FIFE - Defense set up the final determination in Seamount 2A Tyee's 53-48 girls basketball triumph at SPSL 2A Fife on Friday, December 3, in the first half of a girls' and boys' non-league doubleheader.
"It was a good, hard fought game," said Totem head coach Wayne Severson.
"Our diamond press really startled them at the beginning. Then we mixed it up before using the press the entire fourth quarter. I don't know what happened in the second quarter, but Taylor McMillion kept us in the game with her steals. When she has a good game, our team flows smoothly."
After Fife called timeout with 1:37 showing on the scoreboard clock, Tyee inbounded from the side near half court and got the ball to senior guard Arinesha Smith who maneuvered into to position do deliver a three-point dagger from beyond the arc at the top of the key to send the Totems ahead 51-48 with 1:16 remaining.
Following a defensive stop, Tyee gained possession, but was unable to score. Emily Maiyo and McMillion each played smartly with four fouls to stay in the game the final two minutes. Fife threw the ball away with 34 seconds left and was forced to foul Smith who drained two free throws with 22 seconds in regulation to ice the game.
Playing with a swollen eye incurred in Tyee's previous game, Smith caught fire in the second half to finish with 28 points, including the game winners.
"The eye didn't bother me," said the confident Smith. "I just shoot when I have my shot because I know I can make it."
The Totems rushed out to an 8-2 lead in the first quarter thanks to solid defensive pressure. Working the ball inside, the Trojans eventually closed in to turn the battle into a back-and-forth affair for the duration of the game. Tyee held a 20-16 margin going into the second quarter.
Struggling offensively in the second quarter, the Totems fell, 27-24, by halftime. Although the Totems double teamed Fife's 6-foot, 2-inch senior Ciara Pedroni, the Trojans received great production from senior forward Toelui Ortquist.
Taylor McMillion shined on defense for Tyee, recording 10 first half steals while also showing power on rebounds.
Regaining momentum by virtue of returning to the pressing tactics, the inspired Totems tied the game at 27-27 before the squads entered the fourth quarter deadlocked at 37-all.
Tyee pressured the ball the entire fourth quarter, but was unable to break away from Fife as the torrid tussle continued. One final tie ensued at 48-48 with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as the prelude to the finale.
McMillion had a triple double by scoring 18 points to go along with 13 rebounds and 13 steals. Maiyo contributed six vital points.
"For the steals, it was timing," she said. "I was reading the guard and knew where she was going to pass it. Most of the rebounds, especially on offense, came to me because I was on the other side of where the missed shots came from."
According to coach Severson, the starting five of Monica Ouk, Kimberly Holguin, Smith, Mayo and McMillion are solid while the bench is still thin.
Pacing Fife were the 17 points from Ortquist and 12 points from Pedroni.
In the nightcap, the Tyee boys fell to Fife 57-46 despite a furious fourth quarter charge.
After trailing only 12-10 going into the second quarter, the Totems fell victim to turnovers and a sluggish offense while the Trojans rolled to an 18-6 quarter en route to a 30-16 halftime control.
With a full team effort, Fife forged further ahead to lead 44-24 after three quarters.
On the precipice of being blown away, Tyee refused to fold.
Behind Raheem Howard, Anthony Summers and Jacob Aleute, the Totems outscored the Trojans 22-13, but ran out of time to pull off the comeback from a 20 point deficit.
Howard notched a game-high 16 points while Summers scored 11. Aleute was also in double figures with 10.
Fife's scoring was spread around to more players. Teddy Hardy earned 13 Trojan points and was joined in double figures by Bryce Miller who scored 10. Travis Cox was next with nine points and Brock Carpenter added eight.
