WENATCHEE — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors kept their bid in the state tournament alive after earning a 53-41 victory over Muckleshoot Tribal in the second round of the 1B state tournament. The Warriors prepare for the Round of 12 in Spokane as they work their way towards a state title. 

“Oh, we’re pumped,” said Warriors junior Crace Okamoto. “We’re excited to play in the arena and we’re going to give it all we’ve got.” 

The Warriors had a dominant first quarter against Muckleshoot as they kept up high pressure on defense to keep possession of the ball. Their aggression at the net allowed ACH to gain a seven-point lead at the end of the first eight minutes.  

The second quarter echoed the first as ACH maintained possession of the ball throughout while preventing Muckleshoot any opportunities to score. By the end of the half the Warriors held a commanding 25-12 lead. 

Coming back from halftime, both teams began to find more success offensively as Muckleshoot earned double-digit points for the first time in the game. The Warriors stayed ahead of the competition to lead by 17 at the end of the third quarter.  

Muckleshoot found more success in the fourth quarter as they had the highest scoring quarter of the game, cutting into ACH’s lead. The Warriors remained vigilant and with another 12 points on the board claimed victory to move on to the next round of competition. 

Naomi Molitor, a senior from ACH, led the team on offense scoring 15 points in the team victory. Warriors' sophomore Mallory Isaak was close behind with 13 points scored, followed by Okamoto and senior Emma Brummett with 10 points each. 

Okamoto said she felt the Warriors’ control of the first half contributed to their success throughout the remainder of the game as they maintained their momentum.  

“I feel like we matched their intensity and we matched their physicality, and it helped us get the win,” ACH senior Emily Evers said. 

Evers said the team is going to use the energy that they built up in Saturday’s game to help find success as they work through the next week of competition. 

“I think we’re going to focus on the fundamentals and just use what we know from past games,” she said. 

Warriors Head Coach Nikki Strock said the mindset for the girls coming into Saturday’s matchup was recognizing that it was lose-and-be-eliminated from the tournament. She wanted the girls to go out on the court and give everything they had. 

“It was really cool to see some girls step up and do what they did tonight,” said Strock. 

Throughout Saturday’s matchup, the coach said she saw that the Warriors brought the right energy onto the court, which allowed their defense to create opportunities for points.  

“Energy is just one of the things that transforms our game,” she said.  

ACH is excited to earn the late season victory and play in the Spokane arena to continue their bid at a state title, said Strock. As the team prepares for their next matchup, she wants the Warriors to recognize how well their discipline aided them in their victory and if they play like they did against Muckleshoot, they will find success against their next opponent, Lummi Nation. 

“They are very talented and very quick,” said the coach. “We have to come out with a defense that can stop their guard offense.” 

The Warriors’ next game will be March 4 at 9 p.m. in Spokane as they face Lummi Nation in the Round of 12 of the state tournament. 

BOX SCORE 

MCKL: 7-5-12-17: 41 

ACHW: 14-11-16-12: 53 

    ACH senior Emily Evers passes the ball over to an open teammate in the second round of the state tournament against Muckleshoot.
  

    Mallory Isaak, a sophomore from the Warriors dribbles the ball along the side of the court towards the hoop against Muckleshoot Saturday afternoon.
  

    Naomi Molitor, a senior from ACH, takes a three-point shot during Saturday’s matchup against Muckleshoot in the state tourney.
  

    Warriors senior Emma Brummett goes for two with pressure from Muckleshoot defenders during the state tournament.
  

    Peyton Roberts, a senior from ACH, gets ready to make a free throw during Saturday’s game against Muckleshoot.