They had done two things differently than last year's team, a squad that won one championship but had hoped to win two.

First, Yakima Valley's women won their last regular-season game, 83-72 Wednesday night over Wenatchee Valley, securing their second straight Eastern Region title.

Next, they celebrated, cutting down the nets at both ends of Sherar Gym and planning a team party afterward.

"We didn't enjoy this enough last year," YVCC coach Cody Butler said. "This year we will."

Yakima Valley's men, with no title to pursue but plenty of pride on the line, staged a furious rally from an 18-point second-half deficit but nonetheless fell short, 90-84.

While the Yaks women are bound for the NWAACC Tournament March 1-4 in Kennewick with a region record of 12-2 and a season mark of 26-3, the men finished 5-9 and 13-15.

Yakima Valley's women, who lost their regular-season finale a year ago before a forgettable meltdown in the NWAACC semifinals, are hoping for different things this time.

With more balance and depth, they feel, a postseason push beyond the NWAACC final four has been an oft-stated goal.

"I think our confidence is higher this time," said 6-foot sophomore Whitney Honn. "I think our time is right."

Chelsie Morrison, another 6-0 soph, agreed. "We learned," she said before Honn completed her thought and sentence, adding, "what not to do."

The Yaks showed some examples of what not to do Wednesday night, but righted themselves behind Morrison's team-high 20 points, Tana Stickney's 17 and Honn's 12.

Despite a 15-0 first-half run that led to a 37-29 advantage at intermission, YVCC found itself behind 44-41 with 13:52 to play.

The Yaks trailed 46-45 with 12:12 left, but successive hoops by Honn plus two Andrea Blodgett free throws put Yakima Valley ahead 51-46 with 9:59 to go.

Wenatchee Valley was still within 66-64 at 5:07, but Morrison scored, Stickney followed with a 3-point, Bryna Trescott added another bucket and Stickney yet another off a nice feed from Morrison.

The 75-64 lead with 3:05 left was more than enough to close it out.

Chelsi Shaw led the Knights, also tournament bound at 9-5 and 14-14, with 24 points. Emily Hernandez, a point guard from Sunnyside Christian, added 14 and Michelle Short had 13.

YAKIMA VALLEY WOMEN 83,
WENATCHEE VALLEY 72