BY GERARDO BOLONG

Contributing Writer

BURIEN - After building its lead up to 23 points on two separate occasions, the Highline High School girls basketball team regained its poise just in time to post a signature 53-42 SPSL 2A win against visiting River Ridge of Lacey on Fri., Dec 15, to improve its Sound division record to 2-2 in a tie for fourth place with Steilacoom.

Leading 45-42 with 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Pirates regained possession after the Hawks missed a pair of free throws.

HHS called time out and Stella Fosberg was fouled on a loose ball struggle, leading to a converted free throw. Pirate guard Jenni Rebello, who led an attacking, ball-hawking defense, stole the ball in the River Ridge back court.

Following a mad scramble, Ingrid Perce grabbed a loose ball for a lay up that stretched the margin to 48-42.

Fosberg came up clutch, again, by scoring the final five points of the game. Combined with the resurgent defense, the Pirates sailed home to victory down the stretch.

"Stella is our best player," said Highline head coach Johnny Bell. "She had a triple-double a few games ago. In a game there's always going to be (scoring) runs. We had that late run to seal the game. I told them to quit looking at the score and stay focused on the situation. We had a 24-point lead in another game and we lost. I didn't want to live that again. They weathered the storm. That's how team's grow."

Following an early 9-2 deficit, HHS began an attacking defense that forced turn overs and led to some easy baskets.

The increased pace of the game was entirely in favor of the Pirates for offense and rebounding, as well.

Rebello's breakaway basket touched off an HHS offensive explosion that forced a 12-12 tie after one quarter plus 11 consecutive points to iniyiate the second quarter as part of a 19-0 surge that set up a 23-12 Pirate control midway through the period.

The Pirates extended their lead to 25-13, but RR narrowed its deficit to 25-16 by intermission.

Running Rebeelo scored on runner and 3-pointers to combine with Fosberg in a 14-0 spurt to open the second half for a 39-16 HHS lead early in the quarter.

Highline owned another 23-point lead at 41-18, but the Hawks let fly with everything they had to stampeed back into the game contention.

Essentially dosing out the same medicine of frantic defense that it had absorbed for much of the skirmish, River Ridge stormed back to close out the third quarter on an eight point run.

Caitlyn Yenne spearheaded the Hawk effort and River Ridge closed with 43-34.

Pirate junior Zainab Aliabdi temporarily stopped the bleeding by stealing a River Ridge inside pass and driving for the basket.

Undeterred, the Hawks fired off an eight point salvo to bring the proceedings to 45-42 before Highline responded for the win.

"We need to have an attack mentality," concluded Bell. "They can't just play back because we're ahead. They have to take care of the ball."

Fosberg finished with 17 points and Rebello posted 15. Perce was also in double figures with 10. Aiabdi added seven as Samantha Box tallied four.