Multi-tasking, we hear, is dangerous when one is driving. Application of lip gloss or use of a cell phone when behind the wheel, it is said, can be hazardous.
Doing several things while driving in basketball can be treacherous, too — for the opponent.
And it speaks volumes for Yakima Valley's No. 1-ranked women that two of their best players, Chelsie Morrison and Tana Stickney, are also among their most versatile.
Both can score inside and outside, both can find open teammates off the dribble and both are willing and able to close out a dogged-if-overmatched foe, as exemplified by the Yaks' 74-63 defeat of Big Bend on Saturday at Sherar Gym.
"Chelsie did everything,"YVCC coach Cody Butler said of Morrison, who on her 20th birthday helped blow out the candles on the Vikings with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and five steals. "She scored, rebounded, defended, dished. And when they pressed late, we put her back in the game to bring the ball up."
The victory, Yakima Valley's fourth straight, maintained the Yaks' first place Eastern Region tie with Columbia Basin at 7-1 while improving their season mark to 21-2. Big Bend fell to 2-6 and 9-13.
Records aside, the Vikings were within 56-48 with 9:23 to play and YVCC could ill afford to start the second half of region play with its first home loss.
Ensuring that wouldn't happen were Morrison and Stickney, who were front and center in a game-clinching 13-6 run.
Morrison began the surge with an inside hoop, Lisa Bishop followed with a steal and layup and Stickney, who totaled 12 points, five boards and three assists, scored off a nice feed from Morrison for a 62-48 Yaks lead at 7:12.
Stickney added another hoop and assist and Morrison hit a 3-pointer to complete the burst, leaving Yakima Valley up 69-54 with 5:13 left.
"We like playing together and I think we play well together," said Morrison, whose father, mother and brother watched the game and who will be the guest of honor at a chocolate fondue party today.
Said Stickney, who made several productive kick-out passes, "You have to trust your teammates. If you go to the hole and get double-teamed or can't get a shot, and someone else is open, you just have to trust the shooters."
Whitney Honn and Andrea Blodgett added 10 points each for YVCC, which led 38-23 at halftime and 48-30 with 14:12 to play.
"When they made their run, and they made a nice run," Butler said, "I thought we handled ourselves really well. There was no sign of panic."
Calli Jo Turner had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Big Bend, which stayed close by hitting 8 of 21 3-pointers and 19 of 21 free throws.
The Yaks, meanwhile, will be idle until next Saturday when they host Spokane.
