within one point in the fourth, but ultimately dropped the 1A state playoff game against Naches Valley 41-37.
Junior center Grace DeHoog was a force throughout the game, as she totaled 12 points and 14 rebounds, but fouled out of the game with 3:12 left to go. She had picked up her fourth foul three minutes earlier.
Despite turning the ball over 24 times, Nooksack Valley was in the game until the final buzzer. The Rangers turned the ball over just 10 times.
Junior guard Payton Bartl shot 5-for-9 from the field and finished with a team-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists.
She also drained two free throws with 5:56 left in the game, which brought the Pioneers within one point, 34-33.
Nooksack Valley’s season comes to an end with a record of 17-9.
Naches Valley 41, Nooksack Valley 37
NOO 14 6 9 8 - 37
NAC 13 11 8 9 - 41
Nooksack Valley: Shintaffer 4, Bartl 16, Davis 3, Duque 0, Burke 2, DeHoog 12.
Naches Valley: N/A
