Seattle Christian regained its flow and intensity in a 60-26 unhorsing of the Cowboys from Chimacum in Class 1A Nisqually League girls' basketball action in SeaTac on Friday, Jan. 27.
Cascade Christian (7-0) leads second place Seattle Christian (7-1) in the standings through Jan. 27. The Warriors reached 9-7 overall with this win.
Steal, rebound, release and score turned into the instigators of the Warrior defensive and offensive domination of the game. In a 14-2 first quarter outburst, SCS claimed an 18-2 first quarter clearance. Joining Collier's energetic efforts, the entire Warrior team propelled the margin to 32-8 before Chimacum scored a basket with 26.5 seconds remaining in the first half, ending a scoring drought that lasted longer than nine minutes going back to the second quarter.
For the rest of the game, Seatle Christian used the substitute shuttle system of mixing and matching different player combinations while keeping the intensity level high enough to post leads of 38 points twice before the final buzzer.
"The team is coming back together, again, and getting healthy," Warrior head coach Dave Jansen said. "After the Christmas break we're making up for lost practices and beginning to gel. We're comfortable and confident. There's stiil a lot of work to do. we just need to kep the intensity and flow going to finish what we started."
With 52.3 seconds remaining in senior night, seniors Katie Collier, Catie Shelton, Carmen Terhune, Jessica Johnson and Hannah Sasaki were inserted into the game for the final moments. Makalah Mumm was earlier part of an all senior starting lineup that also included Collier, Shelton, Terhune and Johnson.
In a truly fitting moment, it was Collier who converted the final points of the game on an inside lay up.
"It was bittersweet," Collier commented. "Catie (Shelton) and I have been playing together since third grade. It was fun to see everyone playing better. My energy is good going toward the playoffs and I've enjoyed helping the younger players get better."
Collier closed out her home career regular season with 25 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots while being a truly intimidating presence to Chimacum.
Shelton earned eight points and five steals with an appreciation of what this team has accomplished.
"I'm proud of everything we've overcome, including all our injuries," said Shelton. "It was fun to see the underclassmen play."
