TONASKET – It took the Pateros Nannies about five minutes to build a 13-point lead over Tonasket in Saturday’s non-conference basketball contest.

The Tigers made a game of it, but the deficit proved too much to overcome as they lost 49-38 in a rematch of their season-opener eight days earlier.

Aside from the opening minutes, there were definite signs that the Tigers were starting to get the hang of coach Mike Larson’s fast-paced new system. Not only did they shave six points off the margin of their opening-night defeat to the Nannies, but they did so against a Pateros team that is now at full strength with CWL North Division all-conference point guard Jamie Jo Bruno back in the lineup.

“Oh, yeah, there was definite improvement,” said Tonasket coach Mike Larson. “I pointed out to the girls that we scored two more than we did last time we played them, but we allowed four less as well. And that was a better team than we saw a week ago.

“We’re starting to execute more consistently and we’re getting back on defense a little bit better.”

Bruno opened the game with a 3-pointer for the Nannies and forward Chancy Gill scored the next six as Pateros was off and running from the opening tip. By the time Megan Beyers scored the first Tonasket bucket, the Tigers trailed 13-0.

The Nannies led 25-10 midway through the second quarter, but Amber Kilpatrick’s eight points in the period kept the Tigers in the game as they headed to the break down 29-18.

“Amber had a good game,” Larson said. “Defensively, especially, she played very well all night.”

The Tigers were on their game for most of the third quarter. Baylie Tyus hit three triples to ignite the offense, and Alicia Edwards’ lone basket of the night cut the Pateros lead to 34-30 late in the third quarter.

But a couple of turnovers proved costly, leading to five quick points from Gill. Bruno opened the fourth with a trey to make it 42-30. The Tigers cut the deficit to eight points with under four minutes to play, but a Lori LeDoux 3-pointer finally put the game out of reach.

“All it takes is a couple of mistakes,” Larson said. “The girls didn’t quit. We worked hard to get back in it. But it doesn’t take much to have it slip away.”

Gill led the Nannies (4-0) with 19 points, with LeDoux, Bruno and Katarina Wilson adding seven apiece.

Tyus paced the Tigers (1-3) with 13, Utt added nine and Kilpatrick tallied eight.

Bridgeport 27, Tonasket 25

BRIDGEPORT – The Tigers’ bid for a last-second, game-tying shot fell shot as the Bridgeport Fillies held on for a 27-25 victory on Tuesday, Dec. 6. On a night when the shots wouldn’t fall for either team, Larson said his team got everything right on the last play but the final result.

The Tigers led 17-13 at halftime, but the Fillies came back from a 21-18 deficit in the fourth quarter to snag the win.

“We had the shot we wanted,” he said. “The ball would just not fall. Being in a new system, it will take the girls some time to adjust to it.”

Amber Kilpatrick, Elizabeth Jackson, Kylie Dellinger, Kelly Cruz and Megan Beyers all scored four points for the Tigers.