YAKIMA - The Okanogan High School girls basketball team dropped into the consolation bracket the second day at the state 1A tournament with a narrow 44-40 loss to Connell, which is turning into a giant killer.
     A night after knocking off No. 1 state-ranked Seattle Christian on March 3, Connell (18-8) came from being down 17-1 in the first quarter to send No. 5 Okanogan (22-3) into a loser-out game on Friday.
     Okanogan trailed 37-31 late before rallying with a 3-point shot by Kara Staggs to get within 37-36 with 2:16 left. Staggs finished with 17 points.
     Jameka Townsend added nine points. Morgan Kerr pulled down nine rebounds.
     The Bulldogs must beat Lakeside (18-3) in a 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 5, in order to play for a state trophy on Saturday. The loser is eliminated from state.
     Lakeside lost 61-40 to Granger on Thursday.
     Okanogan won 61-25 the first day against Cedar Park Christian, which on Thursday was eliminated 61-29 by Seattle Christian.
     Also in girls 1A on Thursday, Chelan dropped into the other side of Okanogan'€™s consolation bracket with a second-day loss of 44-28 to Lynden Christian. Chelan opened state with a 49-41 win over Bellevue Christian.
     Freeman, which was the region 4 champion, reached the state semifinals with a 60-37 win over Onalaska in a Thursday quarterfinal game.
     In another winner bracket game Thursday, Granger won 61-40 over Lakeside.
     In other Thursday lose-out games, Vashon Island won 41-34 over Toledo, Bellevue Christian won 40-33 over Rainier and Nooksack Valley won 47-28 over Zillah.

     On the boys side, Lake Roosevelt (16-10) takes on Chelan (24-2) at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 5, in a loser-out, winner to play for fifth- and eighth-place on Saturday.
     The Raiders fell in their opening game 54-39 to Cascade Christian, which reached the state semi-finals with a 37-27 win over Onalaska on Thursday.
     Lake Roosevelt stayed alive the second day with a 59-26 win over Columbia (Burbank).
     The Coyotes found the early going rough, getting two shots in four trips down the court swatted away by 6-8 Ty Egbert, who finished with five blocked shots and 16 points.
     The second half was no better, as the Raiders limited the Coyotes to just three baskets on 9-for-52 shooting (17 percent).
     Cade Egbert took advantage of the slower Columbia Burbank team by getting several of his 18 points on fast breaks.
     Chelan dropped its opening day game 66-52 to Vashon Island after the state’s leading scorer Joe Harris fouled out with 4:28 to go.
     The Goats bounced back by knocking Mabton out of state 73-47 on Thursday. Harris played 16 minutes of the game before fouling out with eight points.
Taking up the slack were Aaron McQuaid with 19 points, Matt Engstrom with 18 points, Michael Amsel Jr. with 17 points and Evan Reister with 10 points.
     Vashon Island stayed on track for the state title with a 54-48 win over Bellevue Christian on Thursday.
     In other second-day games in the winner'€™s bracket, Kingâ€'s won 68-61 and Meridian won 56-48 over Freeman.
     In other Thursday games, Lakeside won 40-29 over Toledo and Nooksack Valley won 69-49 over Ilwaco.
     
     At the 2B state tournament in the Spokane Arena, Liberty Bell High School girls basketball team fell into the consolation bracket with a second-day 51-49 loss to Toutle Lake.
     Bailey Bradshaw scored 15 points and Shelby Scott added 10 points. Ryliegh Ferrell had six rebounds.
     The Mountain Lions won their opener 62-52 over Asotin.
     Liberty Bell (16-6) will play Wahkiakum (14-8) in a loser-out, winner to the trophy round (4th and 7th) at 1:45 p.m. on Friday.
     In other state quarterfinal games, Napavine won 45-35 over Reardan, La Salle won 42-22 over Northwest Christian-Lacey, and Colfax won 75-45 over Wahkiakum.
     In Thursday loser-out games, Entiat won 66-45 over Darrington, Evergreen Lutheran 45-37 over Liberty Christian, DeSales 50-31 over Orcas Island and Tacoma Baptist 73-48 over Asotin.
     In boys 2B play on the winnerâ's side it was Pe Ell 65-64 over White Swan, Davenport 48-38 over Napavine, Entiat 59-33 over LaConner and Liberty Christian 58-51 over Chief Leschi.
     In loser-out games Thursday, Soap Lake (11-10) went home following a 57-44 loss to Bear Creek, Life Christian beat Waitsburg-Prescott 63-49, Toutle Lake 62-49 over Asotin and Colfax 66-36 over Willapa Valley.