DW Girls bow out of tournament

GRANGER–Dayton-Waitsburg faced the DeSales Lady Irish last Tuesday in Eastern Washington Athletic Conference tournament play, losing 60-43 and dropping out of further post-season play.

Dayton-Waitsburg opened the tournament as No. 4, facing the No. 1 TriCities Prep at Columbia H. S. on Monday, February 10, dropping that game 71-20. The game had been originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8 at Granger, but was rescheduled due to impassible roads caused by recent flooding.

In the tournament, Columbia and TriCities Prep have advanced to the championship game on Monday, February 17. Columbia downed Kittitas 76-28 and Mabton 57-34 to advance, and TCP beat DW and White Swan 53-29.

DeSales faces Mabton Feb. 13 and Kittitas plays White Swan. Both winners will play Feb. 17 and will be among the top four advancing to regionals.

Details of the DeSales game were unavailable as of press deadline.

The Lady D-Dubs took the floor against TriCities Prep, but were not adequately psyched up for the game, according to Head Coach Tamira Culley.

“TCP came out strong and we stepped back instead of stepping up to the challenge,” she said. “We did not take care of the ball or aggressively attack the basket.”

Claudia Benavides led DW scorers with nine points, and Kira Boggs “played with a lot of heart and made things happen when nobody else would,” Culley said.

TriCities Prep 71, Dayton-Waitsburg 20 (2/10)

DW 8 4 3 5-20

TCP 21 17 14 19-71

DW: Laughery 3, Larsen 2, Boggs 6, Benavides 9.

3s: Laughery. FT: Benavides. Rebounds: 24. Turnovers: 46. Fouls: 7

TC Prep: Landram 2, Brandner 7, Chang 9, Ghirardo 5, Dickson 6, Balcom 5, Mortenson 3, Boothe 4, Martinez 17, Monteon 8, Long 5.

3s: Brandner, Mortenson, Martinez, Monteon 2, Long. FT: Chang, Ghirardo, Balcom. Rebounds: 29. Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 12.