La Conner hands Stanwood girls their first hoop loss

Bigger isn’t necessarily better.

The unbeaten state champion La Conner High School volleyball team proved that repeatedly in the fall, beating several bigger schools. Now the school’s girls’ basketball program is further emphasizing the point.

The NW2B leading Lady Braves (8-0 overall), with wins already this season over larger schools Lynden, Nooksack Valley and Anacortes, posted another statement win with an impressive 56-48 home game last Tuesday over previously undefeated 3A Stanwood.

It very well could be La Conner’s best victory to date, as among Stanwood’s victims this season was Everett High School, which has nearly 1,400 students.

La Conner was able to offset a strong outing by 6’-4” Stanwood junior center Vivienne Berrett by forcing 20 turnovers, knocking down key three-point shots and keeping the visitors off the free throw line.

“I feel like in the first half our full court pressure and team defense kept them off balance,” head coach Scott Novak told the Weekly News afterward.

The hosts also helped themselves by burying three first half treys to build a 32-19 lead at intermission.

One of those three-pointers was a jumper by Sarah Cook over Berrett.

With a 13-point lead, La Conner was able to withstand a second half Stanwood rally fueled by Berrett, who delivered 15 of her game-high 19 points over the final 16 minutes.

“At one point,” Novak noted, “we were up 43-27 but then went five successive possessions without scoring. Up to then, I thought we’d go up 20-22 points on them, but we couldn’t convert.”

Stanwood ended up narrowing the La Conner margin to 46-42.

“It wasn’t panic time,” Novak insisted. “We were able to make some key plays. Juna (Swanson) hit a big three-pointer and we were solid down the stretch.”

Cook led the victors with 18 points and four steals. Josie Harper contributed nine points and seven assists.

Swanson, Rachel Cram and Ellie Marble added eight points each. Swanson matched Harper with seven assists. Marble paced the team with 11 rebounds.

Ellalee Wortham rounded out the attack with five points.

La Conner dictated tempo from the outset with its pressure defense, doing so with little fouling, while bolting to a quick 16-7 lead.

“They only shot four free throws,” Novak said of the Lady Spartans. “It was a fairly clean game.”

Seizing command in the early going proved pivotal as Stanwood would mount its later comeback bid, one that would ultimately fall short.

“The girls responded down the stretch,” Novak said. “They showed great poise and toughness against a very talented team.”

They now get a break: Their Dec. 30 home game against Kamiak is canceled. A new date has not been set.

The Lady Braves resume NW2B action Jan. 4 at Coupeville, weather permitting.

La Conner sports a 4-0 league mark. Coupeville, which had its non-conference date with South Whidbey last week preempted due to COVID-19 protocols, is 3-1 in NW2B standings.

In a related note:

* The Dec. 30 boys high school basketball game with Auburn Adventist is also postponed. A new date has not been set.