An Okanogan girls’ basketball team finished second at the Fire and Fall Back tournament July 17-19 at The Warehouse in Spokane.
     Okanogan opened with a 36-34 win over Hockinson from Vancouver, a class 2A school.
     Coach Gary Smith said his team trailed by as many as 10 points but started hitting its shots in the final five minutes.
     On the second day, Okanogan edged Tonasket when eighth-grader Kara Staggs sank a long three-pointer at the buzzer.
     Smith said the teams traded the lead often, with neither side getting much advantage.
     Tonasket made a basket with 4.5 seconds to go to lead by one.
     Okanogan inbounded the ball up the sidelines, with
Staggs taking a couple dribbles over half court before shooting the winning trey.
     The two victories assured Okanogan first place in its pool and a berth into the playoffs, Smith said.
     But first the team had to play Shadle Park, which prevailed in triple overtime.
     Smith said teams often brought in players as they progressed through the tournament.
     “All of a sudden they were better,” Smith said of Shadle Park.
     On the final day, Okanogan blasted Mountview 46-21.
     That set up a rematch with Hockinson in the championship, where Okanogan fell behind and could never challenge the rest of the way in a 36-24 loss.
     Okanogan finished 23-5 in games this summer with a team that competed at times with five eighth-graders, three transfer students and members of last year’s high school team.
     “We had quite a mix,” Smith said.
     Team members in Spokane included Teddi Reese, Carly Harris, Kailey Harris, Jameka Townsend, Meagan Parks, Caitlyn Behymer, Kristen Elsea, Morgan Kerr and Kara Staggs.