The Cheney High girls basketball team just missed a perfect 3-0 finish in last week’s Eagle Holiday Classic at West Valley High School. The Lady Blackhawks knocked off Rogers and Lake Roosevelt, but came up just short of upsetting Idaho 4A Sandpoint in non-league action.
Cheney’s Maggie Smith enjoyed an offensive breakout during the three-day tournament, averaging 17.66 points per game. The Lady Blackhawks were also buoyed by the return of junior forward Haley Pemberton, who at 5-foot-11-inches was projected as a starter until sidelined with an ankle injury early in the season.
Cheney had little trouble in their Dec. 28 opener against Greater Spokane League 3A Rogers (1-9), opening a 32-8 halftime lead and cruising from there to the 66-22 win. Smith led all scorers with 20 points, 18 coming on six 3-pointers as the Lady Blackhawks hit nine shots from beyond the arc in the game. Holy Flynn added 12 points with Pemberton chipping in eight in her first game back.
Cheney had balanced scoring against the 6-3 Bulldogs from Idaho, but couldn’t contain Grace Kirscher. Kirscher poured in 30 points, with teammate Maddie Morgan adding 17, which was just enough to edge the Lady Blackhawks 60-57.
Smith led Cheney with 16 points, Shelby Draper added 12 and Hannah Lemelin had nine. Eight of Cheney’s 11 players entering the game scored while Sandpoint had five of 12 players getting into the scoring column.
Cheney finished the tournament with a convincing 74-49 win over Central Washington 2B Lake Roosevelt on Friday. The Lady Blackhawks used a 21-point second quarter to turn a 15-13 first-quarter lead into a 36-18 halftime advantage.
Pemberton led all scorers with 20 points, with Smith adding 17 and Lemelin 10.
Cheney goes to 5-4 overall, 1-1 in Great Northern League play. The Lady Blackhawks return to league action this week, hosting Pullman (0-2, 3-7) on Wednesday and traveling to second-place Clarkston (1-1, 6-2) Friday.
Cheney is ranked 20th in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s 2A RPI standings, while Clarkston is 21st. The RPI standings are produced through a formula including winning percentage, opponents winning percentage, opponents/opponents winning percentage and strength of schedule.
GNL leader East Valley (3-0, 10-0) is currently ranked No. 1.
Hawks’ Boxes
1 2 3 4 Total
Cheney 12 20 22 12 66
Rogers 4 4 9 5 22
Smith 20, B. Draper 4, Flynn 12, Lemelin 4, Huff 2, Pemberton 8, Loffredi 3, Potter 6, Evans 0, S. Draper 7, Singer 0, McGourin 0, Davis 0
1 2 3 4 Total
Cheney 33 0 8 16 57
Sandpoint 27 0 15 18 60
Smith 16, B. Draper 3, Flynn 2, Lemelin 9, Huff 2 Pemberton 2, Loffredi 6, Potter 5, Evans 0, S. Draper 12 Singer 0
1 2 3 4 Total
Lk. Roosevelt 13 5 19 12 49
Cheney 15 21 15 23 74
Smith 17, B. Draper 0, Flynn 6, Lemelin 10, Huff 9, Pemberton 20, Loffredi 2, Potter 1, Evans 0, S. Draper 0, Singer 0
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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