Alexander’s late 3-pointer lifts No. 3 Beamer into 4A semifinals

What was so easy early became nearly impossible in the final minutes for the Todd Beamer High School girls basketball team.

It was scoring.

That is why Nia Alexander let out a yell, and vigorously pumped her fist when she sank the backbreaking 3-pointer late in the game.

It ended Skyview’s comeback bid — 40-35 — in the Class 4A state quarterfinals Thursday afternoon in the Tacoma Dome.

The third-ranked Titans (23-2) reached the state semifinals for the second consecutive season, and will face No. 1 Central Valley (26-0), a 47-39 winner over No. 2 Moses Lake, at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Alexander led Beamer with 11 points, and Makenna Woodfolk added 10. Ashlee Comastro led the eighth-ranked Storm (21-4) with 10 points.

Before Skyview even got off a shot, the Titans were up 10-0 in the first 1:58 — getting exactly what they wanted off their transition defense by forcing four turnovers in a row.

The lead grew to 19-6 early in the second quarter.

That is when Beamer stopped scoring.

And Skyview began creeping closer.

“That was our goal — make it a halfcourt game,” Skyview coach Jennifer Buscher said. “We dug ourselves a hole in that first half, and we could never get out. There were moments we were close … but we could never get out of it.”

Beamer helped along the way, going the final 6:29 of the first half without scoring.

And then just like that, the Titans forced four Skyview turnovers in the first three minutes of the second half, leading to two quick baskets.

“When offense isn’t going, pick it up on defense,” Beamer coach Corey Alexander said.

But the Titans opened the fourth quarter by missing their first five shots, and went on a 4:59 scoring drought.

Hanna VanNortwick’s 3-pointer at the top of the arc cut Beamer’s lead to 35-33 with 2:28 remaining.

A minute later, Nia Alexander got the ball on the left wing. She had been missing open looks all afternoon.

But she took another one. This one went down with 1:19 left.

“I was just happy because I was broke all game — not making my jumpers,” said Alexander, The News Tribune’s All Area girls player of the year. “I just had to keep shooting it.”

Jahpera McEachin made two free throws with 12.8 seconds remaining to sew it up — and set up a date against Central Valley.

“Once we got the first one out of the way, we will settle in,” Corey Alexander said. “All the jitters are out.”

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Alexander’s late 3-pointer lifts No. 3 Beamer into 4A semifinals."