After taking a share of the Nisqually League title and finishing 11th at state last year, the Vashon girls basketball team started off their 2008-09 campaign with two solid victories.
Three starters return from last year’s squad — captains Zelda Porter, Kelly Costello and Chrissy Swope.
First up was a Dec. 3 game against the Lady Cardinals of Seattle Academy. The team is led by All-League player Makenzie Bradon and is coming off a season that took them to state.
Vashon started off the night playing tough defense and holding the Cardinals to only 13 points in the first half. However, their shooting was “a little flat,” Coach Henry Porter said. The Pirates scored 20 points to end the half up by 7.
The Pirates went on an 18 to 8 run with Costello leading the way, scoring 14 points — hitting two big three-pointers to start the half.
In the fourth quarter guard, Porter continued the roll adding 8 points of her own. The team held Brandon, leading Cardinals scorer, to 11 points in the game.
“Costello did a great job sticking to and hounding Brandon all night long,” Porter said, adding that Kiki Means and Abby Dolmseth were instrumental as well.
The Pirates were led by Costello with 17, Zelda Porter 15, Kehoe 8, Swope 5, Dolmseth 4 and Means 2. The Pirates had nice bench support from Autumn Shotridge with four rebounds.
Next up the Pirates hit the road on Dec. 5 and faced the Bulldogs of North Mason.
The Bulldogs played tight defense on the Pirates and were down 13 to 19 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Pirates went on a 17 to 2 run, exploding to a 36 to 15 halftime lead in front of the startled North Mason fans.
In the second half, the Bulldogs settled into a zone defense and dared the Pirates to shoot from outside. After a cold start the Pirates warmed up and broke down the North Mason defense to take home a 60 to 41 victory.
The Pirates were led by Costello with 22 points, 6 steals and 7 rebounds. Also adding 7 rebounds and 2 points was Swope.
“Chrissy got banged around all night long,” Porter said. “They really bottled her up inside, but she fought hard and was a steady rock inside the paint.”
Zelda Porter broke her own personal best of five 3-pointers in a game with six 3-point field goals from beyond the arc finishing with 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds for the game. Also for the Pirates, Means had 8 points.
“Kiki had an outstanding game, running the point during the zone offense, penetrating and kicking it out to teammates and finishing with four assists,” her coach said.
The ever-steady Abby Dolmseth had 4 points and played solid defense. Freshman Charlotte Kehoe finished with 4 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.
It was a nice road win to start off the season, Porter said.
“One of my favorite moments of the game, which typifies the play of this team, was a steal by Costello, who dropped the pass off to Porter who dished it to Means for 2 points,” said Coach Porter. “These girls believe in each other and are always looking out for one another, and that is what makes them a team.”
Vashon played the Trojans at Fife High School yesterday. The team faces the Eatonville Cruisers at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12.
— This article was compiled with information supplied by Coach Henry Porter.
