Bulldogs Battle Hard in District Championship Loss to Prosser
PROSSER, WA — In a high-stakes showdown for the District Championship, the Ellensburg Bulldogs girls’ basketball team fought to the final whistle, ultimately falling to the Prosser Mustangs 67-56 on Wednesday night.
The contest was a defensive struggle early, with the Bulldogs trailing by just a single point, 29-28, at the half. However, a difficult third quarter proved to be the turning point; Ellensburg was held to just 6 points in the frame, allowing the Mustangs to build a double-digit lead that they protected through a high-octane fourth quarter.
Standish and Markus Lead the Bulldog Attack
Despite the loss, Ellensburg saw standout offensive performances from its core leaders. Bella Standish (#32) led the team with 18 points, including two 3-pointers and a clinical 4-for-4 performance from the free-throw line. Ellie Markus (#1)was a constant threat as well, matching Standish with two shots from behind the arc and a perfect 3-for-3 night at the stripe to finish with 17 points.
Other key contributions came from Brea Potucek (#10), who scored 8 points, and June Nemrow (#15), who added 7. Molly Moffat (#3) chipped in 6 points while remaining perfect from the charity stripe (2-for-2).
The Mustangs were powered by a dominant performance from Herbie Wright (#10), who scored a game-high 21 points, including an incredible 13-for-13 shooting display from the free-throw line. Deidra Phillips (#23) added 18 points for Prosser.
Both teams had earned a spot in the state bracket by qualifying for this game, and will find out their opponent and location for their respective opening-round games on Sunday February 22 at the conclusion of the WIAA Basketball seeding meetings.
Quarterly Scoring Summary
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Ellensburg | 15 | 13 | 6 | 22 | 56 |
| Prosser | 19 | 10 | 11 | 27 | 67 |
Ellensburg Box Score
- Bella Standish (#32): 18 pts (2 3PM, 4-4 FT)
- Ellie Markus (#1): 17 pts (2 3PM, 3-3 FT)
- Brea Potucek (#10): 8 pts
- June Nemrow (#15): 7 pts (1 FT)
- Molly Moffat (#3): 6 pts (2-2 FT)
