By Gerardo Bolong

Two basketball teams at different levels of the learning curve clashed at Evergreen High School on Mon., Dec. 3, with the Metro 3A Chief Sealth Seahawk girls topping the SPSL 2A Evergreen Wolverines 60-12.

"They're learning," said first-year Sealth head coach Mario Martinez of his players.  "Game by game, they're getting better. Every practice, every game they're improving. The passing was better and they're starting to see the court."

Both squads opened unstylishly with turnovers as the Seahawks swept to a 6-0 lead.

Olivia George notched a Wolverine goal, but the small, quick guards of the Seahawks led by Nohea Morrison and Kaydinse Peirsol turned Evergreen mistakes into points from the outside into the inside for a 12-2 Seahawk margin after one quarter.

Freshman Simone Lieberman and sophomore Berlin Marinez triggered Chief Sealth steals and points in a Seahawk runaway. The Wolverines played well when they took time to look for open players, but too often lost the ball before hoisting up shots.

The Seahawks just had too much pressure for Evergreen on this night.

For the Wolverines, the path to improvement also continues.

"We're young together," said Wolverine head coach Tasha Hicks McCray. "They're learning the game. They just need to play like they practice. The pressure just gets to them. It's a matter of more playing time together."

A trio of players scored in double figures for Chief Sealth. Speed dynamo Lieberman led the way with 16 points followed by Martinez at 12 and Morrison at 10.

Olivia George hustled for seven points to pace  Evergreen.