The Evergreen Lutheran girls' basketball team made its eighth consecutive date to state official with a 35-28 winner-to-state, loser-out 2010 Class 2B Tri-District basketball victory against the Bear Creek Grizzlies of Redmond on the floor of the Four Seasons Center at the campus of the Chief Leschi Schools.

The Eagles moved on to a Saturday game for the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds to state from Tri-District.

"No team from Tri-District has ever won eight straight berths at state," stated a pleased Eagle head coach Jeff Kurbis. "I'm proud of the girls. this is a great feat for any school. The girls really wanted it and had to play well."

Evergreen Lutheran (18-6) controlled the the action for most of the game with pressure defense and up tempo offense and lead 29-19 after Caty Poetter's running shot went through the rim with 4:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The scrappy Grizzlies had fought back to keep from being sent to hibernation throughout the game. On this occasion, Bear Creek rose again to trim the margin to 29-25 with 2:27 left. A pair of converted free throws and a Megume Poetter down the lane hoop stretched the Eagle advantage back to ten points, but Megan Cheever scored from inside ahead of Nikki Peterson's conversion of the first chance on a penalty free throw situation. The Eagles from Des Moines snared the rebound and called time out to set up and inbounds play with 40.5 seconds showing.

According to Kurbis, the inbounds play had two options based on the response by the Grizzly defenders.

"They had to come put pressure on us," explained Kurbis. "If they played one way, we'd pass the ball all the way around and kick it out on top. Another reaction would give us a wide open path to basket."

When the defensive pressure on the inbounds overplayed to the outside, Megume Poetter had plenty of room to roam for any easy layup that brought the curtain down on another season that would end with a sojourn at state.

"We just looked to see what they would do," said Megume Poetter who finished with a game high 11 points to go with nine rebounds. "It turned out that the play broke wide open. Each time they got closer, we just had to work harder."

For senior Melanie Laete, the greatness of this event was obvious after the perilous journey that included a tough win at Orcas Island and an emotional loss to Tacoma Baptist before the defeat of Bear Creek.

"It was really great to win," she acknowledged after scoring 10 points and recovering 10 caroms. "None of us, especially the seniors, wanted to end the season today. We had to slow ourselves down a little and take control of the game."

In the beginning, Evergreen Lutheran created the climate and the lead with good defense against a truly tentative Grizzly squad while rolling to seven consecutive first quarter points after trailing 3-0.

While the Bear Creek shooting selection produced little offense, the Eagles revved up their defense and quickened the up and down court pace. Megume Poetter's three-pointer from downtown extended Evergreen Lutheran's margin of dominance to 14-5. That margin turned into 16-6 by halftime.

As the Eagles escalated the pace, Caty Poetter, Megume Poetter and Laete helped Evergreen Lutheran scramble to 21-8 lead midway through the third quarter only to see Bear Creek close within 21-12 after three quarters.

The Grizzlies were within six points early in the fourth quarter before the Eagles pulled away again. Megume Poetter and Erika Herman combined for four consecutive points, sending EL ahead 27-17. Bear Creek scored a field goal to lead into the frantic, closing minutes.

Tri-District 2B players for Evergreen Lutheran are Caty Poetter, Amanda Meyer, Markelle Lance, Kailey Fuegmann, Erica hansen, Megume Poetter, Erika Herman, Ally Addleman, Melanie Laete, Lindsay Sandwith, Katie Weber and Heather Schmeichel.

Head coach Jeff Kurbis is assisted by Nathan Quick and Mark Schewe.