Article courtesy of Gerardo Bolong

SUMNER - After a season battling through injuries, the Seattle Christian girls basketball team fell victim to energy drop offs, turnovers and rebounding struggles in a 49-33 West Central District III 1A loss to Olympic League No.1 seed Coupeville on Fri., Feb. 19 in a 2016 winner-to-state Hardwood Classic regionals, loser-out game at Sumner High School.

Hard working Seattle Christian finished with a 4-4 third place Nisqually League record before defeating Klahowya 60-35 and losing to No. 1 Nisqually League Bellevue Christian, 54-44, on the way to the Coupeville game. The Warrior overall record ended at 10-8.

"This was a game where the ball just didn't go in the hole," said SC head coach Dave Jansen. "I'm proud of them and everyone tried hard. The energy level we had in the first quarter against Bellevue made me think we were the best team in the league before we ran out of gas. That level of energy just wasn't there tonight. Give Coupeville credit. (Makana) Stone was really tough inside."

The final defining encounters of the game occurred in the third quarter.

After the Wolves utilized turnovers to build the lead up to 29-13, sophomore guard Alex Ellis fired home a 3-pointer followed by a steal and another bomb from beyond the arc to draw Seattle Christian within 29-22 with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter. An Ellis driving basket from the right side brought the Warriors within 31-24 with 86 seconds left.

Unable to convert possessions after this basket, SC fell victim to turnovers and offensive rebounds along with a drop off in energy level despite hardworking efforts, allowing the Wolves to pull away to a 37-24 lead after three quarters. Coupeville sustained its energy to lead by 16 points at one time en route to the win.

First quarter action featured helter-skelter, look-for-shelter style play with Seattle Christian owning a 6-0 lead and Coupeville scoringOk a basket with just less than 20 seconds left. SC had opportunities to lead by even more and initially did well on the boards.

By the second quarter, the Wolves owned the offensive boards and began dominating play in the paint for numerous close-in basket opportunities. Five-foot, eleven-inch Makana Stone, point guard Mia Littlejohn and Kailey Kellner created inside or wide-open outside shot chances to pull into a 12-8 Coupeville lead hustling SC players kept at it despite the Warrior offense being thwarted by ball handling and passing woes.

An Ellis 3-pointer had the Warriors within 14-13 before a 5-0 Wolves surged made the score 19-13 at the half.

Seattle Christian was still within 21-15 after an Ellis assist to Makenzie May, but Coupeville raised the bar to forge a 29-13 margin as a prelude to the final defining third quarter action.

Ellis led the Seattle Christian point scorers with 14 while May added five points and 11 rebounds--seven off the offensive glass. Abby Louie, Naomi Knipp and Serianna Anderson each scored four points. Julia Seibel notched two points. Lexi Bates grabbed six rebounds as Anderson and Knipp cleared five boards apiece.

For Coupeville, Stone was 10-for-26 from the field as part of her 24 points that were enhanced by 15 rebounds. Kellner earned 12 points and 10 rebounds while Littlejohn added nine points.

Seattle Christian committed 22 turnovers compared to Coupeville's 13.

Looking ahead to next season, the Warriors lose only one player, Abby Louie, to graduation. Lexi Bates, Madison Fors, Alex Ellis, Makenzie May, Julia Seibel, Ava Louie, Serianna Anderson, Anna Whitten and Naomi Knipp are all eligible to return. In addition, top defender Kelli Ronish should return after being on the physically unable to perform list all season. Also, with no junior varsity team this season, there will be some young talent ready to move in.

"I'm really excited to the possibilities of next year," concluded Jansen.