By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Kennedy Catholic and Evergreen played just about even the first four minutes of the first quarter, 7-6, Lancers leading, but from there JFK went on a 10-0 run to end that frame en route to a 56-25 win in the Wolverines' gym Wednesday.

The Seamount first-place team, the Lancers (12-0, league, 15-4, overall) will host Columbia River or Kelso for a district game at 7 p.m. next Wednesday while the third-place Wolverines (9-3, 12-7) will entertain Sequim.

"They gave it a lot of heart," said Wolverines' coach Natasha Hicks McCray of her team, playing without its usual complement of players.

Kennedy led, 17-6, after the first quarter, and after that big 10-0 run to end the first continued that way of play with an outscoring of the Wolverines, 16-6, in the second quarter, to lead, 33-12, going into halftime. And, that score only worsened after that for the Wolverines.

Lancers' coach, Greg Caldwell liked his team's effort.

"I liked our ball movement," said Caldwell, whose team went to regionals last season, losing to Bellevue. "That's kind of what wasn't good last night. The ball got stuck with one person. We did a lot of dribbling, not a lot of player movement."

Of what "wasn't good last night," coach Caldwell referred to the Lancers having played a non-league game against Gig Harbor the night prior to the one against the Wolverines. And, in that game, the Lancers lost to the 4A school, Gig Harbor, but it was almost a single-digit ending, 54-44, for the Tides' win.

But of the Wolverines, the "heart" coach McCray spoke of above, could be seen by the Wolverines in spots during this game against the Lancers, especially the second quarter. The Wolverines played strong defense, notably one stretch against the Lancers. After the Lancers' Miyu Miyashita got a steal and a scoring layup to make it 25-8 with 6:20 left in the second quarter, the Wolverines' in a 2-3 zone, with two players inside and three on the perimeter, held tough. The Wolverines held the Lancers to no points until 2:15 left in the second quarter. So that's over four minutes of solid defense, holding the Lancers scoreless for that long stretch.

Players on defense for that stretch, for the Wolverines, were Caroline Tupa, Elizabeth Lindo, Kindra Smith, Gloria Dabairi and Marleisha Cox.

"We had a couple JV girls step in and start for us, and they did well," said McCray.

Just tough with two starters out for the Wolverines, and this was on senior night so in the midst of that time of missing the team's starting point guard and a tough rebounder/defender inside, both seniors, the ending of it all had McCray praising her girls.

Cox was happy for her being able to be a senior and get flowers, balloons, and a candy lei, too.
"Yeah, it was nice," said Cox.

Of the game, Cox put it simply, "We played the best that we could. I am thankful to play with Caroline and Marisol."

One of the girls aforementioned by coach McCray who stepped in and started, doing a good job, was Gloria Dabairi, who helped at point guard in the missing player's absence.

Marleisha Cox, a senior leader on the Wolverines, commented on Dabairi's play.

"She's doing an awesome job," said Cox. "Keep working."

Same was said by coach McCray of Dabairi, who split time at the point guard position with Cox.

"She and I had a long talk yesterday about the point guard role," said McCray. "That's a huge role for a sophomore to fill."

And, she filled it nicely, the Wolverines committed four turnovers to none for the Lancers in that four minutes when the Lancers went on the big, double-digit run to end the first quarter. But Dabairi, with the most pressure on her, only committed one of those turnovers.

Most of the turnovers by the Wolverines' in the first quarter seven total, to the Lancers' two, were passes thrown overhead or bounce passes at the perimeter by forwards stolen by Lancers, so not mistakes from Dabairi bringing the ball down the court.

"She has a lot of potential," said McCray. "I am excite about her future."

Two other seniors played on this night for the Wolverines, Caroline Tupa, who led her team with 11 points, and, also Marisol Serrano, who did well on defense, helping some, too, in the above stated stopping of the Lancers' offense in the second quarter for that four-minute time.

Kind of a tough night, the loss, some teammates not there who are normally there, not to mention, seniors not around on senior night?

"Always staying positive no matter what," said Serrano. "One of those nights to remember, something that doesn't happen every day. One of those senior moments in time."

Coach McCray has enjoyed coaching all her seniors and spoke of them.

"We had our chance to celebrate the seniors, celebrate them as young women," she said. "I am excited to see where they go in life. They will make a difference in this world."

The Lancers were led by Ariell Garnett's game-high 19, followed by Nikki Miller's 16, with 12 of those scored in the third and fourth quarters, including two three-pointers. Then, Kelsey Abrejera scored 11 and Miyashita nine.

The Wolverines were led by Tupa's 11. Cox added seven.