MUKILTEO By the end of the first quarter, M-P had all the security of a 10-point lead.
Then again, in the playoffs, that doesnt mean a lot.
After Kamiak was held to just three points in the first quarter, all by Knights senior Julia Church, Kamiak rallied early in the second quarter to make a game of the Tomahawk girls postseason opener at the Wesco South runner-up. M-P ultimately defeated Kamiak, 55-45.##M[more]##
Kamiaks comeback started late in the first quarter as they tried applying a full-court press against M-P. While the Tomahawks burned them a few times on a full-court passing game, the defense started to fluster the M-P girls.
We had a time when we really felt rushed, explained M-P coach Julie Martin after the Feb. 12 game. We just had to slow down and pick our passes. It got us rattled and off our game.
But while Kamiak got within four points of the Tomahawks by halftime, M-P had a new determination in the third quarter. It didnt hurt that the Tomahawks post play, led by junior Britt Harris, got Kamiaks Kelsey Patrick in foul trouble early in the second half. Patricks fourth foul sent the Kamiak junior to the bench, Harris to the line and M-P on a run senior forward Jessica Masters had seven points in the period, helping give M-P a lead as wide as 14 points.
After 10 points in the first three quarters, Harris really lit up against Kamiak in the final quarter, matching her effort earlier in the night for a game-high 20 points. Her 17 rebounds made it a double-double.
Martin credited the Tomahawks battle for the boards as part of her teams ability to win. While the team had been tired in the first half, they came back in the third quarter, she said. We just have to block out and hustle.
Masters and senior Anna West had double-digit games for the Tomahawks with 11 and 10 points respectively.
The win pitted M-P against Lake Stevens in a Feb. 15 winner-to-state game.

At Kamiak H.S.

M-P Adams 2, Lucas 8, Fordon 2, West 10, Masters 11, Harris 20, Heckendorf 2. Kamiak Sovich 5, Simmons 2, Patrick 10, Keller 3, K. Kussman 2, Stephens 2, T. Kussman 5, Church 13, McClaskey 3. 3-point goals Patrick 2, Sovich 1.