Bombers Gets Handed an L by Braves - By Karina Silva

    Richland hosted Kamiakin as the two girls' basketball teams faced off for the first time this season. Mackenzie Schulz for the Bombers and Emaunii Smith for the Braves started the tip off. The Braves won the tip and began a strong 4-0 lead. Smith scored a quick two after the tip and came up with a quick block to Schulz after her drive. Another 2 points from Nicole Weternberger, a senior point guard for the Braves. Weternberger showed good defense against Richland’s offense. Schultz picked a foul, and Wetemberger went to the line and converted 2 of 2, making it a 6-0 run. Richland kept a slow start as time continued. The Kamiakin girls also had a good height advantage against Richland. At 5:47, Richland called a timeout. 

Photo: Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook)

    Kamiakin was favored to win, and they kept collecting the boards each possession, and Richland was struggling to box out. Kamiakin had 3 girls taller than Richland’s tallest player, so it seemed to play a role in rebound-wise.  Kylee Kukes had a good steal after the time out and did a good job by getting fouled. At 4:52, Richland still had not scored and struggled with shot selection. Kamiakin also went cold, not being able to score. By this time, Kamiakin had 2 blocks on Richland. Weternberger scored a 3-pointer to kill the drought from both teams. Richland finally scored after a bank shot by Makenzie Schulz at 3:34. Richland was forcing Kamiakin to make small mistakes while they had possession. Richland had a good look on a rebound but couldn't hold onto it, making it a turnover. Schulz had another hard layup and converted, making it 9-4. 

    Macie Milum, a senior from Richland, stole the ball after a good double team from Richland forced Kamikan to turn it over. Schulz again scored a midrange jumper, cutting the lead to just 3 with the 1st quarter winding down with a score of 9-6. Crimson Childs, a Junior from the Braves, got fouled and could cover both baskets. Wertenbeger led the charge on a fast break and was able to rack up 2 more for Kamiakin. Schulz had the hot hand and responded with a 3-pointer. The Bombers were good at forcing Kamikan to turnovers but couldn't convert when they possessed the ball. The 1st quarter ends with 13-9 Kamiakin up, both teams finishing strong.

Photo: Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook)

    The second quarter is preparing to start, and Kamiakin is with a bucket. Schulz was able to respond back with a 3 after a good rebound from Ryanne Stottlemyre from Richland. Schulz was doing it all with her aggressiveness and added 2 more, making it 15-14.  Every time Richland tried driving to the basket, it was swatted away from Kamiakin's defense. With 5:15 left till half, two of Kamikin's tallest players were out with foul trouble, allowing Richland to come up. Smith had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Braves, making it a 7-point lead. Schultz had all the Bombers' points with 16. Both teams had back-to-back turnovers on one possession, and Schultz had a good block on Peyton Arland from Kamiakin. Smith was unstoppable in the paint, being able to score. Schulz had 19 after scoring a three with less than ten seconds left in the game. Weternberger got fouled again and converted both shots, ending two quarters and into halftime, making it 27-19 with Kamiakin still leading. Finishing the half, Schulz had 16 points and nine rebounds for Richland, and Smith had 12 and 9 rebounds for Kamiakin. 

Photo: Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook)

    Entering the third, Kamiakin created a commanding 10-point lead, keeping Richland from getting anything with good defense and contesting shots. Milum scored for Richland, the first teammate other than Schulz to score. Weternberger got fouled on a tough shot and connected on the free throw, making it 34-22. Richland started to let the game go away, with Kamiakin coming out hot after the half, making Richland call a timeout to cool the momentum. Kamiakin was good at converting their free throws, while Richland couldn't convert at the line. Bombers continued to have a drought while Kamiakin scored on almost every possession, dominating the Bombers with their momentum and finishing the 3rd quarter; Kamiakin led 47-28.  The 4th quarter was hard for Richland to catch up, and fell to Kamiakin after the 4th quarter 63-42. I was able to talk to 2 people. Coach Westerfield for Richland. had words to say following the loss, stating that their shot selection and rebounding could've been improved, and they could not match up against Kamiakin. Another spectator I spoke to said that, hopefully, Mackenzie Schulz isn't the only girl who scores most of Richland’s points in the next game. The next game will be on Saturday, January 7th at Kennewick.

Photo: Madison Maxwell (RHS Yearbook)