Tulalip Heritage defeats Grace Academy 38-31

Two of the top teams in the 1B Northwest girls basketball division matched up as the 7-1 Grace Academy Eagles hosted the 5-3 Tulalip Heritage Hawks on Jan. 23.

The Eagles opened the game on a 6-2 run as they controlled the pace and kept the ball moving to find open looks. About a minute after their start the Hawks took a time out after falling behind 8-5. After the break they came out looking to work the ball into the paint and using their size to create on both ends. At the end of the first quarter Grace Academy was able to hold a small lead, 11-8. In the second quarter the speed of the game slowed down, as neither team seemed to be able to find the bottom of the net. After a low scoring quarter to close the half the Eagles held a four point lead, 16-12.

Coming out of halftime the Eagles were looking to score as they took shots from beyond the arc and went on an explosive 9-5 run before the Hawks were forced to call a time out. With five minutes left in the third quarter, Tulalip Heritage began to key in on the Grace Academy shooters and forced them inside where they had the size advantage. The Hawks began to outrebound and force up second chance points as they went on a 9-2 run over the rest of the quarter, trailing the Eagles 27-26. With several injuries to their ballhandlers early in the final quarter, Tulalip Heritage went inside once again as they took their first lead with 4:51 left on the clock, 31-29. Over the next five minutes of the game the Hawks continued to use their size mismatch and Grace Academy was unable to hit their open shots. In the end, Tulalip Heritage took the victory, 38-31.

“I think we battled really hard, but it was just a tough matchup with their size. We are a good shooting team, have excellent teamwork and we limit teams on the defensive end. There are a bunch of good teams in this league so we just need to keep competing the rest of the way,” said Grace Academy Head Coach Bill Kelley.

The Eagles were led by their duo of junior guard Aeris Fredrickson and sophomore wing Heidi Impola. Fredrickson led the team in points with 14, two three-pointers made, four assists, five rebounds and an unbelievable six steals. Impola raised her level of play on both ends of the court with 13 points, four three-pointers, one assist, five rebounds, two steals and three blocks.

The other three starters for Grace Academy did their part behind Emily Fredrickson, Heather Scott and Kathryn Fehme. Fredrickson, senior, started at guard and scored two points while grabbing three rebounds. Scott, junior, and Fehme, sophomore, worked on the wing as they combined for two points, two assists, five rebounds and two steals.

“This was one of our best games this season in terms of our effort. We pride ourselves on our defense and we came in wanting to limit their shots on each possession. It came down to our fundamentals, getting our rebounds and moving the ball,” said Tulalip Heritage Head Coach Marc Robinson.

The Hawks had huge games from their junior forward Krislyn Parks and sophomore center Jacynta Myles-Gilford. Parks had the game-high in points with 17 along with four three-pointers, one assist, nine rebounds and two steals. Myles-Gilford put up a jaw-dropping double-double with 13 points and 21 rebounds, as well as one assist and four blocks.

The Hawks' high-powered duo, Nakoyia Fryberg and Hazel Blacktomahawk, did what they could with their touches. Fryberg, junior forward, hit two threes for six points with two assists and two rebounds. Blacktomahawk, sophomore forward, put up two points of her own with four rebounds and one steal.

Your last chance to support the Eagles at home will be against the Lummi Nation Blackhawks on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 5:30 p.m. The Hawks no longer have any home games this regular season as their final game will be away against the Shoreline Christian Chargers on Monday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m.