By WENDY GAGE and DON OLSON
For The Beachcomber
The Pirates Varsity boys basketball team continued their winning way on Tuesday, Jan. 6 — Pirates 81, Orting Cardinals 33 — and go on the road today and tomorrow to face some of their toughest opponents yet.
On Tuesday, there was a brief moment in the first two minutes of the game when Orting had the lead, 5 to 3.
Knowing they had inferior height advantage, Orting then turned to a pressing defense in hopes of slowing down the Pirates. It didn’t work!
The Pirates where quick to respond and completely dissembled the Cardinals’ press.
It was apparent Vashon players were aptly applying the lessons they learned from their holiday Barlow tournament in Gresham, Ore., where they confronted three competent pressing teams.
Against Orting, the Pirates put on a fireworks display of quality outlet passing, fast breaks, easy lay-ups and one dunk.
With 1:37 left in the first quarter the score was Vashon 15, Orting 7. The domination continued for the remainder of the game.
Thomas Timm-Skove put on a real show of unstoppable drives to the basket for smooth-as-silk lay-ups. With 16 points, Timm-Skove led both teams as high point scorer.
By halftime, the Pirates were ahead 34 to 16. Coach Andy Sears seized this as an opportunity to showcase Vashon’s depth of talent.
By the end of the night, ten Pirates contributed buckets. John Gage and Alex Wegner joined Timm-Skove in double digit scoring.
The defensive commitment of the Pirates was intensely evident throughout the entire second half, when the Cardinals managed only two, 2-point baskets. Orting’s remaining 13 points had to be earned from free throws.
Opponents scouting the Pirates must come away with a real headache in trying to determine a pathway to success.
The Pirates have all the tools: height, speed, ball control, good shooters, disciplined offense, tenacious defense, a compelling desire to win and the ardent support of Vashon High School’s fans, the ‘Green Tide.’
Upcoming games tonight at Seattle Christian and tomorrow at Cascade Christian will again put the Pirates to the test.
Get more varsity basketball team and schedule information online at www.vashonbasketball.com.
If you really want an evening of outstanding entertainment, come see a Pirates game. You won’t be disappointed.
Game points
vs. Orting Cardinals on Jan. 6
Timm-Skove 16, Gage 15, Wegner 13, Holert 8, Hoffman 7, Kerns 5, Stoffer 5, Pieterick 5, Bakker 4, Jacobovitch 3.
