The Pakootas era is over in Inchelium, and there's a fourth-place state trophy to show for it.
Chelsi Pakootas fired in a game-high 18 points to secure fourth place for the Hornets, but the contest was bittersweet for her and freshman sister Chenise.
A senior playing her final game in a Hornet uniform, Chelsi may have suffered a broken hand in the inconsequential final minute of the game and was taken to a local hospital for x-rays.
Inchelium coach Rod Hergesheimer said Chelsi's fingers were bent backward awkwardly in a scrum for a loose ball.
The elder of the Pakootas sisters was sensational before the injury. She made 6 of 11 shots, including 3 of 4 3-point tries, and recorded six assists and three steals. The Hornets point guard also finished the game without a turnover.
"Chelsi is a leader and the girl I look up to," said sophomore Serena Condon, who made several big shots and finished with 14 points. "She's a big part of this program."
The Hornets grinded for 32 minutes to stave off Curlew, an opponent Inchelium faced five times this year. Inchelium won the first matchup by 25 points, but lost the next three.
The Hornets held Curlew's two stars, Nichole Miller and Amanda Grumbach, to a combined 5-for-27 shooting performance and 15 points. The Hornets also scored 19 points of Curlew's 22 turnovers, compared to the Cougars' six points off 14 Inchelium turnovers.
Inchelium finished the season 20-6, but will move on without either Pakootas sister next year. Chenise said she's moving to Spokane and will play at University.
"It will be really hard," she said, noting she'll play club ball with the Spokane Stars this summer. "I've lived in Inchelium my whole life. It'll be a big difference I guess. I've got to work really hard."
The state's top-ranked team entering the tournament, Curlew finished 24-3 and placed seventh.
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