Seattle Prep plows through BHS on way to OT win in girl hoops

Published 10:42 am Sunday, December 28, 2014

Forty-eight minutes was not enough time for Seattle Prep to beat Bainbridge, but four more saw the Panthers scratch out an overtime win against the Spartans.

Friday night’s girls varsity basketball game against Seattle Preparatory was a series of comebacks for the Spartans — first falling behind then repeatedly catching up to the visitors — which ultimately made for a disappointing ending when they simply ran out of time before completing the cycle for the last time.

The Spartans lost 57-53, bringing their overall season record to 2-4.

It was the second of what would become two consecutive home court heartbreaks Friday, as the boys varsity team would also lose to the Panthers in overtime.

Bainbridge Head Coach Nicole Hebner praised her never-quit Spartans.

“That was two good basketball teams going at it tonight,” she said.

The first quarter was tied up almost immediately before the visitors began to pull ahead for the first time, and the game entered its second quarter with Prep up, 18-14.

Both teams scored 10 points in the second quarter.

It was early in the third quarter when the Spartans pulled ahead for the first time in the game, 31-30, with just over five minutes left to go.

It was not to last.

The Panthers regained the lead 34-33 with 2:24 remaining.

Then, with just over a minute left, BHS jumped back out in front 36-34.

With only 10 seconds left in the quarter, BHS made a frantic attempt to put some ground between them and the visitors and the game entered its final quarter with the Spartans still in front 39-36.

In the fourth quarter, SP outscored Bainbridge 15-12, just enough to even things up and bring the contest to overtime at 51-51.

BHS lead the initial overtime scoring efforts, but were ultimately left behind in a flurry of late-game scoring by the Panthers.

Coach Hebner said that the team had played with improved aggressiveness and she was proud of their overall performance.

“We played well,” she said afterward.

Seattle Prep was a difficult team, Hebner explained, and one that obviously knew when and where to apply pressure during critical moments.

“They don’t look to push the tempo as much as some of the other teams we’ve played,” she explained. “They’re not as ‘in your face.’”

“I think that actually worked to our advantage,” Hebner added. “But, I think that they’re big, they’re strong, they play year-round. They’re a good basketball team.”

The team’s perpetual points leader was once again Taylor Tye, who scored 14 total points.

Katie Usellis managed 10 points, Paulina Bredy chipped in nine and Kiera Havill totaled five points for the Spartans.

BHS is currently ranked 14th in the Metro League, ahead of Chief Sealth, Roosevelt, Nathan Hale and Franklin.

West Seattle has laid claim to the top spot, with a perfect 6-0 record.

The Spartans will next play at home again against North Kitsap at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, then again at home against Franklin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7.

After that the team will hit the road for their next two consecutive games.