My favorite Skyview little big play of the night for 1-31

Note: My continuing series of notes, trying to pick an interesting play from a basketball game that was not necessarily a game-deciding play.

A preview of things to come: I write these “little big plays” down as they happen. If I see something later that’s even better, I just cross one off and jot down another in my notebook. It just so happens that for this “little big play” the two people involved ended up having the two biggest plays during crunch time for Skyview.

But before they could secure the win over Union for the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League girls basketball title in the fourth quarter, Stephanie McDonagh and Neesen Bristow had a little big play in the first quarter.

McDonagh missed a shot but got her own rebound in the key. Instead of going up for another shot against a host of defender in the key, she noticed Bristow get free under the basket. A quick pass, Bristow was ready for it. Bristow caught it and shot in the same motion, the Union defense was late in reacting and fouled Bristow. She then made the free throw for the three-point play. It was her second three-point play of the quarter.

It was a great decision by McDonagh and a quality finish from Bristow to make it 18-10 Skyview at the end of the first quarter.

You will see in my game story that these two had huge moments in the fourth quarter. Bristow with an offensive rebound and sweet reverse lay-up to put Skyview up five with 1:36 to play, followed by a steal and a 3-pointer from McDonagh to make it an eight-point game.

But it takes more than big plays in the fourth quarter. A team needs little plays in the first quarter, too.

No. 5: This is Skyview’s fifth consecutive league title.