Two relay teams make it to state while Cheyne Clark places second in diving.

UNVERSITY OF WASHINGTON – Even though he took home a district title, Austin Hallett knows he should have won another one.

“I was a lot more nervous for the 100 free than I was for the 100 back because I knew that guy (Mercer Island’s Ian Fisk) was a freshman,” he said. “I just kinda lost focus on that last wall and caught it a little wide. I gave him a little edge, I think.”

Hallett was leading through most of the race, but that little slip did give Fisk the edge he needed to put on a burst of speed and win the 100 freestyle with a time of 48.90 at the 3A Sea-King District 2 meet Friday at the Hec Ed Pool on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.

Hallett’s time was 49.09.

The loss was easily evident on Hallett’s mind as he went up to receive his second-place ribbon like someone took away his favorite toy.

But the junior was able to regroup and dominate in the 100 backstroke, winning with a time of 54.15 as he held a comfortable lead over Mercer Island’s Alexander Hoff.

“I just tried to put it (the loss) out of my mind and come back in the 100 back,” Hallett said. “Just show what I’ve been doing (all season.)”

Head coach Kaycee Taylor said that’s what makes him succeed.

“Austin will probably be the first to admit that he gets so wrapped up and thinking about it (a loss) at times that it impacts his race,” Taylor said. “But I talked to him after the race and he has said in the past that when he doesn’t do so great in that first race that he comes back (and wins.)

“(In) that 100 back he just dominated,” Taylor continued. “He’s probably the hardest on himself for it but it was such a great swim. He can use that for motivation next week (at state) instead of beating himself up over it.”

Two people who are not beating themselves up over their performance are Olaf Olson and Cheyne Clark, who finished first and second, respectively, in the diving competition earlier in the day.

Olson scored 486.85 points while Clark scored 334.40 points.

Taylor said they got an unexpected boost when Mercer Island’s Beau Riebe missed the meet with an illness.

“Beau we expected to take second, so I don’t know what that will mean for next week,” Taylor said. “But we’ll take second. Plus, that’s 29 points right there (for the team). Cheyne’s pretty happy.

“Olaf wanted to score higher, but each meet, more of his dives are coming together. He’s well set for state.”

Also making it to state are two of the relay teams.

The 200 medley relay team of David Ortyn, Clark, Hallett and Kevin Brooks scored a time of 1:45.31 with their sixth place finish.

The 400 free relay of Ortyn, Cooper Ashley, Brooks and Hallett finished fifth with a time of 3:28.37.

Ortyn finished fifth in the 200 IM consolation final, while the 200 free relay team of Ashley, Clark, Caelen Ball and Brooks placed third in the consolation final.

Despite the numbers, Taylor said he’s glad for the swimmers that get to move on.

“This is basically what I was expecting,” he said. “There’s a chance Ortyn may wild card in for the 200 IM.

“Basically what we had coming in was what we figured to make it to state.”

As a team, Bainbridge took sixth with a score of 106 points, just one point behind Bellevue.

Mercer Island dominated the meet with 310 points.

The 3A state meet is Friday and Saturday at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way.

Girls hoopsters blowout Wildcats

If it hasn’t been one thing, it’s been another for the Bainbridge basketball team.

As the girls came out for warmups before the third quarter, someone pulled the fire alarm, forcing both team and the fans to vacate the building.

Despite the distraction (it was a false alarm,) the Spartans were on fire themselves, shooting nearly 50 percent for the game as they blew out the West Seattle Wildcats 73-49 Tuesday in the opening round of the Metro League tournament at Paski Gymnasium.

“I thought our offense was really good,” head coach Penny Gienger said. “We did some nice things with our offense and for the most part I thought we controlled our offense pretty well.”

Bainbridge dished out 17 assists, with Caitlyn Salo leading the way with eight.

She made her first two on a steal and a nice pass to Emily Farrar for the layup, then later found Brittany Gray down low for the bucket to put them up 8-4.

It was all Bainbridge after that, as Lindsay Bratonia converted on a three point play, then Salo found Gray again down low near the end of the first.

In the second period, Farrar scored eight points including two straight three pointers to put them up 24-8.

Even Salo got in on the scoring when Angela Failla made a steal and notched an assist on a great pass to her.

In the third, West Seattle scored the first six points, but Farrar knocked down another three and later converted on another three point play thanks to another Salo assist.

Gray finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Farrar scored 17 points and Bratonia had 10.

Megan Burris had four points, four steals, four assists and 11 rebounds.

Bainbridge plays at Nathan Hale today at 7 p.m.