BY GERARDO BOLONG​
Contributing Writer

​LAKEWOOD - Early hesitancy cost Kennedy Catholic dearly in a second round 3A West Central/Southwest bi-district girls basketball 45-29 loss against Narrows League Lincoln (Tacoma) at Clover Park High School on Fri., Feb. 13.

In the opening season game at Lincoln, it was the third quarter that proved decisive in a Lady Abes 61-42 win.

"The girls were hesitant at the start," said KC head coach Greg Caldwell. "They were ready to play, but it seemed like everyone was waiting to see who would step up. Once we settled down, we were able to stay with them for awhile. I'm proud of how the girls kept playing hard. Lincoln is a tough team."

The statement "We were robbed" had a literal meaning for the Lancers in a frightful first quarter.

Stealing the ball regularly and breaking to the basket often, 6-foot, 1-inch post player Tamia Braggs and Morticia Mc'Call collaborated to stun Kennedy Catholic for the first 11 points of the game en route to a 13-2 lead after one quarter.

Overcoming the opening shell shock, Kelsey Abrejera and Nikki Miller fired up the Lancer scoring for a 11-7 surge as Kennedy Catholic played its way back into contention at 20-13 with just less than one minute remaining in the first half. But three consecutive Lady Abe points had the Lady Lancers trailing 23-13 at the break.

The initial first half Lincoln takedown turned into earthquake tremors with KC unable to make shots as the Lady Abes controlled the boards for a 30-13 lead.

From this juncture, Lincoln (14-5) just kept the pressure going.

With Braggs playing the entire fourth quarter and scoring seven of her game-high 23 points, Lincoln posted a lead of 19 points at one point, although Kennedy Catholic (17-5) kept working to outscore the Lady Abes 13-12 until the final buzzer.

Kennedy will have to win two consecutive loser-out games, beginning with a 2:45 p.m. Feb. 16 match up against Bonney Lake at Franklin Pierce High School, to qualify for the state regionals.

Abrejera finished with 12 points and Ariell Garnett scored eight points for the Lancers.

Mc'Coll added nine points to the Lincoln scoring total.