February 21, 2012 @ 9:40 am
With an uncharacteristic slow start behind them, the Wilson Rams rallied behind the 21 points of Kevin Johnson but came up short, losing 65-62 to the Kennedy Catholic Lancers in the championship game of the 2012 West Central District 3A title game at the Showare Center in Kent on Monday afternoon.
“We recovered from that slow start but could not get it done in the end,” said fourth-year Ram head coach Dave Alwert of his team, which will advance to the sub-regionals at Rogers next Friday night against Lake Washington at 6 p.m.
Mitch Penner, the all-everything for Kennedy got the Lancers off to a quick start with 14 of his game-high 31 points as the Lancers opened up a 21-12 at the end of the first quarter. The Rams got back into it in the second quarter as Andraell Fountain and Ivy Smith combined for 13 points to cut the Kennedy lead to 32-27 at the half.
Wilson started the third quarter where they left off in the second with Phoenix Waters, Smith, and Fountain leading a charge to cut the Lancer lead to 50-48. With the Kennedy lead trimmed to two with two minutes left, Wilson missed three consecutive opportunities to get even or go ahead on
two turnovers and a missed jump shot by Smith.
Trailing by three with 12 seconds left, Smith leaned into a three-pointer and appeared to be hit, but no call was forthcoming as time ran out. The Narrows League 3A champs look forward to their matchup with Lake Washington on Friday night at Rogers.
“This game was a real challenge,” said Smith, as the talented freshman continued to impress as he has all year long.
“Our kids are tough as they have been all year long, they’ll bounce back from this,” added Alwert.
By Steve Mullen
