Lady Bombers fall short to the Braves - By Zakry Burch

    After the lady Bombers took on the Kennewick Lions the night before, they had to face the 18-1 Kamiakin Braves; the Kamiakin Braves are one of RHS's biggest rivals; between the two student sections and the fans, the atmosphere was like no other. I talked to senior Macie Milum about the team's game plan. “We just planned to play with full intensity,” Milum said. “We knew it would be a hard game, and playing at Kamiakin is always different. Both student sections are going crazy, which fuels the game even more.” The game started off with Kamiakin was the toss, but Richland’s Mackenzie Schulz scored the game's first points, Kamiakin’s Emaunii Smith answered right back with a two, then Richlands Kaya Chang scored a two to make the game 4-3 Bombers. Braves Emaunii Smith scores a two to tie the game up at 4-4. This game is already getting intense, with the two student sections chanting at each other. With a foul from Emaunii Smith, Mackenzie Schulz makes one of the two free throws, and the score is not 5-4 Braves. With the foul on Bombers Maya Rowe, the lady Braves makes one of the two free throws, and the game is back up to tie. Kamiakin’s Peyton Armand, the two-sport athlete, makes a three, and the Braves are back on top and a Kamiakin timeout. After the break, the Bombers have a two and are now down by one point, but the lady Braves answer right back, and they are back up by three points.

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    Kamiakin scores again, and that is the end of the first quarter. The Braves are up 12-7 over the lady Bombers. After the start of the second quarter, the Bombers score first Macie Milum with a big three to put the Bombers down by two. Bombers with the foul, and Emaunii Smith makes one of the two free throws. Foul on the Braves and Bombers Milum making one of two free throws, and the Bombers are now down by two points, but Emaunii Smith for the Braves hit a two, and the Bombers answer right back with a two. Richlands Schulz with another two and the game is tied up at fifteen timeout Bombers. After the break, the Bombers strike first again. Milum makes both of her free throws and puts them up by two points, which is the Bombers' first lead since early in the first quarter. But that doesn’t last long. Braves number three, Crimson Childs, with her first game point to tie the score up to 17. Bombers Milum hits a big three to take the lead once again, but Kamiakin hits a two, and that is the end of the first half Bombers with the lead over the Braves 20-19. After the half, Kamiakin comes out sting and scores twice to put the Braves up by 3 Bombers Kukes with the foul, and Lov Whitemarsh-Bass makes both of her free throws and puts them up by five points. Bombers Maya Rowe hits a two, and the Bombers are down by three. Richland’s Schulz hits both of her free throws, putting them down by one point, but the Braves Wertenberger hits a two, and the Bombers answer right back with a two. Kamiakin with the fold and Bombers Rowe makes one of two free throws and ties the game up, but not for long as the Braves hit a two to take the lead right back timeout Kamiakin.

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    Bombers answer first after the timeout and tie the game up. Foul on Kamiakin, and the Bombers still have the ball. Milum takes the lead with another two Bombers, but not for long as the Braves hit a two, and the game is tied back up. Braves lead the Bombers 34-31 at the end of the third quarter. The Braves hit a two, then the Bombers make two free throws, then Richland’s Milum hits a big three to take the lead, and that is the last lead the Bombers will have for the rest of the game Braves start to take this game into their own hands as they secure the victory over the Bombers 44-50. The Lady Braves were led by sophomore Emaunii Smith, who had 16 points, and Nicole Wertenberger, who had 14 points. The Lady Bombers were led by Macie Milum, who had 17 points, and Mackenzie Schulz, who had 18 points. I talked to Max Schuster, the announcer for Atomic TV, to get his perspective on the game. He said, “I think the Bombers stepped up to the occasion and played all four quarters.” Max also said, “You just have to play perfectly to beat the best team in the state.”

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