by Paul Moseley

The West Seattle Wildcats boys hosted Bainbridge Spartans in a varsity basketball match-up Friday night and came up just short in a fast paced game that was undecided until the final seconds.

West Seattle, entering the game with a 7-5 record, came into the game having won 5 of their last 6 contests, suffering their only loss in that stretch to Metro powerhouse Eastside Catholic.

Bainbridge Island, after going 1-5 in their first 6 games, turned their season around and were 5-1 in their next 6 games - matching the West Seattle streak and setting the stage for a game between two evenly matched teams.

The Wildcats set the pace in the first half. They relied on their superior quickness and worked the full half of their court - driving the lane as well as draining four 3-pointers (2 by Sophomore Tyler Lenzie). They were up by 6 until a last second half court swish by Bainbridge sent the teams to the locker room with the Wildcats up by three 20-17 at the half.

West Seattle started the second half with the same energy level as the first, but could not find the basket as they alternated rebound drills with the physically bigger Spartans. The Wildcats finally scored their first goal with about 6 minutes left in the third quarter, but the momentum had swung to Bainbridge.

Bainbridge took the lead at 33-32 with 34 seconds left in the 3rd quarter largely on a 10 point scoring spree by Senior Spartan guard Trent Schulte.

West Seattle rallied in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 40 with four minutes to go, but the Spartans pulled away again. In the stretch, a 3-pointer by Andre Moore with 48 seconds left brought the Wildcats back within three at 50-47, but the Wildcats could not close the gap.

Final score: Bainbridge 50, West Seattle 47

High Scorers for Bainbridge:

Blake Swanson - 14 points

Trent Schulte - 13 points

Oscar Dieterich - 12 points

High Scorers for West Seattle:

Andre Moore - 12 points (Four 3-pointers)

Nate Pryor -10 points