BY GERARDO BOLONG

Contributing Writer

First, a muddle, then a zinger.

Regaining consistency in the midst of shooting and foul troubles, the Seattle Christian girls basketball team opened the Class 1A Nisqually League season with a comeback 46-44 home victory against powerful Bellevue Christian on Fri., Jan. 5.

Seri Anderson swiveled into the paint for a quick lay up with 45.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Seattle Christian girls basketball team ahead for good.

Following a Viking missed shot, the Warriors gained possession and had to endure Bellevue Christian fouling tactics until Anderson went to the line with a bonus free throw chance as 11.3 seconds showed on the scoreboard clock. Anderson nestled home the first charity toss, but the second chance bounced high off the back rim and into Bellevue Christian hands.

SC defenders swarmed the opposing ball handlers and BC was unable to get off a final shot.

"It took us awhile, but we wanted it more," said Anderson, who closed with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Early on, the Warriors showed some vulnerability, allowing the Vikings to gain players advantages in numbers for fast breaking baskets.

Julia Seibel was showing good strength on rebounds, but Seattle Christian had problems putting down close range shots.

Anderson was deadly from beyond 3-point range and shot the Warriors into a 12-10 lead after one quarter.

In the second quarter, Olivia Clark joined Anderson with outside bombs for baskets, but the Vikings ran back into an 18-18 tie.
Anna Whitten scored on a give-and-go to send SC back into the lead and four consecutive points from Clark kept Seattle Christian ahead 25-23 at the intermission.

Seibel, Clark and Alex Ellis catapulted the Warriors into a 34-30 lead, but fouls and turnovers continued to plague Seattle Christian.

Utilizing an 8-0 advantage in second quarter fouls, as well, the Vikings worked into a 35-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter battles.

Leading 39-37, Bellevue Christian began to miss shots, but Seattle Christian had trouble converting shots of its own.

Nichole Bloch torched a 3-point goal to send the Vikings ahead 44-37 with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. That turned out to be Bellevue Christian's final points of the game.

Ratcheting up the defensive pressure and finally converting lay ups, the Warriors worked into position for victory.

Like the rhythm of a steadily falling rain, Seattle synchronized the defense with an attacking offense in a gradual drive to the final determination.

Seibel overcame earlier short-range shooting deficiencies with a put back basket ahead of a Clark driving lay up. Clark's steal and lay up with 1:59 showing drew the Warriors ever closer at 44-43.

Another defensive stop by Seattle Christian earned the resurgent Warriors a chance to overcome their previous obstacles for a hard fought victory.

"They were cutting off our drives to the basket, earlier," said Clark. "This is the first time we've gone against such a tough defense. Their tall people intimidated us a little. We had good defense and found our rhythm."

This rhythm translated into 10 points by Clark, just behind the 11 points by Ellis. On the boards, Ellis also ran for eight caroms.

Seibel scored only five points, but was a bulwark off the glass, clutching 21 big rebounds with 13 on the offensive end. Emma Baskett added three points and Whitten finished with two. SC out boarded BC 50-36, but an 11/42 shooting night kept the Warriors from taking full advantage of the rebounding control.

Nicole Bloch and Molly VandenBrink were in double figures for Bellevue Christian at 12 and 10, respectively.

"Bellevue Christian had 20 points in transition," said Warrior head coach Jasen Baskett. "They're well coached and play good team defense. Now that I've seen them, I have some ideas for the next time. They overplay for the lay up and give chances for a deep pass and drop off for lay ups. We just need to get back on defense and make our shots."