Williams leads Lady Braves to big win over Lummi at home

She was the driving force behind the La Conner High School girls' basketball team's convincing 63-36 non-league home win over Lummi last Saturday.

But outside Landy James Gym, Kim Williams can't drive at all. The eighth grader is too young.

But Williams had license to motor down the lane and from baseline to baseline against the Lady Blackhawks, delivering a game-high 26 points, including a trio of outside treys.

Making her second career varsity start, Williams shot 11 of 22 from the floor and dished off a pair of assists. The team squared its season ledger at 1-1 after an opening night loss to 2A Anacortes Nov. 30.

"I'm very proud of the way the girls bounced back from a tough Thursday night, both the JV and varsity," La Conner head coach Joe Harper told the Weekly News afterward. "They all seemed to settle down a bit from their game one jitters."

In the team's debut with Anacortes, a 47-26 home defeat, early foul trouble led Harper to play as many as four eighth graders at a time.

Youth wasn't a factor opposite 1B Lummi as La Conner sealed the triumph with a dominant 39-18 second half run.

Williams scored 19 of her points, including her three-pointers, after the break.

"She was fantastic," Harper said. "It's amazing how calm, collected and consistent she is. She just doesn't seem to get rattled."

The same could be said of Williams' teammates, Harper stressed.

La Conner co-captain Maeve McCormick also scored in double figures, with 16 points, 10 in the fourth quarter. Her co- captain, Shaniquah Casey, scored eight points and led the victors with three assists.

Eighth grader Nora McCormick matched Casey with eight points. Eighth graders Jackie Lam (3) and Kiana Jenkins (2) also scored.

Lummi was paced by freshman point guard Jemma James, who drained three long three-pointers enroute to a 21-point effort. Center Zeta Landsom chipped in 10 points.

La Conner held Lummi to just four points in the fourth quarter.

Harper was pleased with the team's bounce back effort against Lummi.

"We're asking a lot of these young women," he said. "Co-captains Shaniquah Casey and Maeve McCormick are just sophomores and they are being tasked with leading this young and inexperienced group.

"Having six eighth graders on a varsity roster isn't at all normal," Harper noted, "and we've had times when we've had four on the floor at once.

"I think they understand that we'll have challenges and possible inconsistencies along the way," Harper acknowledged, "but at the same time we have a very bright future here."

Harper said that what perhaps pleased him the most about Saturday was being able to find playing time for his entire roster.

"It was a great all-around team win and they were all happy for each other," he said.

The Lady Braves, traveled to 1A Mount Baker on Monday and visited NW2B/1B rival Orcas Island last night. They return home Friday for a 7:15 p.m. non-conference tipoff opposite Sultan. On Saturday they play a 5:30 p.m. non-league contest at Kingston.