By Jeremy Martin

The opening game of the 2014-15 girls basketball season started like a track meet and didn't slow down until the final buzzer sounded with Chief Sealth coming away with a 75-50 victory over the visiting Foster Bulldogs.

The Seahawks (1-0) raced out to a quick 25-8 lead powered by a barrage of long distance shooting and aggressive defense before taking a 49-22 advantage into the half.

Senior Oshae Walker hit five three pointers for Sealth while junior Allison Hadaway connected on a pair of three pointers as well.

Walker would end the night as the game's leading scorer, putting up 26 points to go with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

“Last year we had some ups and downs with her. I think she's finally wrapping her head around that this is what she wants to do. She wants to succeed. Basketball is her passion,” Seahawks head coach Katie Jo Maris said.

Hadaway finished with 10 points and six rebounds while displaying a new found vocal leadership.
“She's playing a lot better, a lot more confident. She knows her role out there and is stepping in and is ready to provide for our team,” Maris said.

More backcourt energy and scoring was provided by sophomore Lebrea Denson who netted 16 points for the Seahawks.

Downstairs, sophomore Sydney Thomas led the way for Sealth with nine points, seven boards and three blocks while junior Elliott Snodgrass had seven points and seven rebounds.

The Bulldogs (0-1) did all they could to keep pace, led by the dynamic point guard Grace Williams.
The freshman had little trouble finding her way into the lane, to either shoot, dish or draw fouls.
Her scrappy defense proved an asset as well, as she racked up a team high and game high 10 steals, making life difficult for Seahawk ball handlers. Her 15 points led all Bulldog scorers.

“She's a tough girl. She had a little bit of nerves early, but she'll be ready. She's definitely a good girl,” Foster head coach Eric Smith said.

Foster also had a strong post presence in junior center Alexis Mosley, who finished with a double double of 11 points and a game high 10 rebounds.

“This is just her second year playing varsity. We're kind of young, but by the middle of the season we'll be there,” Smith said.

Sophomore Alani Medrano was also strong in the paint for the Bulldogs, pulling down eight rebounds and contributing eight points.

But the story of the day was the all around aggressive team effort of the Seahawks, who consciously forced an uptempo pace, attempting to get out on the break as often as possible.

“We're trying to become a running team. We're also trying to learn the difference between when to shoot and when not to. When they run a zone we have to shoot them out of it,” Maris said.

The undermanned Bulldogs had a hard time slowing down the attack, but Smith was confident after the game that his young team, once healthy, would begin making strides.

“It was our first game. We had a lot of jitters and were missing a few players. I think we'll be fine,” Smith said.

Up next for Sealth is a match up with Blanchet on Friday while Foster takes on Kennedy.