By ADAM ATWELL
For The Beachcomber

The Vashon High School girls’ basketball team took their two-game winning streak on a double-ferry trek to Whidbey Island to play the Coupeville Wolves on Dec. 29.

The Wolves came out shooting, connecting on seven field goals in the first quarter to quickly establish a lead. Sienna Janetty sank several 3-point shots, while freshman Cassandra Hernandez had two great shots to pull the Pirates to within 1 point midway through the second quarter.

A late rally by the Wolves, however, led to a 24-17 deficit at the half.

Both teams turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, and Vashon again pulled within a point with 28 seconds left in the third quarter on shots by Hernandez, Natalie VanDevanter, and a nice move to the hoop by Eva Anderson, who drew a foul and converted the free throw. Coupeville converted the last two shots, including a 3, to make it 32-26 after the third quarter.

Vashon fought back in the fourth with buckets by Janetty, Kate Atwell, VanDevanter and another foul shot by Anderson. Back-to-back 3s by Janetty with two minutes left in the game brought the score within 3, but Coupeville again scored the final points of the quarter for a 44-37 win for the Wolves.

Scoring for the Pirates was led by Sienna Janetty with 19. Natalie VanDevanter and Cassandra Hernandez both added 6; Anderson had 4 plus 6 rebounds, Atwell added 2 points plus 10 rebounds.

Against the Washington High School Patriots on Friday, Jan. 2, Annika Hille had the hot hand early for the Pirates, scoring 15 points in the first half. Janetty added 13 to give the Pirates a 33-27 lead at the half. The Patriots adjusted their defense in the third quarter, reducing Vashon’s lead to 1 point going into the final period.

The Patriots aggressive defense came at the expense of two of their key players fouling out halfway through the fourth quarter. Vashon continued to lead in a closely fought contest until, with the score tied and 4.9 seconds on the clock, Washington sank two free throws to win the game 48-46, giving a particularly tough loss to the Pirates

Scoring was led by Jannetty with 20 points and 7 rebounds, Hille 19 points, Anderson 4 points and 6 rebounds, Kai Li Scheer 2 points and VanDevanter and Melanie Stoffer each added 1 point.

The girls play at home next at 6 p.m. today, Jan. 7, against Darrington High Scoool and at 7:15 p.m. Friday against Seattle Christian.

— Adam Atwell is the father of a Pirate player.