By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Syesha Simanton scored a game-high 21 points as the Bellevue Wolverines advanced to the WIAA 3A girls state basketball championship game with a 51-47 victory over the Roosevelt Roughriders in a semifinal matchup Friday at the Tacoma Dome.
Despite the fast tempo early, both teams struggled to find their rhythm offensively, as the game remained scoreless for nearly four minutes. Roosevelt’s Giselle Dollar broke the drought with a three-pointer to give the Roughriders a 3-0 lead. Bellevue quickly responded when Trinity Palmer-Wilson scored on a layup and Nayvi Robinson converted a free throw to tie the game at 3.
Roosevelt’s Ellery Burke-Brown answered with a three-pointer to tie the score at 6 as the teams continued to trade baskets. The Roughriders briefly took an 8-6 advantage before Bellevue regained momentum late in the quarter. Dilynn Johnson converted a free throw and Iyla Jones finished with a basket just before the buzzer to give the Wolverines an 11-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the second quarter as both teams fought for control. Roosevelt briefly extended its lead after Burke-Brown and Emma Curtis combined for three early points to make it 15-11.
Bellevue responded behind Simanton, who scored inside to halt the Roughriders’ run. Roosevelt’s Dollar, Burke-Brown, and Sloane Sprangers each knocked down three-pointers to keep the pressure on, while Simanton countered with two three-pointers of her own and Jones added another from beyond the arc. When the half came to a close, Bellevue held a narrow 26-25 lead.
Simanton opened the second half with a basket to extend Bellevue’s lead to 28-25. Roosevelt’s defense responded by forcing a shot-clock violation, and Dollar followed with a three-pointer to tie the game at 30.
Simanton then sparked the Wolverines with a quick 4-0 run to give Bellevue a 34-30 advantage. Roosevelt’s Molly Kirkland answered with an and-one opportunity but missed the free throw, leaving Bellevue ahead 34-32.
Following a timeout with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter, Bellevue’s Malia Kaufusi knocked down a jump shot coming out of the break to push the Wolverines’ lead to 36-32.
Both teams continued to exchange baskets late in the quarter. Roosevelt’s Julia Gilbertson and Sprangers combined for four points, while Simanton and Jones answered for Bellevue. Jones capped the run with a three-pointer as the Wolverines extended their lead to 43-34 heading into the fourth quarter.
Roosevelt refused to go away.
Dollar sparked the Roughriders early in the final period, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to cut Bellevue’s lead to 43-40. Simanton responded with a basket to push the Wolverines’ lead to 45-41 with about four minutes remaining.
Curtis then scored on consecutive possessions to tie the game at 45 with three minutes left.
Palmer-Wilson responded with a putback basket to give Bellevue a 47-45 lead, but Roosevelt answered again after Sprangers recorded a key block that led to a fast-break basket by Dollar to tie the game at 47 with 1:30 remaining.
Simanton delivered once again for Bellevue, scoring inside to give the Wolverines a 49-47 lead. Jones later went to the free-throw line with 30 seconds remaining but missed both attempts, keeping Roosevelt within striking distance.
The Roughriders called a timeout with 22 seconds left before sending Simanton to the line in an attempt to stop the clock. Simanton converted one of two free throws to extend Bellevue’s lead to 50-47.
With 17.5 seconds remaining, Roosevelt called another timeout to set up a final possession. Burke-Brown fouled Palmer-Wilson, who made one of two free throws to give Bellevue a 51-47 advantage.
In a final attempt to rally, Dollar drove down the court and attempted a three-pointer, but the shot fell short as the Wolverines secured the victory.
After the game, Bellevue head coach Romell Witherspoon was ecstatic about advancing to the championship game.
“I am so excited, we are on to the championship game! This is what you dream of, this is what you train for,” said Witherspoon. “I feel that our team deserved the opportunity to do this, I am just beyond excited, but more importantly I am grateful to God for this opportunity.”
Roosevelt was led by Dollar with 18 points, while Simanton led Bellevue with 21 points.
With the win, Bellevue will face Eastside Catholic in the WIAA 3A girls state championship game Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome. Roosevelt will play Snohomish in the tournament’s third/fifth-place matchup.
Pictorial highlights of Roosevelt vs Bellevue
Staff Photos/Aaron Allen
