The Pirates entered this past week undefeated and ranked number one in the Nisqually League. The week’s competition was made up of two road games at Auburn Adventist and Cascade Christian. The Pirates were victorious in both games, defeating Auburn Adventist 77-51, and Cascade Christian 62-38.
On Wednesday The Pirates found themselves facing the Auburn Adventist Falcons in a non-league meeting. The game started off well for Vashon, with senior Owen Brenno scoring two quick inside buckets, but the falcons answered with scores of their own.
The two teams traded scores for most of the first quarter, but then junior Jesse Norton started to go off scoring almost every time he touched the ball. At the end of the first quarter, the Pirates held narrow lead with a score of 21-17.
In the second quarter, The Pirates started to play great defense. Norton had two great blocked shots and 5’10” junior Ian Stewart impressively blocked a 6’5” center for the Falcons. Norton continued to drive the lane with authority, sinking almost everything he put up. Sophomore Sam Yates and Stewart also started to add to the scoring frenzy with the defense focusing on Norton leaving them open. With the first half coming to a close, the Pirates found themselves winning 45-26.
The second half revealed more Pirate dominants. Sophomore Noah Chee started the Pirates off in the second half with an excellent spin move layup. The Falcons were outmatched in every way. The Pirates were faster, smarter and more skilled and they had no answer for stopping Norton.
The game ended with the Pirates slaying the Falcons, 77-51.
In the victory Norton set a new school scoring record, scoring 39 points and breaking the previous record of 38 set by former Pirate star Alex Wegner.
On Friday the Pirates traveled to Cascade Christian for a league rivalry game against the Cougars.
The Pirates started off a little flat, but quickly turned it around, led by Yates and Norton. The Cougars were playing a very rough style of defense, hand checking Pirate players up and down the court — at some points it looked like they thought it was a football game.
Despite the rough style of play put forth by Cascade, the Pirates managed to score with great efficiency. After one quarter, Vashon was winning 17-10.
In the second quarter, Vashon played amazing defense, allowing only 4 points. Norton and Yates continued to score with amazing consistency. With half of the game in the books, the score read Vashon 29, Cascade 14,
Vashon maintained a commanding lead through the third quarter, beating the Cougars at both ends of the court. Norton capped off the quarter hitting an NBA-range 3-pointer to beat the buzzer.
As the final period began, it was clear the Pirates were on their way to a win, but they didn’t let up on intensity. With 1:54 left in the game coach Andy Sears sent in the bench. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Vashon students started to chant “200! 200!” as this victory was the 200th for Sears.
Yates led the Pirates, scoring 26, and Norton followed him with 23, going 9 for 9. After another week in Pirate basketball, Vashon is still undefeated and still number one in the league
— Ezra Lacina is The Riptide’s sports editor.
