Riverside girls grab fourth consecutive district title with 72-65 win over Bellarmine Prep | Girls Basketball

Published 12:43 pm Saturday, February 27, 2010

For the fourth consecutive year the Auburn Riverside girls basketball team are the West Central District III champions.

The No. 1 ranked Ravens (25-0) captured the 4A title this past Friday night at the West Central District III 4A tourney at the Showare Center in Kent, defeating Bellarmine Prep (18-6) 72-65.

“It was definitely a tough game,” Raven coach Terrance Johnson said. “Bellarmine Prep are talented, as good a team as we’ve played. They’re athletic and quick. Probably the fastest team we’ve played this year. There were lots of challenges for the girls but they found a way to win.”

Riverside shot out to a 17-7 lead in the first quarter before allowing the Lions to climb back into the game, at one point pulling ahead of the Ravens in the fourth quarter.

Auburn Riverside remained composed and pulled away in the fourth quarter capturing the No. 1 seed into this weekend’s Washington State 4A Girls Basketball Tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

University of Washington-bound senior Mercedes Wetmore finished the game with 28 points, five rebounds and four assists. Junior Kat Cooper added 20 points and Brooklyn Hinkens had 16 points.

“I think it’s important to know we can compete against good teams,” Johnson said. “Going into districts we were not looking back at the regular season or ahead to state. The kids have really been focused.”

Johnson said he and the team are excited and ready to begin their final run at a state title.

“These kids are completely focused they’re not worried about the past or future,” he said. “They’re locked in and excited to play.”

The Ravens open up state tourney action at noon Wednesday against Edmonds-Woodway at the Tacoma Dome.