The Vashon boys basketball team took on Cascade Christian last Tuesday and had a tough night, losing to the Cougars, 52-29.
The team continued, as it has in the past, to struggle with cold shooting and turnovers. The Pirates were unable to drive inside against the Cougars’ zone defense and their tall player in the low post. The Cougars had an advantage in turnovers (20-15) and rebounds (21-15) on the night.
Vashon never got in an offensive rhythm. Despite repeated attempts to drive the lane, the Pirates were forced to take most shots from the outside.
Ben Whitaker led the team with 10 points and four rebounds, with no other player scoring in the double digits that night.
Whitaker scored three three-point shots in the game, and Dylan Busurto and Jessie Norton each hit three-pointers as well.
The Pirate defense, however, struggled to contain and slow down the Cougar offense, with Cascade taking control the whole game and scoring on several fast breaks and alley-oop plays.
The Pirates turned their game around the following Friday, Jan. 6, when they traveled to Orting and beat the Cardinals, 71-50.
Starting off fast and strong and with a different starting lineup, the Pirates began scoring early. The coaches said the lineup change was a way to mix things up and try different rotations. It seemed to work well, as the team played with intensity and focus all night.
In the first half, Dan Lofland got a steal and took it for a layup, scoring the first of his 11points on the night.
Norton hit two three-point shots on his way to four three-pointers on the night, and Whitaker also hit a three-pointer. Owen Brenno hit two shots off rebounds and led the team with 13 rebounds on the night.
The Pirates were able to drive the lanes, scoring and drawing fouls. The first half ended with the Pirates ahead, 36-23.
Vashon then scored 23 points in the third quarter, including back-to-back fastbreaks to Whitaker — who led the team with 19 points — and a great full-court drive for two from Hazzard, who ended the night with nine points.
Brenno was seven for eight on foul shots in the game, and the Pirates ended the night with 23 points off foul shots.
Other scorers for the Pirates were Basurto (4), Garrett Starr (2) and Torin Perret (1).
The Pirates played Charles Wright on Tuesday at home after the press deadline. They will play Chimacum in an away game on Friday.
— Brian Brenno is the father of a Vashon basketball player.
