Defending Class 3A state girls basketball champion Kennedy Catholic showed the intensity of a champion to push up the pressure and pull away from persistent Mount Rainier 73-55 Friday night in Burien to remain atop the Seamount League standings as the only unbeaten team.

With the win the Lancers improved to 8-3 overall and 7-0 in Seamount play. Moving to 8-2 overall, the fighting Rams now stand at 5-1 and solo second place in the league.

“In the first half, we didn’t defend very well, didn’t finish very well,” observed Kennedy head coach Tom Mummert. “In the second half, we picked up the intensity and put the pressure on. That’s what we like to do...We’d rather pressure, cause turnovers and get out and run. If we play defense and rebound, we are able to run.

“This brusing, physical battle began with Mount Rainier showing the ability to break the Kennedy Catholic press and use defenders swarming like bees to force a half court battle. The Rams capitalized on periods of errant Lancer shooting and lapses of concentration to take an 8-7 lead midway through the first quarter on Sydney Codd’s attacking lay up.

Mount Rainier stubbornly fought back from an 11-8 deficit to tie the game at 11-11 and 15-15 before the Lancers took an 18-15 lead after the first quarter. The Rams were heading for tough sailing due to the Kennedy ability to drive inside and draw fouls.

Gandy’s standard three-point play to open the second quarter tied the match up, but Kennedy Catholic rushed to six consecutive points.

Undaunted and unafraid, the Rams battled back within 24-21. Opening up the pace, the Lancers foreshadowed events to come by stretching the advantage to 34-24 at the half. Superior shooting also sowed the seeds of Kennedy dominance.

Establishing leads of up to 14 points in the third quarter after Mount Rainier closed within eight points, the Lancers found their foe refusing to quit. Leading 49-39, the Lancers signaled the begining of the end for the Rams on Alli Madison’s three-point dagger to end the third quarter.

Once Kennedy Catholic established a 56-39 margin in the fourth quarter, Sydney Codd, Kia Gandy and Zerina Kapetanovic brought Mount Rainier within 56-44 at the 6:20 mark. Turning up the pressure, again, the Lancers rode away into the sunset and victory.

“We’ve got to come together, play less as individuals and play more as a team,” added Mummert. “We’ve got to get everybody involved. We need to run the offense the way we’re supposed to.”

For the Rams, the experience was tough, but also revealing.

“It didn’t help that we had three starters in foul trouble (Sydney Codd, Marisa Blair and Caroline Codd) and have to sit in the second quarter,” stated Ram head coach Bob Bolam. “All the girls that came in gave all they had. Kennedy has good size in the middle and quickness to kick the ball out to shooters. We’re just not at that level, yet. Our execution just wasn’t what I would like it to be. There’s still a long way in the season to keep working. Gandy played well. I’m not unhappy about how we played.”

Kennedy senior Yaz Fuller poured in 19 first half points en route to a game high 23 while junior Aminah Williams used her six-foot frame to score 12 points and recover 16 rebounds.

Presley Neufeld posted 11 points, Alli Madison had 10 points and 5-foot-4 Jasmine Lemon recorded nine points and nine rebounds.

Kiana Gandy was a force inside for 15 Mount Rainier points and numerous rebounds. Caroline Codd notched 13 points before fouling out in the final quarter.