By Jeremy Martin

Opposites clashed Friday night at Foster High School when the up tempo style of Chief Sealth met the deliberate, methodical attack of the Lady Bulldogs.

With such differences colliding, one team was bound to eventually dictate the flow the game, and by halftime Sealth held a 13 point lead and enough hard fought momentum to carry it to a 50-31 victory.

Seahawks do-it-all guard O’Shae Walker was a menace on both ends of the court dropping a game high 14 points and nabbing 7 steals on the defensive end.

Her ability to fly down the court made it difficult for Foster to successfully initiate full court pressure on the Seahawks (1-1).

“That’s what she does, she’s one of our sleepers, she’s going to come out this season and make a big difference,” Sealth head coach Katie Jo Maris said.

But Foster (0-1) had a difference maker of its own.

Eunica Serafica, the Bulldogs tallest player at 5’8’’, proved to be a handful both as a ball handler and as a dominating presence under the rim.

Her aggressiveness driving the lane, getting to the free throw line and snagging rebounds kept pressure on the Seahawks throughout the game.

“She’s usually the one, she gets us going. She’s one of our seniors, I count on her every game, she’s our leader,” Foster head coach Eric Smith said.
The senior would finish with a team high 9 points and game high 11 rebounds.

Senior Marquis Daniels had 9 points, 5 rebounds and three steals for Foster and Trinity Roberson 5 points, 5 rebounds and two assists.

Samantha Scroggins had 9 points, 3 steals and 3 rebounds for Sealth while Lebrea Denson added 7 points.

It took the better part of the first quarter until either squad felt comfortable, as both the Bulldogs and Ladyhawks needed time, and eleven total fouls to feel each other out before initializing a game plan.

For Sealth that meant quick, crisp press breaking passes and aggressive cuts into the lane for layup attempts, while Foster was able to crash the boards, feed the post and work physically from the inside out.

But it wasn't until around the 2 minute mark of the opening quarter that either squad was able to pull away and show any signs of dominance.

In this case it was Chief Sealth and its freshly applied 2-2-1 press that made all the difference as the Ladyhawks immediately forced a pair of turnovers leading to easy buckets and an eventual double digit lead.

“We’ve never been a pressing team but we just put it in because I think we have the personnel to do it, the press is something that I think we will be doing all season,” Maris said.

The press allowed Sealth to play the up tempo style that Maris had hoped for entering the game.

“That’s what I wanted to do, run. We’re small so I want to become a running team. We have to push it because we don’t have the height or strength down below to contend with bigger schools,” Maris said.

The lack of height proved itself time and again Friday night as Foster controlled the boards for the entire game, out rebounding the Seahawks 42-37.

“We rebounded really well, but missed a lot layups. We’re young, we have a lot to work on,” Smith said.