Reardan girls finish fourth at districts

Season ends following loss to St. George's

Drew Lawson, The Times | Last updated Feb 25, 2022 9:2am0

Drew Lawson | The Times count

Reardan freshman MacKenzie Bjornberg attempts a jump shot Saturday. Reardan fell to St. George's 46-33 in the third-place game at the District 7 2B Tournament Saturday, Feb. 19.

SPOKANE VALLEY-After a last-second win in a loser-out game against Lind-Ritzville/Sprague two days prior to advance to the District 7 2B Tournament third place game, the Reardan girls basketball team came up one game short in its quest to make the state tournament against the St. George's Dragons 46-33 Saturday, Feb. 19.

Reardan spent the first half playing lockdown defense and forcing turnover after turnover while executing nearly every part of its offense...except making a shot.

While the team was terrific on defense, it couldn't seem to buy a layup while trailing 8-6 after a quarter and 16-12 at halftime.

Then, the Dragons began to connect on some threes and get easier shot attempts while Reardan continued to struggle at shot-making. St. George's went on a 17-2 run to take a 35-20 lead into the final quarter that would grow as high as 17 points.

"We didn't shoot the ball well start to finish, and you have to make shots to win," Reardan head coach Bob Swannack said. "Even though the saying is, 'all you have to get is one stop,' defensively we were really good all day, I thought. There were a lot of missed free throws and uncontested shots, and it comes down to the moment might be bigger than kids are able to play in...we left a lot on the table."

The win propelled St. George's into a regional loser-out game against Mabton at Davis High School in Yakima Feb. 25, while Reardan finished its first season under Swannack with a fourth-place league finish.

"I'm satisfied with the season. The kids played hard, and to start a program you have to get through these moments," Swannack said. "Hopefully it's a teaching moment for the girls."