West Seattle never led at any time during their game vs the Seattle Prep Panthers Jan. 28. The Panthers just wouldn’t let them. The Wildcats started slow- down by twelve points at the end of one- and couldn’t get their motor revved up enough to get any momentum. West Seattle found themselves down by fourteen points at the half.

The Wildcats fought back and pulled within six points at the end of three in part because of hot shooting by LaTrey Newsome and Deandre Love, and a defense that created turnovers that transitioned into fast break points. At one point in the third the Wildcats pulled within four points but couldn’t get any closer and the period ended with a 50-44 deficit.

It looked as though West Seattle could mount a comeback in the fourth but the Wildcats looked tired. The offense that came out to open the half vanished.

Shots weren’t dropping and the Wildcats made passes that a blind man could catch. Unfortunately the recipients of those passes were dressed in Panther colors. Seattle Prep took advantage of those errant passes and quickly converted then into fast break points.

The Team that outscored Seattle Prep 22 to 14 in the third period could barely muster ten points in the fourth.

As the clock wound down in the closing minutes, and down by six, West Seattle had no choice but to foul to have any chance of getting the ball back with an opportunity to score. Unfortunately Prep was defending well against the fast break by West Seattle, and the Panthers were dropping every shot at the line when they were fouled, extending their lead as the closing seconds ticked away giving Seattle Prep a 65-54 victory.

West Seattle’s next game is tonight against Eastside Catholic. Game time is 7:30pm.