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Lathrop's layup sends Gorilla girls on
Davenport eighth-grader Emalie Jacoby tries to turn defense into offense against Lake Roosevelt junior Carly Neddo. Jacoby scored 15 points and had the game-winning assist in the Gorillas' 45-43 win over the Raiders that secured a berth into the state tournament Saturday, Feb. 18.
WENATCHEE - A wild final offensive possession for the Davenport girls ended as well as the Gorillas could've hoped: Freshman Clare Lathrop sunk a layup with 5 seconds on the clock to give Davenport a 45-43 win over the Lake Roosevelt Raiders in the District 6/7 2B Girls Crossover at Wenatchee High School Saturday, Feb. 18.
The win sent Davenport, which had clinched the No. 5 seed in District 7 with an overtime win over St. George's a week prior, into the opening round of the state tournament.
The entire game was a back-and-forth affair in which neither team led by more than six points. That lead was by the Raiders, who were led by Shyanne Marchand's three first quarter three-pointers to give the "home team" a 14-8 lead after eight minutes.
Davenport battled back in the second quarter behind the youthful duo of Lathrop, who had eight points and eight boards by halftime, and Emalie Jacoby, who had nine first-half points. The game was tied 20-20.
The slugfest continued in the third quarter, with neither team able to build a lead larger than four points. The Gorillas were in front heading into the fourth quarter, but barely: 33-31.
Back and forth went the Gorillas and Raiders in the final eight minutes. The game remained tied into the final 30 seconds, when head coach Stacia Soliday called timeout with the game knotted 43-43 and Davenport holding possession.
The ball came in to Glenna Soliday, who hit Jacoby on the left wing after the eighth-grader flared out from the post. Jacoby went around a Lathrop screen and initially looked for her post on the roll, but Jacoby's defender fell down, leaving her open for a three-point attempt.
Jacoby's try was too strong, but Jensyn Jacobsen was there for the rebound. The ball swung back around to Jacoby, who this time saw that Lathrop had the advantage inside.
Lathrop got possession on the lower block, turned and swished the short shot with 5 seconds remaining. Carly Neddo's game-winning three-point attempt hit the side of the rim and bounced out, and the game was the Gorillas' to celebrate.
"I was rushing a lot and that is one of my comfort moves, and I went to that," Lathrop said. "I was able to make it."
Davenport won another close game after three of its contests in the District 7 Tournament went to overtime.
"We just seemed calmer, for sure," Davenport head coach Stacia Soliday said. "It wasn't anything special we did offensively or defensively, but we didn't freak out, and for being young, I think that's good."
Lathrop finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Jacoby had 15 points and six rebounds, while Addie Schneider contributed eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Cylia St. Pierre led Lake Roosevelt with 15 points.
Davenport advanced to the opening round of the state tournament for the first time since 2019, when the Gorillas finished fifth.
"We are so happy," Lathrop said. "A bunch of the girls were crying and we were all so happy because no one thought that we would make it, and we have."
The girls will be on the road for the first round against Raymond Saturday, Feb. 25 in a loser-out game. A victory would send Davenport to a game at the Spokane Arena the following Wednesday.
Tip-off against Raymond is scheduled for 2 p.m. from W.F. West High School in Chehalis.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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