By CHRIS CHANCELLOR

cchancellor@soundpublishing.com

EVERETT — She reviewed game tape with her teammates and tried to apply it during practice.

But Central Kitsap senior point guard Taylor Krouse said it was impossible to prepare for the full-court pressure defense Lynnwood applied.

That was apparent early as the Cougars never led during their 71-39 season-ending setback Saturday against the first-ranked Royals during the Class 3A regional round of the playoffs at Everett Community College.

“In high school, we haven’t played a team like that,” Krouse said. “We worked on press breaking in practice and stuff, but of course in a game it’s a lot different. As soon as they got it they were pushing it up. They did really well at finishing around the hoop.”

Central had nine turnovers during the opening period, but Lynnwood (22-2) did not secure its berth to the Tacoma Dome until near halftime when it went on a 26-2 run. The Cougars’ only points during that span came on a Krouse jumper with 3 minutes, 12 seconds, remaining. That reduced their deficit to 31-8.

“We didn’t get a lot of shots off,” said Central coach Nicole Nelson, whose team took just 18 shots during the first half. “It rattled us a bit mentally.”

There also was a disparity in fouls called during the first half. That meant that 6-foot sophomore center Mackenzie Page and guards Starr Rodenhurst and Maddie White played limited and enabled the Royals to attack the Cougars’ interior defense.

“That definitely hurt us not having them,” Krouse said. “We definitely have played together so long. We know what we’re doing when we’re together.”

Meanwhile, Central (21-5) was unable to draw many fouls during the first half. Lynnwood led 41-14 at half.

“We weren’t really getting any fouls called for us,” Nelson said. “That hurts, too.”

But the Royals’ relentless pressure was the most significant factor. Lynnwood coach Everett Edwards said his philosophy is to pair the full-court press with an uptempo scheme. He said there was times where the Royals abandoned that defense when it was unsuccessful against other opponents, but there was no reason to do that against the Cougars. Lynnwood scored 17 points off turnovers and out-rebounded Central 51-27.

Nelson tried to counteract that with multiple timeouts during the first quarter to no avail.

“We just really hadn’t seen it this year,” she said.

Krouse said there was another factor that hindered the Cougars.

“This court is longer than high-school courts,” she said. “I think that hurt us, too. It was exhausting.”

Despite that, Edwards felt his team started slow. That was before junior wing Jordyn Edwards, who left school Friday with an undisclosed illness, converted a couple of 3-pointers during the opening period.

“She came out and hit some big 3s to get us going,” Edwards said. “Once that kind of got going I think it allowed us to get a little bit of separation.”

Edwards’ 5-foot-10 classmate, wing Mikayla Pivec, did most of the rest. She finished with a game-high 24 points and 24 rebounds.

“They came out in a box-and-one with her to start,” Everett Edwards said. “That just shows her tenaciousness and her effort on the boards.”

While the Royals advanced, the game marked the conclusion of Krouse and White’s basketball careers with Central.

“We’re certainly going to miss Maddie and Taylor so much,” Nelson said. “They’re irreplaceable young ladies. They do so much.”

But they are the only two players Nelson is projected to lose from her first season. Seven varsity members were freshmen and sophomores.

“I’m really proud of our girls,” Nelson said. “They had a phenomenal season. They’ve done nothing but improve.”

At Everett Community College

Lynnwood 71, Central Kitsap 39

Central Kitsap 6 8 15 10 – 39

Lynnwood 16 25 18 12 – 71

Central Kitsap-Katie Thorsen 2, Maddie White 16, Starr Rodenhurst 0, Olivia Krog 0, Vanessa Davies 0, Hannah Fergus 2, Taylor Krouse 16, Kayla Reuter 0, Mackenzie Page 3.

Lynnwood-Madison Eyer 2, Reilly Walsh 12, Jordyn Edwards 12, Mikayla Pivec 24, Sarah Grant 0, Kelsey Rogers 15, Kaprice Boston 4, Taylor Fahey 0, Valerie Bell 0, Abby Yemane 2, Danielle Hayes 0.