The Vashon High School boys basketball team had a tough time scoring points in the first three periods of last Friday’s contest at Seattle Christian, and their fourth period rally was a case of too little too late as the Pirates were defeated in their first Nisqually League battle of the season, 49-40.
Neither team was very hot throughout most of the initial period, and Vashon actually held a 5-0 lead with 3:23 left. It was the only time they led in the game. The Warriors, however, took advantage of three consecutive Pirate turnovers at the end of the period to jump out to an 8-5 advantage as the buzzer sounded.
Turnovers plagued the Pirates throughout the night. They turned the ball over at least seven times in the second period alone. Vashon scored only seven points in the second period on the strength of two baskets from Dan Lofland, one from Hamzah Griffin and a foul shot from Adrian Arceo. Seattle Christian did not fare much better and, despite a rather anemic offensive performance, the Pirates found themselves trailing by only five points at the half, 17-12.
The Warriors stretched that lead to 12 points by the end of the third. The two teams played fairly even ball for most of the period. Alex Wegner collected six points, and Griffin added two more to close the gap to three points as the period was drawing to a close. Suddenly, however, the Pirates went cold, and the Warriors heated up as Cody Miller sunk a pair of threes and, Richard Jensen hit on yet another, giving Seattle Christian a 32-20 advantage at the end of the quarter.
In the final period, it was as if the Pirates had just woken up from a bad dream. They began to play a completely different brand of basketball, suddenly showing a level of energy and aggressiveness that had been missing in the first three periods. In the first three minutes of the period, the Pirates had climbed back to within six. After Seattle Christian’s Miller opened the period with another three-pointer, Vashon’s defense shut down the Warriors, forcing them into five turnovers and no points. Meanwhile, the Pirates collected six points from Wegner, two from Arceo and one from Griffin. This was as close as the Pirates could get. Both teams essentially traded foul shots down the stretch as the Warriors picked up the victory.
Last night the Pirates battled Auburn Adventist Academy at home, and they take on Life Christian Academy, also at home, this Friday at 5:45 p.m. On Tuesday, Dec. 21, the Pirates travel to Steilacoom for a 7 p.m. contest.
—Steve Edele is the father of Pirate Nick Fox-Edele.
