The Vashon High School Pirates girls basketball team took down the Orting Cardinals last Tuesday, 65-40, and finished the regular season on Friday with a 65-3 pasting of the Charles Wright Tarriers.

The victory against the Tarriers guaranteed a first-place Nisqually League finish for the 11-1 Pirates, who were tied with Seattle Christian.

It’s the first time in 30 years that the girls have had a share of or held the league title outright.

The Orting outing was the team’s last home game of the season, and as such there was the traditional celebration of senior night, the night when the team, town and fans honor those senior players who have completed their time with the program.

This year it was Liz Hill, Anneli Dolmseth, Karisa Gibbons, and Lui Gue. All four seniors contributed in their own way to the solid effort against Orting.

Hill was a force inside, racking up 10 points as she powered the ball to the hole.

Dolmseth, as she always does, set up teammates with her outstanding ability to pass the ball.

Gibbons gave a solid all-around game — scoring, rebounding, passing and stealing the ball — and Gue capped it off with a sweet teardrop baseline runner.

Coming off the bench, starter Kelly Costello pumped in 18, draining a last- second 3 at the third-quarter buzzer.

“I asked Kelly to give up her starting position for a senior player on this night,” said coach Henry Porter.

“She didn’t even flinch at the idea and showed great leadership at accepting a role off the bench,” Porter added. “Kelly has been great for us this year, draining mid-range jumpers, stepping back and hitting threes, leading the break and finishing with beautiful drives. Kelly’s ability to put the ball in the hole has been a major reason for the success of the team this year.”

Also having a big night for the Pirates was sophomore post player Chrissy Swope, whose work under the basket and finishing shots were huge for the victory.

Vashon’s scoring against Orting was Costello with 18, Swope with 12, Hill 10, Porter 9, Anneli Dolmseth 5, Kiki Means 5, Abby Dolmseth, Gibbons and Gue all with 2.

Against Charles Wright, the girls put out an all-round solid effort, sharing the ball and amassing a team total of 17 assists.

Kiki Means and Teal Sigler, who came in mid-way through the first quarter, really got things revved up with their tenacious defense and ability to push the ball up court.

Gibbons had a very strong defensive game with five steals and five defensive rebounds.

Post player Chrissy Swope showed another side of her game by dishing out four assists.

The Dolmseth sisters, who aren’t twins, both chipped in 9 points and three assists each.

Pirate scorers were Porter with 17, Costello with 16, Anneli and Abby Dolmseth with 9 each, Swope with 6, Sigler 4 and Gibbons and Means with 2 apiece.

The Pirates’ next game will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, against the Seattle Christian Warriors at Seattle Christian. This game will decide who gets the number one or number two seed going into district competition.

After that, it’s on to the regionals and then the state tournament at the Tacoma Dome for the teams that succeed in districts and regionals.

— This article was edited and compiled by sports editor Eric Horsting with information supplied by coach Henry Porter.