SPOKANE — Just short.
Neah Bay’s attempt at finishing a school-best third place in the Class 1B girls basketball state tournament came up shy in a 75-72 double-overtime loss to the Republic Tigers on Saturday at Spokane Arena.
Instead, the Red Devils (19-3) finish fifth.
Neah Bay had two good looks at the basket from the right side in 3-point range in the game’s waning moments.
Jessica Greene’s attempt with less than 10 seconds remaining looked good upon release but caught the right side of the iron, but the ball went out of bounds off Republic (26-1) with 4.2 seconds to play.
Tristin Johnson then inbounded the ball on the right baseline and found an open Kaela Tyler for a potential game tying trey, but the shot was short at the buzzer.
“Nobody loses a game like that,” Red Devils coach Tony McCaulley said.
“We struggled down the stretch a little, but we played as good as we can today. I was happy with the effort.
“We played hard, they played hard. They hit a couple big shots.”
Both teams looked tired from the start, with Neah Bay hitting just 5 of 34 shots in the first half and the Tigers connecting on 11 of 28 from the floor.
The Red Devils’ strong free-throw shooting kept them in the game, but they trailed 29-24 at halftime.
Neah Bay warmed up in the third period, knocking down 8 of 16 shots, including five 3-pointers.
Faye Chartraw had two triples and two old-fashioned three-point plays for 12 of her game-high 30 points and helping the Red Devils to a 46-44 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.
Chartraw was able to consistently get to the free-throw line and took advantage, hitting 10 of 11 for Neah Bay. She finished with a double-double by grabbing 11 rebounds.
A Gina McCaulley-banked 3 appeared to put Republic on the ropes, with Neah Bay up 51-46 with 4:55 to play, but the Tigers rattled off a quick 6-0 run for a 52-51 lead with 3:56 to go.
McCaulley hit another 3 and Tyler added a layup for a 56-52 Red Devils lead with 2:41 to play.
But Neah Bay couldn’t close it out in regulation, committing a host of turnovers and allowing Republic’s Shaniya Graham to hit an NBA-range 3 to tie the score at 56-all with 10 seconds left.
Tristin Johnson was fouled by Republic, but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 situation and the game headed to overtime.
A 3 by Tyler put Neah Bay ahead 63-61, and after a five-point run by Republic’s Carlie Rittel, Tyler sank two pressure-packed free throws to send the game to double overtime at 66-all.
Graham hit a corner three to put the Tigers up 71-68.
Graham, the Tigers’ leading scorer, had been held in check before hitting the game-tying shot in regulation. But after Republic post Sierra McQuay fouled out early in the first overtime, Graham became a major factor.
“We kind of let the Graham girl make some plays at the end,” McCaulley said.
Graham scored 17 of her team-high 23 points after halftime.
But Neah Bay wasn’t finished.
After free throws by both teams, Tyler found Chartraw in the post to tie the game at 72-all with less than a minute left.
Tyler was then called for a questionable reaching foul on Savannah Bowe, who put the Tigers up for good.
“It was tough,” McCaulley said. “We lost Gina [who fouled out] and we had a little trouble handling the ball there down the stretch.”
Gina McCaulley finished with 14 points on 4 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc.
“We had a couple of fouls that were a little questionable, like Kaela’s there, but I think it was officiated much better than [Friday against Colton].”
Tyler added 13 points and six rebounds.
It was the final game for Neah Bay seniors Chartraw, Tyler, Hailey Greene, Blaire Hill, Kiawnna Doherty and Jaylin Jimmicum.
“Just a great group of girls,” Tony McCaulley said.
“I can’t ask for more effort and heart than what they gave us today, and all season, really.”
The Red Devils finish the tournament with a 1-2 record. They opened state with a 53-38 win over Mary M. Knight on Thursday before becoming yet another victim to six-time defending champion Colton with a 63-23 loss Friday.
Republic 75, Neah Bay 72, 2OT
Republic 12 17 15 12 10 9— 75
Neah Bay 10 14 22 10 10 6— 72
Individual scoring
Republic (75)
Graham 23, McQuay 15, Bowe 11, C. Rittel 7, Koepke 6, K. Rittel 3.
Neah Bay (72)
Chartraw 30, McCaulley 14, Tyler 13, Hai. Greene 6, Hill 4, Johnson 3, Doherty 2, J. Greene, Hol. Greene, Halttunen.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
