Hot-shooting Chelan downs Tiger girls

TONASKET – The 68-22 final score notwithstanding, Tonasket girls basketball coach Mike Larson was pleased with his team’s outing against Chelan, the second state title contender the Tigers faced in four days.

The Tigers stuck with the Goats for a little while, trailing 16-8 at one point in the first half. Chelan went on to blow the game open by hitting 7-of-9 3-pointers before halftime and shot 63 percent in the first half.

Still, Larson was pleased that his team didn’t suffer the self-inflicted wounds during Tuesday’s loss to Okanogan.

Chelan’s size and talent eventually won out, but Larson was pleased with how his team battled to the end.

“They never quit, even when it was late in the game,” he said. “As a coach, that’s all you can ask of your players, to keep digging, keep trying to accomplish the things we’ve been teaching them.

Kelly Cruz scored eight points and Amanda Johnson scored six to lead Tonasket.

The Tigers (1-5, 0-2 Caribou Trail League) hosted Brewster on Tuesday and travel to Cashmere on Friday, Dec. 21.