POMEROY–The Lady Pirates will face Oakesdale Friday in Walla Walla to battle for a return trip to the state tournament. Oakesdale has been the Lady Pirates' toughest competitor this season.

The game tips off at 6 p.m. at WWCC's Dietrich Dome Friday, February 21.

Number one Pomeroy opened District 9 1B play with a sweet 39-29 win over No. 10 Garfield-Palouse here February 14. The win, coupled with No. 3 Oakesdale's 51-34 victory over No. 4 Colton, advanced the team to the championship game.

"We pushed the ball into the key and Gar-Pal had a hard time stopping Maddy," Head Coach Tai Bye said.

"We definitely had to gut it out on defense tonight and gave up too many shots when we got tired, but we got some good defensive minutes out of Keely Maves and Maya Kowatsch."

Garfield-Palouse hung around Pomeroy the entire game as the chilly Pirates worked to maintain a margin of more than a few points. In the third quarter, the margin varied between 10 and four points.

Maddie Dixon caught fire in the fourth to help distance the Pirates, who then worked the shot clock and made key offensive rebounds to maintain possession.

-East Washingtonian photo

Alyssa Wolf was cool under Lady Viking pressure. Maddie Dixon (30) and Heidi Heytvelt (4) join in the move upcourt.

Pomeroy 39, Gar-Pal 29

GP 3 9 10 7-29

Pom 7 14 7 11-39

Gar-Pal (29) Kennedy Cook 0-4 0-0 0, Madi Cloninger 2-5 0-0 6, Paige Collier 1-7 0-0 2, MaKenzie Collier 2-4 0-2 4, Kenzi Pedersen 3-8 5-4 10, Maci Brantner 3-7 1-3 7.

Pomeroy (39) Maddy Dixon 8-19 2-2 18, Sydney Watko 3-7 0-0 6, Alyssa Wolf 1-4 2-2 5, Heidi Heytvelt 1-6 2-2 5, Keely Maves 2-9 1-2 5, McKenzie Watko 0-1 0-0 0, Maya Kowatsch 0-1 0-0 0.

3 Point Goals: Gar-Pal: M. Clonginger 2. Pomeroy: Heytvelt, Wolf Fouls: Gar-Pal (11), Pomeroy (11) Fouled Out: None Technical Fouls: None Rebounds: S. Watko (8) Pomeroy Rebounds: Team (26) Turnovers: Pomeroy (11) Assists: Pomeroy (13).