It was a night of a loss followed by a gain for the Seattle Christian girls basketball team on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
For openers, the No. 1 ranked and unbeaten Cascade (16-0, 21-0) Christian squad dealt the home team a 48-21 Nisqually League 1A defeat on senior night. The Warriors still gained another chance at the playoffs with their 8-8 league record and tie for fourth place with Charles Wright.
With its overall record at 11-11, Seattle Christian will gain entry to postseason action by defeating the Tarriers on the neutral court of Cascade Christian in Puyallup in a 7 p.m. start.
"We've actually overachieved despite losing the large number of seniors from last season's team," said SCS head coach Dave Jansen. "It's been a season of 'what ifs', also. A few made free throws against Cascade Christian the first time might have made a difference. Tonight they showed why they're No. 1. We stayed with them the first half. The girls have played their hearts out."
Cascade Christian's Cougars hit the accelerator early to gain a 12-2 first quarter lead and rarely slowed down the rest of the game to register the domineering win against a game, but outgunned home squad.
Two three-pointers from Aly Kaler and a trey from Madelyne Weber brought the Warriors within 18-12 while two free throws from Alayna Gleason kept SCS within 22-14 at the half.
Cascade Christian kept beating Seattle Christian on boards and put any hopes of a Warrior comeback on the back burners with 14 consecutive points to open the second half. The final score was the largest differential of the game.
Gleason had a tough shooting night (2-for-14) but still paced the Warriors with seven points and led all game rebounders with 16 collected caroms.
Kaycee Creech terrorized defenders for 18 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Chloe Reed scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. The Cougars grabbed 26 offensive rebounds as part of their game total of 52. SCS had six offensive rebounds as part of its 29 total rebounds.
On this senior night, Molli Ronish and Alayna Gleason bid adieu to their home gym.
For favorite basketball memories, Ronish related her experiences.
"Scaring half the team at Mariah's (May) house at team bonding in Kirkland and a year ago. And all the jokes and laughs with Aly (Kaler) and (junior varsity coach) Steph (Cummins)," she related.
Gleason thought back to state play.
"My favorite basketball memories were rooming with Katie Collier, Catie Shelton and Kelly Jansen at state (during) my freshman and sophomore years," she shared.
Head coach Jansen added his thoughts.
"Molli and Alayna are our toughest players," he concluded.
