Issaquah rolls over short-handed Kentridge into the 4A quarterfinals
Despite a 20-6 record and their No. 5 ranking coming into the Hardwood Classic, the Kentridge girls basketball team had the feel of an underdog playing without senior post Jordyn Jenkins, who has been out since late December with a torn ACL.
Without Jenkins, the Chargers were forced to become more reliant on their outside shooting. Unfortunately for them, those shots weren’t falling in Wednesday’s 57-35 loss to No. 12 Issaquah in a 4A loser-out game.
Kentridge shot just 14-for-52 (26.9 percent) for the game, and 1-for-15 (6.7 percent) from 3-point range in the loss. The Chargers lone 3-point field goal didn’t come until the game’s final minute when the outcome was no longer in doubt.
“With Jordyn being gone, we have to depend on our shooting from the outside a little bit more,” Kentridge head coach Brad McDowell said. “When that shooting doesn’t go down or get us close to getting a rebound, it’s a tough night for us usually.”
Though the Chargers have had just over two months to get used to playing without Jenkins, her presence on the floor, especially in the paint, can’t be replaced. That loss is magnified that much more on the state-tournament stage.
“It’s drastic,” McDowell said of playing without Jenkins. “Every team at this level, is one, really good, and two, they usually have a couple of go-to players. I have a couple of players, but if its guards and no posts, or one or the other, it’s a little bit harder. You can pinpoint who to defend a little bit more, who to close out on, or who to double team at different times. Without Jordyn, it’s tough.”
It was tough on Jenkins to have to watch her teammates from the bench as well.
“I can see them out there and I know that they need me,” Jenkins said. “It humbled me in a way, because I’m even more grateful for basketball now.”
Junior Martina Lam had 14 points to lead the Chargers. Senior Kiernen Denckla added 10.
The Eagles were very balanced on the offensive end, with 10 of their 12 players scoring. Junior Alivia Stephens led the way with 14 points. Junior Camryn Gibson added 11 and senior Katie Macnary had 10.
“That’s our team,” Issaquah head coach Doug Crandall said. “I really do think we’re tough to scout because we’ve got eight or nine players that can score.”
The Eagles will face No. 3 Central Valley at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
“They’re really good,” Crandall said. “We know that. We’ll go watch some stuff tonight. This is what the Dome is all about, game after game. We know we’re playing a really good team.”
At Tacoma Dome
Issaquah 15 6 18 18 - 57
Kentridge 7 8 6 14 - 35
Issaquah – Camryn Gibson 11, Keira Hanson 7, Lauren Frueh 3, Alivia Stephens 14, Katie Macnary 10, Azra Sunderland 2, Erin Schobbe 1, Shea Dillon 3, Kiera Slippern 0, Mercedes Tinder 4, Hannah Cameron 2, Katie Kellum 0. Kentridge – Amerie Pastores 0, Kiernen Denckla 10, Daylani Ballena 4, Martina Lam 14 Naomi Hall-Schiffner 4, Delaney Starr 3, Tory Esperanza 0, Ali Fullingim 0, Karissa Geyer 0, Trinity Schanbeck 0, Makenna LaMarr 0.