For the better part of the third quarter, the Associated Press Class 1A fourth-ranked Seattle Christian girls basketball team showed a very weak pulse. Catie Shelton's field goal with just less than two minutes elapsed time of the period accounted for the Warriors only two points, and SCS trailed by 11. It was a deep, dark hole that appeared to be growing deeper.

Kaycee Creech and Kadyn Coltom ranged far and wide in the Cascade Christian Cougar up tempo style. Both were effective driving to the basket, but it was the three-point ball that terrorized the Warriors, especially at key moments of momentum shifts.

Creech scored18 points with two three-pointers while Coltom downed four three-pointers en route to 17 points. Several of the three-pointers were far beyond the painted arc.

But it was the way the Warriors roared back to life in the fourth quarter that made its painful 43-41 loss to visiting Cascade Christian a more positive learning experience.

SCS trailed 38-29 after three quarters as Kadyn Coltom's duo of three-pointers keyed a 9-0 Cougar scoring salvo to end the quarter.

"Creech has been doing a great job for them all year," said Warrior head coach Bob Kickner. "This was a break out game for Coltom. Give them credit. We went away too much from our inside game. The girls really played hard. It was exciting to see them fight back. In the fourth quarter, we went back to our first half strategy. Give them (the Cougars) credit. Getting a test like this just before the playoffs was perfect even though we lost. After a playoff game against Cascade Christian, both teams will be primed for the playoffs."

The Warriors began chipping away at the lead with more inside play, getting big plays from reserve guard Hannah Sasaki as well as starters Katie Collier and Maddie Harris. Sasaki's inside basket followed by Collier's two free throws drew SCS within 38-32 with 4:46 remaining in regualtion.

Throughout the fracas, the Cougar zone collapsed upon the middle, clogging up inside efforts by SCS. Two minutes later, Harris connected from outside to trim the deficit to 39-34, but Coltom buried a dagger into the Warrior comeback with another three-pointer with 2:32 remaining.

Collier connected on two free throws and Jessica Johnson collected a key rebound, leading to a Warrior time out as 1:51 showed. Seattle Christian worked the ball around until Catie Shelton cleared to receive a back door pass that resulted in a a layup 20 seconds later.

Less than a minute remained when Harris south pawed in a three-point goal from several paces beyond the top of the key arc and SCS was within 42-41. Coltom converted the first of two free throw chances, but Alayna Gleason rebounded the missed free throw, giving the Warriors the chance to cross half court and set up an inbounds play from the side with 13.4 seconds left.

Moving the ball around quickly, Seattle Christian had a three-point attempt fall short at the end.

Harris scored 14 points while Collier worked for 13 points and 13 rebounds. Shelton added eight points for SCS.

Cascade Christian (10-1 league, 14-3 overall) drew into a first-place Class 1A Nisqually League tie with Seattle Christian (10-1, 15-4). If both teams won their last league game on Tuesday, Feb. 8, a playoff will be necessary to determine seeding match ups for the 2011 Class 1A Tri-District tournament. Winners of the coin toss, the Cougars would host the playoff. Both teams have already clinched 7 p.m. home openers scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Making their final regular season home appearance for Seattle Christian were seniors Kelly Jansen, Maddie Harris, Carissa Doyle (injured) and Lexi Petersen (injured).