The postseason tends to bring out the best in Kentwood High’s Liz Mills.
Last year as a junior, Mills averaged 17 points per game in the playoffs, nearly five points above her season average.
Now a senior, Mills was at it again Friday night at the ShoWare Center in Kentwood’s first playoff game of the season. The 5-foot-11 forward scored 19 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, leading the Conquerors past Emerald Ridge 65-59 in a showdown for the South Puget Sound League’s No. 3 seed to the West Central District tournament.
“Last year, Liz perked up in the playoffs,” said coach Dean Montzingo. “She likes that challenge and was huge tonight.”
Mills, who entered the night averaging just more than 14 points per game, was coming off a rough outing against Auburn Riverside in which she was held to six points. Playoffs or no playoffs, Mills had just one thing in mind.
“I just wanted to win,” she said. “It’s important to have a good seed heading into the playoffs. I think we’ve had some slip ups this season, but we’re ready and we’ve gotten it out of our system.”
With the win, Kentwood (16-5) will take the No. 3 seed to the West Central District tournament. The Conquerors play host to the No. 2 seed from the Greater St. Helens League at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Kentwood. The top eight teams from the 16-team district tournament field earn state berths. The district tournament runs through March 21.
Are the Conks ready for the postseason?
“Yes, we’re ready to make a run,” Montzingo said.
Mills scored nine of her 19 points in the first quarter Friday night, helping the Conquerors build a 17-13 advantage. Kentwood’s lead got to 20-13 after a Sarah Toeaina free throw before the Jaguars battled back. Emerald Ridge guard Stephanie Riley hit three 3-pointers in the second quarter, which helped the Jaguars push ahead 32-28 with less than a minute remaining in the half. Kentwood’s Courtney Johnson answered with a pair of free throws, cutting the deficit to 32-30 with just eight seconds left in the period. Kentwood tied the game after Maddison Rankin made a dazzling steal on an in-bounds pass. Falling out of bounds, Rankin flipped the ball behind her back to teammate Kylie Huerta, who darted to the hoop for the score, which knotted things 32-32 at the half.
In a back-and-forth game, the Conquerors didn’t take control until late in the third quarter after Huerta and Mills converted consecutive buckets, giving Kentwood a 47-43 advantage. Emerald Ridge cut the deficit to 47-45 moments later on a running layup by Riley, but would get no closer.
Huerta finished with a team-high 20 points while Johnson added 16 points and 11 rebounds.
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