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Demon girls can’t play spoiler
Burlington girls basketball team takes conference title in Washington
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WASHINGTON — The Washington girls basketball team tried to send Burlington into a tie for first place in the Southeast Conference standings on Tuesday night. The Grayhounds, however, wouldn’t be deterred.
Burlington knocked off a shorthanded Washington squad 48-28 to win the school’s first-ever outright SEC title in the sport of girls basketball.
The Demons hung tough with the Grayhounds for most of the game. Washington had the contest within five in the final minutes of the second quarter, but Burlington ended the period on a big run to take a 28-13 lead into the break, capitalizing on an ice cold streak for the Demon offense.
“I told them at halftime, I thought we got better looks than they got,” said Washington head coach Shannon Rugg. “There’s just went in, and ours didn’t.”
Washington continued to struggle to make shots in the second half, partially because of the absence of leading scorer Adalyn Long, who was out with an upper-body injury.
Washington’s Kendall Hinrichsen led the team with 11 points in the loss.
Burlington finished the conference season with a 9-1 SEC record to take the title. Washington finished the league schedule 4-6, placing the Demons in fourth place overall.
The Demons will now turn their attention toward a the regional opener at No. 13 Mediapolis on Saturday night.
“We’ll come back Thursday and Friday and have two good practices and get ready to play Mepo,” Rugg said. “They’re a high-scoring offense, but we’re going to go over and compete.”
Other area Class 3A games on Saturday include Fairfield at No. 3 Williamsburg and Mid-Prairie at home against Central Lee.
