Senior Night Emotion Fuels Mead’s Fourth Quarter Surge

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mead vs Mt. Spokane</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Context:</strong> Mead entered the night depleted by injury and navigating the emotion of senior night. Mt. Spokane came in fresh off its first win of the season, looking to carry momentum forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What Stood Out</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emotion played a role from the opening tip. Mead appeared to be processing senior night early, while Mt. Spokane leaned into the energy of a rivalry game. The result was a choppy first quarter with limited offensive rhythm, ending 9–2 in Mead's favor. Mt. Spokane settled in during the second quarter, keeping playmakers on the floor while Mead rotated through their lineup. That decision helped the Wildcats win the quarter 14–10 and head into halftime trailing just 19–16. The third quarter felt like a reset for both teams. Mead capitalized on stalled Mt. Spokane offense and pushed the lead to 30–23, though the game still felt like it could go either way. The fourth quarter told a different story. Mead's seniors channeled the emotion that lingered all night and turned it into relentless pressure. Mt. Spokane's youth struggled to handle it, and what had been a tight game broke open quickly. A 20–12 fourth quarter sealed a 50–36 Mead win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Who Stood Out</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1048829"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698788b312730"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spink led the game with 16 points and delivered in every way Mead needed her to. She cleaned up off the glass, finished through contact, and converted at the free throw line when the game tightened late. Her ability to turn physical possessions into points helped Mead create separation when it mattered most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["663641"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698788b3127aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Frederick finished with 12 points, seven of them coming in the fourth quarter when momentum swung decisively toward Mead. She scored from all three levels and played with confidence as the Panthers pushed the pace. When the game finally opened up, she was one of the primary beneficiaries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kianna Kostelecky","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mead","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698788b312857"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kostelecky continues to make the most of her expanded role while filling an injury void for Mead. She has taken a clear step from role player into playmaker and provides a valuable change of pace. She finished with 11 points and added multiple defensive plays that directly impacted momentum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Claire Blackwell","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mead","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698788b3128e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blackwell stepped into the point guard role with poise and command. She handled Mt. Spokane's pressure cleanly, consistently got the Panthers into their half-court sets, and played with the composure of a floor general. Her decision-making helped steady Mead during critical stretches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1657719"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698788b31292e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wyss was the offensive catalyst for Mt. Spokane's momentum swings. She is a pure shooter with a quick release and deep range, and she made the Panthers pay when given space. Wyss knocked down four three-pointers and added a free throw to finish with 13 points, keeping Mt. Spokane within striking distance for much of the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game was shaped by emotion, experience, and late-game pressure. Mead leaned into senior leadership and turned it into a decisive fourth-quarter run, while Mt. Spokane showed growth and competitiveness but struggled to withstand sustained pressure. For the Panthers, this win reflected resilience and maturity. For the Wildcats, it was another step forward in a season focused on development and momentum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->