No. 11 Bellarmine Prep makes statement in 4A state regionals, secures return trip to Tacoma Dome
Bellarmine Prep posted a statement win in the Class 4A state regionals Saturday at Tacoma Community College.
The Lions, the No. 11 seed in this season’s state bracket, entered the afternoon needing a victory against visiting No. 14 Mount Si to secure the program’s sixth consecutive trip to the Tacoma Dome.
They made it clear from the opening possession their season wouldn’t end short of that goal.
“They didn’t want to just win, they wanted to make a statement,” Bellarmine coach Chelle Miller said.
The Lions never trailed, led by as many as 34 points in the second half, and had three scorers in double figures on the way to a decisive, 73-43, win over the Wildcats.
With the win, Bellarmine (21-7) advances to the opening round of the 4A state tournament Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome.
“We were really motivated,” Lions guard Keiara Curtis said of knowing the Lions needed one more win to return to the tournament site next week. “Even being ranked No. 11, knowing that we have played some of the top teams and stuck in the game with them and beat some of them, it just really allowed us to prove ourselves in this game.
“ … It really motivated us to just go out there and win. We wanted to go to the Dome so bad again. Last year, we lost to Camas in the first round, but now we want to go back and win it all.”
The Lions certainly seem ready to make a run.
They won 11 consecutive games in a no-loss January, including signature victories over Lincoln, the 3A Pierce County League champion and No. 5 seed in the 3A state bracket, 4A South Puget Sound League champion Sumner, the No. 5 seed in the 4A tournament, and No. 4 seed Eastlake during that stretch
They have a pair of wins this season against No. 16 seed Olympia, and topped No. 13 seed Decatur in a winner-to-state game earlier this month.
They’ve twice played both Camas (No. 2 seed in 4A) and Emerald Ridge (No. 8) to single digits this season.
Saturday, the Lions showed again they are a contender against every opponent.
Curtis scored the game’s first basket less than two minutes into the first quarter against Mount Si, sparking a 13-2 run to open the contest.
Bellarmine led 26-8 early in the second quarter following a Kiara Stone 3-pointer. The Wildcats went on a quick 10-0 run capped by a basket from Emma Sheeks with 3:43 left in the half to make it 26-18, but they never cut the lead to less than eight.
The Lions led 38-27 at the break following a pair of 3-pointers from Curtis late in the second quarter, and never lost the double-digit lead in the second half.
Curtis scored a game-high 30 points for the Lions, and added four assists and three steals. Stone added 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Keira Leingang had 10 points. Stella Wiggins added five points and 10 boards, and Taylor Teeple had six points, six rebounds and four assists.
“Everybody out there can hit shots,” Curtis said. “It’s just trusting each other that, when I pass the ball you’re going to hit that shot, and just playing together as a team.”
Bellarmine’s defense also limited the Wildcats throughout the contest, allowing only 10 baskets from the floor, including just one in the first 14-plus minutes of the second half. The Lions also caused 16 turnovers.
Grace Turley, who had a team-high 13 points, and Zada White, who added 11 points and six rebounds, were the only two players to reach double figures for the Wildcats.
Mount Si’s season ends at 16-11.
Bellarmine now looks ahead to the Tacoma Dome, where they will play another loser-out contest against the loser of Saturday evening’s regionals contest between No. 6 Davis and No. 3 Tahoma.
That opening-round game is set for 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.
“The girls are excited to be back there,” Miller said. “They loved being there last year, but they were like, ‘Coach, we were there one day, and then we were done.’ They’re like, ‘We don’t want to be there one day.’ So, they’re really motivated to come out on Wednesday and make another statement and keep playing.”
This story was originally published February 25, 2023 at 5:38 PM.
