The Vashon girls basketball team returned from the holiday break and the SunDome Shootout in Yakima having posted losses to Riverside High School of Auburn and La Salle High School of Yakima, which is ranked sixth in the state.

In a game played Tuesday, Jan. 3, the Pirates faced the daunting task of playing state-ranked team for the second time, the Cascade Christian Cougars.

The Cougars, currently ranked fifth in class 1A, jumped out to an early lead as the Pirates struggled with turnovers from which they were unable to recover on the way to a 23-56 loss.

Undaunted, the Pirates turned it around at a Friday, Jan. 6 game against the Orting Cardinals. Vashon rode a 20-4 second-quarter advantage to take a 30-6 halftime lead on their way to a 49-19 final score.

The win improves Vashon’s record to 2-2 in Nisqually League play.

Balanced Vashon scoring was paced by double digit performances from Charlotte Kehoe (14), Anya Quig (13) and Rachel Hoffman (11). Tagen Lynch and Anna Osborne added 4 points apiece, while Molly Johnson (2) and Marya Munsey (1) rounded out the Pirate scoring.

With the Nisqually League schedule approaching its midpoint, Vashon will be looking solidify its spot in the top three. Vashon is currently in a third-place tie with the Charles Wright Tarriers in Nisqually League play, with a home game this week against the Tarriers (prior to press) followed by a game at Chimacum on Friday to take on the Cowboys.

Coach Henry Porter called the upcoming games against Charles Wright and Chimacum critical. “We can go a long way toward setting up a run into the playoffs if we can emerge with wins both nights this week,” he said.

— Gary Means is the assistant coach of the girls basketball team.