Bounceback.
That was the buzzword around the Auburn Riverside girls basketball team for a week after it missed an opportunity to claim sole possession of the North Puget Sound League Olympic Division championship.
Senior guard McKenzi Williams scored a game-high 23 points as the Ravens avenged an earlier loss to Todd Beamer with a 51-41 win Tuesday night at Auburn Mountainview.
“The environment last time at Beamer really stunned us … and it had us nitpicking at each other,” said Williams, referring to a 58-41 loss Jan. 24. “This game we weren’t having any of that. I think that let us set the tempo.”
Williams’ classmate, guard Olivia Denton, shared similar sentiments.
“That 17-point loss motivated us for sure,” said Denton, who finished with 15 points. “That was embarrassing, so we weren’t going to come out like that again.”
The Ravens, who claimed the No. 1 seed out of the Olympic, and host Kentlake at 5:30 p.m. Saturday for the NPSL top seed into next week’s West Central/Southwest bi-district tournament, ensured that would be the case from the start. Auburn Riverside (16-5) never trailed as it limited the Titans to just four points during the first quarter.
“That’s Riverside basketball,” Williams said. “Defense is the biggest part of our game.”
Coach Christian Miller said work remains. After all, his team surrendered 23 offensive rebounds. But overall, he said, he was happy with the Ravens’ defensive performance.
“I’m really happy with our defensive energy,” Miller said. “Basketball is so much about who wants it – and our girls really wanted it.”
He also noted that, unlike the previous contest, his team was healthy. Several of the Ravens’ top players, including Denton and Williams, battled the flu during their previous meeting against Todd Beamer.
“As a team, we felt so much better,” Miller said. “It kind of reassured us that we could play with – and beat – good teams.”
Denton also was more aggressive on the offensive end in the rematch. After missing from long range, she collected her own rebound and then hit a 3-pointer. That gave the Ravens a 21-6 lead with 5:38 remaining in the second quarter.
Miller said he encourages Denton to have an aggressive mindset on offense.
“You’ve got to play free,” he said. “We’ll never constrict our girls. They’ll never get yelled at for taking a shot.”
Denton said that mentality is not only important for herself, but also for the team.
“I feel like once I lose confidence in myself, the team starts to lose confidence – and everything starts to break down,” she said.
That confidence carried Auburn Riverside down the stretch. After maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the second half, the Titans (18-3) reduced their deficit to 48-41 on a jumper by junior post Makenzie Bond with 2:16 remaining in the game. But the Ravens converted 3 of 4 free throws from that point to secure the victory.
Now, they have another opportunity to play the Falcons (19-2). Kentlake won the previous game between the teams, 41-37, on Dec. 10.
“We have been looking forward to it,” Williams said. “It’s going to be good to see them again.”
Elsewhere
Auburn Mountainview (12-8) also qualified for the league tournament. The Lions host Tahoma at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
