Abby Kessi scores 21, but team gives game back to YC in fourth

By the end of the third period on Tuesday, everything seemed to be going the Lady Indians’ way in their Cowapa League playoff game with Yamhill-Carlton. Then it got ugly.

Scappoose’s Abby Kessi, a junior, had her best game of the season with 21 points—10 points more than the rest of the Lady Indians, and 11 points more than YC’s top scorer. But it wouldn’t quite be enough.

The two clubs had battled in an unforced-turnover-prone game all through the first half. Scappoose led by one at the end of the first period, and Kessi hit a three at the buzzer before halftime to give the Tribe the same margin.

The Lady Tigers couldn’t get the ball to drop in the third, even missing two free throws. Scappoose didn’t run away and hide, but still managed seven points and led by a comfortable eight, 26-18 going into the fourth quarter.

It all unravelled for Scappoose. YC went on a 7-0 run in the first half of the fourth to pull within one. Kessi stemmed the tide with two free throws. YC hit two, and then added a three to go in front. Another deuce seemed to seal the deal. Kessi responded with a two-pointer at the one minute mark and they trailed by two. YC missed the front end of a one and one, but Scappoose couldn’t respond. YC made two free throws, and Kessi duplicated that with 30 seconds left. Two Yamhill misses at the line gave Scappoose one more shot, but they never got the ball off.

Perhaps the only consolation for Scappoose was that they would miss the 6-plus hour bus trip to Brookings-Harbor on Saturday. YC made the trip and got clobbered, 55-26.

The Tribe suffered through an abysmal end to the league season, losing their last five games, including the playoffs. They’d beat YC in their first meeting, but lost to them twice in a week. They’d played second-place Seaside close in their first meeting but not their second. Injuries, illness and some internal problems had left Scappoose offensively strapped at times. They finished the year 6-16 and were 4-6 in league. The squad had dropped to 32nd in the rankings by the end.

Scoring:

Yamhill-Carlton 34, Scappoose 32

Yamhill 7 11 0 16—34

Scappoose 8 11 7 6—32

Yamhill-Carlton (34)—Kaylie Boschma 10, Ogden 7, O’Loughlin 6, Frank 5, Challinor 2, Davis 2.

Scappoose (34)—Abby Kessi 21, MacInnis 4, Updike 3, Keierleber 2, Vardanega 2, Courtney, Sykes.