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The Vashon High School girls’ basketball team visited the Seattle Christian Warriors on Jan. 8 for their first league contest of the season.

The Pirates began the game trying to work the ball inside during much of the first quarter, having marginal success, as they committed several early turnovers, which limited their scoring opportunities. Both teams had a slow start offensively, and the Warriors led by a score of 12-8 with about five minutes left in the second quarter. Soon thereafter, the Warriors were able to put together a quick scoring run, sparked by two consecutive three-pointers, and they outscored the Pirates 10-5 to finish the first half with a 22-13 lead.

During the third quarter, the Pirates began to connect on some nice shots, keeping the Warriors from extending their lead, but still found themselves down by a score of 32-25 to begin the final quarter of play. The Warriors extended their lead back to nine at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but then Vashon got aggressive on defense, forcing the Warriors into some turnovers, leading to some much-needed fast-break points. With about five minutes left in the game, the Pirates were within six points and held that margin until about one minute remained, at which time the game became very exciting for the crowd as the comeback effort began.

After a timeout, junior Eva Anderson drove down the court and made a short two-pointer to get the Pirates to within four. On the next possession, as the Warriors brought the ball across half court, senior Annika Hille made a nice steal, drove down the court, missed the short lay-in attempt, but grabbed her own rebound and passed across the key to freshman Olivia Larson for a lay-in, and the Pirates were now within two. The Pirates then committed a foul to stop the clock, putting the Warriors’ Alex Ellis at the line for two shots. Ellis made one of two free throws to make it a three-point game with 21 seconds left. On the next possession, senior Siena Jannetty drove down the court and made a two-pointer to make it a one-point game. But with only eight seconds left, the Pirates had to foul quickly, putting Ellis at the line again, and she calmly made both free throws to put the Warriors back up by three. Still with eight seconds left and needing a three-pointer to tie, the Pirates were unable to get off a good shot, then fouled Ellis yet again, and she made one of two free throws for the final score of 44-40, Warriors.

Jannetty led the scoring for Vashon with 12 points and also grabbed two rebounds. Hille scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds and also nabbed four steals. Larson scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds; Natalie VanDevanter made six points with three rebounds; Anderson scored five points, and senior Kate Atwell grabbed four rebounds.

The next game of the season was Tuesday after press time against Bellevue Christian. Following that, the team will play away at Cascade Christian on Jan. 19 and then at home at 5:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, against Charles Wright Academy.

— Joel Hille is the father of a Pirate basketball player.