Usually-patient W.F. West girls make mad push to Class 2A semifinals

YAKIMA - When you listen to W.F. West girls basketball coach Kyle Karnofski talk, you can also see his mind's wheels turning.

So many ideas and concepts. But on Thursday, he preached two things to his team as it headed into a deep-water matchup against 2A GSHL champion Hudson's Bay

Push it, but show patience, too.

The Bearcats found that delicate balance to their liking, emerging from a tight game in the fourth quarter to post a 48-41 victory over the Eagles at the SunDome.

Senior Drea Brumfield led the charge with 18 points - many by attacking the basket. The team also got to the free-throw line 26 times, making 17 attempts.

"In the first half, we were a little bit gun shy," Karnofski said. "Once we realized, 'We can do this' ... we felt a little more comfortable."

Lexi Roberts canned a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, triggering a 7-0 run in the first 2:33 to grab a lead (37-30) the team would never relinquish.

"Our mindset was a little different," Brumfield said. "We came into the game ready to go ... and we did absolutely everything we could to win."

They ran. They attacked. And they defended.

"We got a little tired, and didn’t get back (in transition)," Eagles coach Michael Rainville said. "And we just had a little trouble scoring against their size."

And now the Bearcats are in the state semifinals for the first time since 2018 - the year they won it all.

"Whoever we play, we'll give it our best shot," Karnofski said.