The Todd Beamer girls basketball team just keeps getting better and better. And that’s a pretty scary thought for the rest of the South Puget Sound League and state.
The Titans (17-4) went toe-to-toe with the top-ranked Mount Rainier Rams Thursday night in the SPSL Championship, losing a heart-breaker, 57-56. Despite the loss, seventh-ranked Beamer, who don’t start a senior, still proved that they can play with any team in the state. (SEE PHOTOS)
Thursday it was Mount Rainier’s twins, Brittany and Jordan McPhee, who proved too much for the Titans. The pair tallied all 17 of the Rams’ points in the fourth quarter to cap the come-from-behind victory and the SPSL’s top seed into the West Central/Southwest District Tournament.
Leading by one point, Jordan McPhee connected on two free throws with just 4.9 seconds remaining to put the Rams up 57-54. Beamer freshman Bria Rice converted a layup at the buzzer to finalize the score. Brittany McPhee finished with 2 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocked shots.
The fourth-quarter comeback by Mount Rainier came after the Titans led most of the game, thanks to the inside play of junior Megan Huff. The 6-foot-3 Huff finished with a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds and helped Beamer take a six-point lead with seven minutes to play in the game. Freshman Quinessa Caylao-Do added 13 points for Beamer.
Mount Rainier (20-1) hasn’t lost a game to a team from Washington this season. The Rams’ only loss came to national-power Oregon City in overtime. Beamer also lost to Oregon City over the Christmas break by six points.
The Titans, as the second seed from the SPSL, will host the programs’ first-ever district game on Tuesday night against the Gig Harbor Tides. Gig Harbor (8-11) finished fourth in the Narrows League. The winner will play again Friday in a winner-to-state game at Rogers. The Beamer girls have never played at a state tournament.
Federal Way
The Eagles will open up their West Central/Southwest District Tournament on the road against the Auburn Riverside Ravens at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the 16-team, double-elimination tournament.
Federal Way took on the Kentwood Conquerors Saturday at the SPSL Tournament. It was a battle between the two third-place teams from the SPSL North and South divisions. No results were reported.
The Ravens claimed the third seed from the SPSL after beating Puyallup Thursday at the ShoWare Center.
Check out a slideshow below from the Beamer-Mount Rainier game or click here.
