La Conner tops century mark at Darrington

The powerhouse La Conner High School girls’ basketball team (13-1 overall) is becoming as much a threat to the electric grid as extreme winter weather.

The explosive Lady Braves are threatening to short out scoreboards in area gyms with their frenzied point production of late, having broken the century mark in successive matchups with NW2B/1B foes this month.

The team followed up a 104-14 rout of Concrete earlier in January with a 108-18 romp over Darrington last Thursday.

Between those lopsided triumphs, they defeated 1A programs Klahowya and Meridian and narrowly lost 45-43 at 4A Eastlake.

“The girls came out and played well from start to finish,” head coach Scott Novak said after the rare Thursday tipoff. “They had great ball movement on offense and good pressure on defense.”

That has been a familiar and successful formula this season.

It translated into 27 assists, 39 steals and just six turnovers Jan. 20.

“It was a good all-around team win,” said Novak, noting that eight players landed in the scoring column.

Sarah Cook paced the victors, nearly completing a rare triple-double as she finished with a game-high 26 points, nine assists and nine steals.

Juna Swanson added 25 points, all before halftime, as Novak substituted frequently once the outcome was well in hand –early, with insurmountable 39-5 first period lead.

Swanson, a Pacific University signee, also recorded four assists and six steals in limited duty.

Ellalee Wortham (14), Josie Harper (11) and Ellie Marble (10) were also double-figures. Wortham chipped in six steals while Harper added four steals and four assists. Marble collected six rebounds, four assists and a half-dozen steals.

Rachel Cram, a Carroll College recruit, dished off a game-best 10 assists to go along with eight points and six steals.

Eighth grader Maeve McCormick (8) and Aubrie Sloniker (6) rounded out La Conner’s scoring.

Crossed Meridian, 52-33 win

The Lady Braves were coming off an impressive 52-33 victory over Meridian two nights earlier.

La Conner broke open a tight contest with a 17-7 second quarter spurt enroute to a 28-16 lead at the break.

“Once again,” Novak told the Weekly News, “the girls played outstanding team defense and they took care of the basketball on offense.”

Harper led with 18 points and six steals. Cook contributed 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Lady Braves led just 11-9 after the first frame. After leading by 12 points at the outset of the second half, its margin was trimmed to 35-27 entering the final stanza.

“Meridian,” Novak explained, “is a very good team and they made us work for everything. But the girls came through offensively when they had to. It was a nice win for us.”

Defensively, Harper notched six steals. Marble (10), Cook (8) and Swanson (5) combined for 23 rebounds.

The quick 48-hour turnaround from hosting Meridian Jan. 18 to facing Darrington Thursday was the result of scheduling necessitated by a shortage of game officials. Teams are being asked to slate more weeknight contests to reduce the number of Friday night games requiring officials.

La Conner, 7-0 in league play, is bracing for a busy week ahead.

Scheduled at Friday Harbor last night, the Lady Braves have another key non-conference test tonight (Wednesday) when they visit 4A Skyline for a 7:15 p.m. tipoff.

They stay on the road for games Friday (4:30 p.m.) at Orcas Island and Saturday (3 p.m.) at Mount Vernon Christian.