Shorecrest Girls Make State, Face Cleveland in Opening Round, Thurs. March 1

The seniors on Shorecrest's girls basketball team have taken the program to another level the last four years, but in the 3A regionals it was a sophomore standout who stole the show at Jackson High School Saturday afternoon.

Shorecrest’s Onyie Chibuogwu scored a career and game-high 34 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, as the Scots got past Timberline 51-47 to advance to the state tournament in Tacoma.

The tournament draw at WIAA headquarters in Renton set up a rematch betweeen the Scots and Cleveland who played at state back in 2010 in the second round. Cleveland won and went on to win the 3A title that year defeating Holy Names in the championship game 47-44.

The game is at 5:30 p.m. Thurs. March 1, at the Tacoma Dome. The winner plays the winner of Kamiakin and Franklin, Friday March 2 at 7:15 p.m.

Shorecrest seniors Brianne Lasconia and Janie Uppinghouse usually shoulder the scoring load but against Timberline, who ousted the Scots from the postseason last year, it was the posts, especially Chibuogwu who stepped up.

Lasconia shook off a knee injury and came to play in the second half. 

Shorecrest led Timberline last year but had trouble containing post Sasha Weber late in the game. That didn't happen this time.