The Montesano girls basketball team will have to win in the consolation round to earn a trip to regionals after the Bulldogs fell 61-57 to King’s Way Christian in a Class 1A District IV semifinal matchup Thursday, Feb. 14, in Vancouver.

Monte (13-9) held a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter thanks in large part to center Zoe Hutchings, who scored 10 of her game-high 27 points in the first five minutes of the game.

But Hutchings quickly picked up her second foul and had to sit on the bench for the remainder of the first half, allowing KWC (16-6), led by MacKenzie Ellerston’s 18 first-half points, to overtake Monte and hold a 30-27 lead at the half.

Tied at 55-55 with approximately 1:30 left in the game, KWC’s Hannah Moats buried a corner 3-pointer to give the Knights the lead for good.

Monte was forced to foul down the stretch in an attempt to prolong the game, but it was all for not as the Bulldogs were sent to the consolation bracket with the loss.

Hutchings was the only Monte player in double figures with 27 points on an efficient 13-of-16 shooting (81 percent).

Monte’s Katie Granstrom filled up the stat sheet with eight points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Paige Lisherness and Lexi Lovell scored six points apiece for the Bulldogs.

Monte shot 26-for-49 from the field and had 17 assists as a team.

Ball security was a problem for Monte, however, as the Bulldogs committed 21 turnovers, many of which were turned into KWC points.

Despite the loss, Monte head coach Julie Graves was proud of the way her team competed and shared the basketball.

“Tonight was a great high school basketball game. It was a battle from start to finish,” she said. “We displayed good ball movement as a team.”

The loss sends Monte to the tournament’s consolation bracket, where they will need to win out to earn a trip to the 1A Regional Playoffs. Monte will face the winner of Friday’s Tenino-Castle Rock game Saturday at Kelso High School in a consolation semifinal. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Monte 19 8 17 13 — 57

King’s Way Christian 15 15 16 15 — 61

Top Players: Montesano — Hutchings (27 pts.), Granstrom (8 pts.), P. Lisherness (6 pts.), Zoee Lisherness (5 pts., 7 reb., 4 asst.), Lovell (6 pts.), Glory Grubb (3 pts.), Sophia Reed (2 pts.); KWC — Ellerston (23 pts.), Lacey Zook (18 pts.), Tyra Schroeder (8 pts.).