BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer
TUKWILA - Foster girls basketball remained strongly in the SPSL 2A post season picture after utilizing fourth quarter defensive pyrotechnics to close with a vengeance in a 63-43 home victory against Lindbergh on Fri., Jan. 19.
The Bulldogs (10-5, 8-3 Mountain Division) stayed solidly in third place as league and district playoffs neared. Lindbergh of Renton dropped to 6-11 and 4-7, respectively.
After staving off continuous challenges from the Eagles, the Bulldogs led 45-39 early in the fourth quarter but renewed their once dwindling energy.
Precious Serafica, who fired home eight first quarter points as part of her game-high 21 points, angled home a 3-pointer to initiate the Foster fireworks.
Makanalanii Montoya converted three out of four free throw chances and the Bulldogs led 51-39 with just less than five minutes in the quarter
Unique Taylor scored her last of 13 points to temporarily quell the Foster uprising, but Amerie Pastores drained an outside shot that fired up a final Foster offensive and defensive demolition that reached a 63-41 dominance just before the end.
"We're adjusting to the loss of players to injuries," said Bulldog head coach Eric Smith about his seven player varsity. "The girls got their second wind at the end."
Early inside scoring by Lindbergh gave way to superior Foster defense and rebounding as the Bulldogs rushed away to a 17-9 lead after one quarter.
Following a 13-point lead in the second quarter, the Bulldogs fell victim to a 7-2 Eagle point drive that trimmed the home team advantage to 30-22 by halftime.
Missed free throws and rushed shots kept Foster from an even larger dominance.
Although the Bulldogs led by as much as 12 points in the third quarter, the Eagles refused to quit, whittling away their disadvantage to three points twice, the last time at 38-35 with 31.4 seconds left in the third quarter.
Moeshana Malaga took a pass for a layup just before Serafica homed in on 3-point goal for 43-35 distance and Foster eventually led 43-37 heading into the final quarter.
With one of his injured players on the way back to playing status, Smith looks forward to playoff positioning.
"We just need to keep playing like we have been," concluded Smith. "We pressure to get steals and create havoc for run outs."
Emolani Morris contributed 11 points with Montoya and Malava posting nine each.
Elle Watts paced Lindy with 15 points while Alana Sinclair earned nine.
Foster travels to Foss on Tues., Jan. 23.
