BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

TACOMA - Nikki Miller and Ariell Garnett of Kennedy Catholic combined for nine points within the final sixty seconds of the fourth quarter to finally suppress a forceful Bonney Lake comeback in a 59-48 in a loser out game of the 3A WCD III/SWW IV girls bi-district basketball tournament.

The result on Mon., Feb. 16, at Franklin Pierce High School sent the Lancers into a Feb.18 loser-out, 6 p.m. game against Narrows League Central Kitsap at Washington High School.

Payton Mitchell's 3-pointer had dissipated nearly all of what had been a 17-point Lancer lead in the first half to bring the Panthers within 50-48 with 1:22 left on the game clock.

Kennedy Catholic worked the ball until Miller was clear to drain a corner 3-pointer from downtown with 56.2 seconds left.

After a Bonney Lake missed shot, the Lancers rebounded. Forced to foul with 35 second showing, the Panthers could only watch as Garnett swished home a pair of free throws. Miller's two free throws completed the games's scoring.

Any possible Bonney Lake hopes flowed away 13 second later when Garnett finished off her half court steal on a driving layup for the final score of the game.

KC began its assortment of steals in the first quarter with kick out passes for outside shots to run off six consecutive points and a 14-6 Lead.

Like well invested funds, the score kept reaping dividends and grew to 17 points after Kelsey Abrejera's first quarter ending 3-point goal that sent KC into the second quarter with a 17-10 lead.

Miller opened the quarter with a 3-pointer that was followed by an Ashley Cusack free throw and Miyu Miyashita's steal for a layup.

Abrejera followed with a basket that preceded her assist to Cusack as the Lancers established a 27-10 differential after running off 13 consecutive points that began with Abrejera's trey while the defense dictated the terms of engagement.

Kennedy Cstholic continued driving in and kicking the ball put, but shots started rimming out and the Bonney Lake fired off six consecutive points before Miyashita hit a 3-pointer, that was answered by Mitchell's three for a 30-19 Lancer halftime lead.

Diminishing returns, in part due to missed shots, helped the Panthers prowl for a 14-6 run in opening third quarter action.

With the score now 36-33 Miyashita stole the ball and converted a short, blind shot with her body pointing away from the basket. Kayla Seger popped home a basket from outside, but Garnett was fortunate to bank home an outside shot at the buzzer for a Kennedy Catholic 40-35 edge going into the final quarter.
Twice in the final quarter, Bonney Lake whittled its deficit to three points, including a 44-41 score midway through the quarter.

Abrejera's driving lay up and Garnett's two free throws enlarged the Lancer lead to 48-41, but the Lake struck back for four consecutive points until Garnett dropped home two free throws for a 50-45 lead as 1:31 was showing and the final seconds of the game ensued.

"Part of the problem was that we missed some shots," said Lancer head coach Greg Caldwell.

Earlier in the game, the Lancers from Burien had run a well conceived offense based on penetration and kick out passes.

When crunch time came, the guards penetrated to the basket instead of dishing off to other shooters.
"We just kept focusing on the many aspects and options we have," said Abrejera, who scored 11 points. "It was a matter of spreading out and using the clock. At the end the openings were there, so we took them."
Garnett finished with 18 points while Miyashita notched 13. Miller was also in double figures at 12 points.

Mitchell had a game-high 19 points for the Panthers.