Lady Braves earn share of league hoop title

Thursday was filled with crowning achievements for the La Conner High girls’ basketball team.

Sharing center stage with the University of Washington’s pep band, the Lady Braves also struck a chord with those gathered at Landy James Gym for special Senior Night festivities.

La Conner fashioned a convincing 60-20 triumph over Concrete, a rout that clinched co-league championship honors for the Lady Braves.

With the win, they also locked down a favorable seed and home court venue for this Friday’s District tournament bracket.

The Lady Braves, 16-4, will be part of a tourney twinbill also featuring the La Conner boys’ team, 15-5, which earned its own Valentine’s Day playoff date by edging Concrete on Thursday.

The Lady Braves definitely finished their regular campaign in style.

The hosts remained poised despite a relatively pedestrian start, carrying a soft 13-5 lead into the second period.

That’s when the Lady Braves hit the runway and took flight. La Conner went on a 20-4 run before halftime that pretty much decided matters.

Leading 33-9 at the break, La Conner head coach Scott Novak was able to empty his bench and divvy playing time.

But not before the regulars — many of them seniors — made their presence felt.

Katie McKnight led the victors with 14 points, hitting from multiple spots on the floor, including one jumper well beyond the trey arc.

Aubrey Stewart, doing most of her damage in the paint, joined McKnight in double digits with 12 points.

Anna Cook recorded eight points and the same number of rebounds in limited duty due to the lopsided score.

Siomi Bobb and Lauren Reynolds finished with seven points apiece. Bobb hit twice from behind the trey line and Reynolds worked inside for a team-high 10 rebounds, several off the offensive glass.

Nakiya Edwards chipped in four points, while Katie Novak, Nicole Henriksen, Heather Henricksen, and Sydney James added two points each for the winners.

La Conner closed with a 15-8 spurt in the final stanza.

“We had a bit of a slow start,” coach Novak said afterward, “but played really well after that.”

La Conner shot well from the floor, meshing 24 of 56 field goal attempts. That 43 percent clip wasn’t far off the 9-of-17, or 53 percent, effort the Lady Braves posted at the charity stripe.

In addition to their stifling halfcourt defense, the Lady Braves also limited transition opportunities for Concrete by committing just 13 turnovers.

“Anytime you have less than 15 turnovers and can limit your opponent to fewer than 10 points per quarter,” coach Novak said, “that bodes well.”

And should provide a nice springboard going forward.

Speaking of which, Novak adds, winners of Friday’s crucial District games qualify for Regional tourney berths.