La Conner girls use grit to fight back against Ferndale

The La Conner High School girls' basketball team couldn't rebound from a slow start against 3A Ferndale in the season opener for both clubs at Landy James Gym Nov. 30.

The 2B Braves trailed 21-4 after the first quarter and fell behind 28-8 early in the second period before mounting a furious comeback bid that brought the hosts to within 35-32 midway through the third frame.

Ferndale closed with a 25-10 run to post a 60-42 victory.

Maeve McCormick led La Conner with 19 points, 15 in the second half, including three perimeter treys. Two McCormick three-pointers brought La Conner within three points of the lead at the 3:48 mark of the third quarter.

The hosts could get no closer.

McCormick's third trey briefly narrowed Ferndale's edge to 49-38 in the final stanza, but Ferndale outscored La Conner 11-4 the rest of the way.

Ferndale capitalized on La Conner turnovers and foul trouble that sidelined McCormick, starting point guard Shaniquah Casey and post Kiana Jenkins.

"It was a very slow start to the game and they were hot from three-point range right off the bat," La Conner head coach Joe Harper lamented afterward. "But I'm super proud of the girls for continuing to fight. The first and fourth quarters were bad, but our second and third quarters were solid."

Losing McCormick, Casey and Jenkins to fouls hurt La Conner.

"Foul trouble really hampered our ability to continue the comeback," said Harper. "I don't think I've been part of a game where we've had three girls foul out. Being down 20 points and closing the gap to three showed a lot of grit. There was no quit and the girls should be proud of the way they continued to battle."

Jenkins and Reese Bird scored seven points each. Abi Poulton added five more. Nora McCormick (2), Dela Damien (1) and Casey (1) rounded out the Braves' scoring.

La Conner faces yet another larger school foe with a 5:40 p.m. Wednesday tipoff at Mount Vernon High School.