Redmond’s girls basketball squad is still standing.
Teagyn Ohrt tallied 26 points for Redmond in the Mustangs’ 63-55 loss to Garfield on Feb. 13 in the 3A SeaKing District 2 girls basketball playoffs at Ingraham High, but they’re not done yet.
Redmond (21-3 overall) will next play Bishop Blanchet (14-9 overall) in a loser-out contest at 8:15 p.m. Friday at Sammamish High.
Following a loss in the 3A KingCo title game last week, Redmond rebounded with a 67-22 victory over Roosevelt at districts on Feb. 10.
Kiki Milloy led the way for Redmond with 18 points, followed by Ohrt with 11.
Mustang coach Ashley Graham said that Garfield beat her team on rebounds, and the locals have been working even harder on that aspect of their game this week in practice to prepare for Blanchet, the state’s second-place squad last year.
Blanchet is a more experienced team than Redmond, Graham said, but the Mustangs can put a notch in the victory column by rising to the challenge on Friday.
“If we can rebound good, then it can be a competitive game,” the coach said. “The girls are playing hard, they’re playing for each other.”
The Mustangs have bought into the coaches’ defense-first system and have reached their goal of being one of the top rebounding teams in the state behind Milloy (5-foot-11) and Katie Hartman (5-foot-10).
Redmond’s energy has been high and they’re pushing strong to advance in the postseason.
Graham is also getting caught up in the moment and is excited for the girls to get a taste of districts. Regionals and state await if the Mustangs reel off some more victories, and Graham thinks it would be cool if they can make it to the promised land.
When she played for Redmond, Graham’s teams made it to state three times in the early 2000’s and she was named the 4A KingCo most valuable player in 2003. Her squad took second in 2001.
“It definitely brings back memories. Those were some of the best times in my basketball career ever,” said Graham, who played at Santa Clara University and six professional seasons in Europe.
