SEMISTATE: 4A No. 2 South Bend Washington survives free throw marathon to down Anderson, advance to second straight state finals, 84-76

By Scott Davidson
Southbendtribune.com

PLYMOUTH – Cheneka Anderson entered semistate play Saturday as the fifth best 3-point shooter, in terms of triples made, for South Bend Washington.

On Saturday, the sweet-shooting senior was as good as a No. 1 3-point option for the second-ranked Panthers.

Anderson did in her namesake with a pair of tide-turning treys to lift Washington past No. 7 Anderson 84-76 in the Class 4A Plymouth Semistate.

Washington, 27-1, will make its second straight trip to the State Finals next Saturday. The Panthers, runner-up in 2006, face No. 9 Columbus East (24-2) at approximately 8 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse. Columbus East topped Center Grove 71-69 in the southern semistate Saturday.

The Panthers got 26 points from Skylar Diggins and 19 from Emily Phillips to survive a free throw shooting contest. The teams combined for 96 free throws in the two-hour plus game, with Washington hitting 28 of 49 and the Indians netting 30 of 47. A total of six players fouled out, including starters Diggins, Phillips and Katie Boocher for Washington. The Panthers were 10-22 from the line and Anderson 13-21 in the fourth quarter alone.

But in the end, it was eight huge points by Anderson late in the third quarter that put the Panthers in control. The senior, who entered the game 7-for-17 on treys, drained a pair of triples as Washington won its 27th straight game.

“I just knew it was crunch time and I knew I had to make them,” said Anderson, who tallied 11 points. “It feels good. I’m proud of our team.”

Anderson‘s heroics came at the perfect time. The Indians had pulled within 47-43 late in the third period before Anderson‘s first trey. Then, after the Indians had pulled within 51-49, she sparked a 7-2 run to end the quarter, capping it with a baseline trey with nine seconds left to make it 58-51.

“Cheneka always seems to make the threes when we need them,” said Washington coach Marilyn Coddens. “She doesn’t shoot many of them, but she has confidence to make them. Those were big shots.”

The Panthers built their lead to 73-58 with 4:09 to play in the final period. Diggins scored nine in the final period and Phillips eight, including two dagger-like triples of her own, to spark the winners. Anderson fought back, pulling within 78-71 with 1:13 to play, but Washington hit enough free throws to end it.

Washington led 16-9 after the opening period and 34-27 at halftime. The Indians shot just 7-24 from the field, had 19 turnovers and leading scorer De’Ja Wills sat most of the second period in foul trouble.

“Cheneka stepped up and rose to the occasion,” said Diggins. “It was her night.”

Anderson, which also had three players foul out, hurt itself with a poor shooting game (23-58) and 29 turnovers. The Indians, who had 111 3-pointers on the season, also did not make a trey.

Junior Lakeisha Noethtich led Anderson with 22 points. Senior Makeba Head scored 17 and Wills, who will play at Eastern Michigan, added 15.

“A couple possessions and it’s a different game,” said Anderson coach Chad Wetz. “The key was that we missed a lot of close shots in the first half.

“Having Wills in foul trouble on a couple of questionable calls made a huge difference in our ability to score. Those threes they hit were daggers. To their credit, they made them. If they miss, it’s a different game.”

So what do you think? Share your thoughts in our Girls Basketball forum.