Early Check-Out Time for Sparks

The season for the Sparks officially ended Saturday night when a three-pointer by Lisa Willis skipped off the rim and was rebounded by Kara Lawson, who counted off the last seconds of Sacramento’s 72-58 victory.

But it was over long before that.

The defending WNBA champion Monarchs took over Game 2 of the Western Conference finals by opening a 25-point lead in the second quarter. Then they kept things rolling in the second half at the Arrowhead Pond for a victory that wrapped up a two-games-to-none series sweep.

Sacramento Coach John Whisenant said it was harder than it appeared.

“I felt like I was in a street fight and I wasn’t even on the floor. It was an aggressive game. Again, I’m pleased with the grit of my team.... It was a struggle to maintain that lead in the second half because they are a very athletic, tough team.

“I did not want to go back to Staples and play them tomorrow night.”

Sacramento, led by Yolanda Griffith with 15 points, will await the winner of the Eastern Conference series between Connecticut and Detroit, which is tied, 1-1.

The Sparks will clean out their lockers knowing they did more than expected in 2006, winning 25 games in the regular season to finish first in the West, then coming back to beat Seattle in the first round after losing the series opener.

“I really enjoyed this season,” Sparks Coach Joe Bryant said. “We had no infighting, no one counting minutes or shots. The women respected what I said and I gave them the freedom to think. It was really special.”

But other facts remain.

Sacramento has won three consecutive playoff series against the Sparks. And the Monarchs have swept the last two, including the first round last season.

In their most important game of this season, the Sparks never had the lead. The Monarchs scored the first five points and never trailed. The Sparks shot only 37.5% and were outrebounded decisively, 40-25.

“We fought hard and worked hard,” Sparks center Lisa Leslie said. “That’s all we can do in this game. Some days you come out and everything is working and other days it doesn’t.”

In the second quarter, almost nothing worked for the Sparks.

Mwadi Mabika (15 points) made the first Sparks basket, a three-pointer with 9:21 left in the first quarter. Leslie (10 points) would make the next basket -- at 2:59. In between those baskets, the Monarchs ran off 15 consecutive points. A 23-13 first-quarter lead grew to 38-18, then 45-20 before Sacramento settled for a 45-21 halftime advantage.

The Sparks’ frustration was evident. Temeka Johnson and Leslie drew technical fouls in brief dust-ups with Sacramento’s Kristin Haynie and Griffith, who received technical fouls as well. Mabika was assessed a flagrant foul after she battled for a loose ball on the floor with Scholanda Dorrell.

But it was the Sparks’ shooting that deserted them when they desperately needed it. They made a paltry three of 16 field-goal attempts in the first quarter (18.8%). The 21 first-half points matched the low the Sparks established earlier this season in Houston on July 25.

“To get down that far in the first half was a stunner for all of us,” Leslie said.

“They played like there was nothing to lose,” added Tamara Moore, who led the Sparks with 16 points. “We didn’t play with that win-or-go-home attitude in the first half. And if showed.”

Now come the decisions to build on the success of 2006.

Chamique Holdsclaw, the team’s second-leading scorer who played 14 minutes Saturday despite debilitating soreness in her left foot, must decide if she’s going to return. Rest will heal the injury, but will she be back in 2007? Holdsclaw had talked about retiring if the Sparks won the title.

“Right now I’m undecided,” she said with a smile.