By TIM BOOTHAssociated Press Writer TACOMA, Wash. (AP) – Whatever the outcome, Garfield senior Malia O’Neal thought she would be crying after Saturday night’s Class 4A girls championship game. Instead, she couldn’t stop smiling. O’Neal scored five of her 17 points in overtime as Garfield won its first state title since 1987, rallying for a 63-58 win over Snohomish at the Tacoma Dome. It was Garfield’s second straight appearance in the state title game. The Bulldogs lost to Roosevelt of Seattle 55-52 in last year’s championship. “This year is so different than last year,” O’Neal said. “I knew we would come back. This team has that kind of character.” Tournament MVP Samantha Tinned added 14 points for Garfield (26-1), despite foul trouble that left her on the bench for most of the third quarter. She re-entered the game at the start of the fourth with Snohomish leading 42-38. Tinned scored twice to tie the score at 42 with 5:11 left, and scored eight points total in the quarter. The teams stayed even, trading baskets and free throws the final five minutes. Snohomish’s Sydney Benson made two free throws to put the Panthers up 54-52 with 47 seconds left, but O’Neal scored in the lane with 31.7 seconds left. Snohomish held the ball for a final shot, but could not get another attempt before the shot clock expired. In overtime, O’Neal made two free throws to give the Bulldogs a 58-56 lead. LaCale Pringle followed with a jumper, putting Garfield ahead for good at 60-56 with 1:13 left. Pringle finished with 13 points for Garfield. “We survived a storm,” Garfield coach Joyce Walker said. “Snohomish came in playing relaxed and we were the ones playing tense. They made us earn this game.” Benson led the Panthers (25-2) with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Emily Cassidy added 15 points. The Bulldogs previously won state titles in 1987 and 1980. Walker was a player on the 1980 Garfield team and still holds a number of state tournament records, including the single-game scoring record of 40 points. Snohomish had won 25 straight games. The Panthers avenged their only previous loss when they beat University of Spokane in Friday’s semifinals. University had beaten the Panthers 68-56 in the season opener.
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