The Quakers built a 14-point haltime lead only to see it all but evaporate during a third quarter that saw the Utah 6A champion outscore Sidwell 15-2 to cut the edge to 33-30. But Lone Peak (24-4) wasn't able to take the lead as Sidwell Friends used a smothering trap to keep the Knights at arm's length.
Junior
Kendall Dudley, a recent UCLA commit, led the way for Sidwell Friends (30-3) with 21, while BYU commit
Kailey Woolston had 28 for Lone Peak. She was named MVP after scoring 60 points over two games.
It was the second win of the season over Lone Peak for Sidwell, which won their Nike TOC battle in December 57-47.
Kailey Woolston of No. 16 Lone Peak was the State Champions Invitational MVP despite her Knights falling 50-46 to No. 7 Sidwell Friends in the championship game on Saturday. The BYU commit (seen in a December photo) scored 28 on Saturday and 32 the day before in the semifinals. (Photo: Darin Sicurello)
Trailing 31-17 at the break, Lone Peak's Woolston started to heat up, scoring the Knights' first eight points. Meanwhile, a lengthy 2-3 zone slowed the Quakers' offense, holding them to two points in the period.
Naia Tanuvasa hit two free throws with 0.3 left in the period and
Sarah Bartholomew added two of her own at the start of the fourth to cut the lead to 33-32.
But Sidwell Friends wouldn't relinquish the lead as Dudley scored back-to-back buckets, the first on a steal that led to a layup as the pressure forced Lone Peak into five turnovers in the first few minutes of the final quarter. Yet, whenever the Quakers looked to extend the lead, Woolston had an answer.
She hit a mid-range jumper to cut the lead to 37-34, a 3-pointer to pull within five at 42-37 and another trey to cut the lead to 43-40 with two minutes to play.
Sidwell Friends, however, hit 8 of 13 free throws over the final 2:30, including a pair from Dudley after
Shawnee Nordstrom's NBA-range 3-pointer cut the lead to 48-46 with under 20 seconds to play.
