Fleetness of foot stood up well for the running Mabton Vikings in a torridly thrilling double-vertime 72-68 upset of previously unbeaten Seattle Christian in opening-day girls basketball action at the Another Level Christmas Classic tournament at Seattle Christian High School last Wednesday.

In this two - day event, Kentlake, John F. Kennedy, Sehome, and Tumwater battled in Pool A while Seattle Christian, Mabton, Auburn Mountain View, and Shoreline Christian fought it out in Pool B.

First day winning teams clashed the next day (after special press time) for the championships of each respective pool. The opening day losing squads played for consolation spots on the same day.

Teresa Flores' free throw in the second of two four-minute overtime periods gave Mabton the lead for good at 69-68 with 34.2 seconds remaining.

Seattle Christian in bounded from backcourt as 33.5 seconds remained, but five seconds later a Warrior player stepped on the sideline near half court and Flores later converted the first of two free throw chances with 26.9 seconds left.

SCS got off a good inside shot opportunity 13 seconds later, but on the miss Flores cleared the pack at half court and notched the lay up that finally filled the Viking sails for victory.

"We didn't come out sharply in the first half," said Warrior head coach Erik Lindblad. "The girls responded greatly in the second half. We had three girls fouled out by the last overtime. In the first half they (the Vikings) definitely outworked us, They kept getting in the passing lanes. We didn't have any ball fakes. Down the stretch, they just did a little more than we did. In this kind of game, a few little things make a difference. We just got into a big hole early."

Before this game, Seattle Christian (5-1) had outscored its five previous opponents, collectively, 87-39 in the first quarter en route to five straight lopsided wins. No team had come closer than 24 points in the final scoring.

Playing for the first time in 12 days, the Warriors got off to an uncharacteristically slow start against the Eastern Washington team. Mabton left the starting blocks early to break away from an 11-11 tie to lead 17-13 after one quarter.

Mabton's Ana Jiminez and Trish Williams worked effectively to pace the Vikings to leads of 24-15 and 28-18 before settling for a 32-23 halftime margin. Jiminez and Williams bombarded the SCS defenders for totals of 30 and 21 points, respectively.

For Seattle Christian southpaw Noelle Simpson drained two 3-point goals as part of her eight second quarter point total to keep the Warriors within striking distance. Mabton also missed its last six free throws of the half.

"Mabton came out tough and set the tempo," Simpson said. "We had a hard time matching them."

Simpson led the Warriors in scoring with 19 points.

Attacking aggressively from a man-to-man defense, SCS also played a double high post offense to set up drives and cuts to the basket to open the second half.

Like lumberjacks gradually chopping down big trees, the Warriors gradually cut down the large deficit.

Two Homad free throws ahead of Alyssa Abe's rebound basket initiated a 6-0 Seattle Christian salvo that ended on Tianna Homad's two free throws and the Warriors trailed only 37-35 before a Viking 4-0 surge gave Mabton a 41-35 advantage after three quarters.

With fans of both teams joining in highly charged vocal support, the battle raged.

The 5-foot, 5 inch Homad gunned in a 3-point goal from the corner to draw SCS within 41-38 to open the fourth quarter.

After Mabton countered with three consecutive points, Abe's put back basket and Melissa Collier's inside hoop drew the Warriors within 44-42 halfway through the third quarter.

As precious clock time ticked away, the teams traded points evenly. Jiminez sank the first of two free throw chances after Collier fouled out to give Mabton a 49-44 margin with 1:06 remaining in regulation.

Ten seconds later, Simpson banked a layup that was quickly countered by two Jiminez free throws.

Seattle Christian freshman Amanda Rablin dropped in two free throws ahead of Abe's 10-foot basket as SCS trailed 51-49 with 6.6 seconds left.

Following a Warrior time out, the Viking in bounds passer stepped over the end line to give the Warriors a pass in from behind the basket with 5.8 seconds showing.

Seattle Christian had been effective in passing the ball inside off the inbounds play throughout the game. Collapsing on the inside players, the Vikings left Simpson clear for an uncontested lay up that tied the game for the first time since early in the first quarter and sent the game into overtime.

"It cleared out and I was pretty wide open," Simpson noted. "When the play works, that's what happens."

Erin Walter's rebound basket to open overtime sent SCS ahead at 53-51. It was the first Warrior lead since midway through the opening quarter.

Within two minutes, Homad responded to a Viking free throw with a basket from just inside the the 3-point arc for a 55-52 Warrior margin.

Following a Mabton free throw, Homad drove the lane for a lay up. Abe then notched a free throw to put Seattle Christian in command 58-53 with 52.9 seconds remaining.

In the time span of 37 seconds, Walter and Simpson had fouled out. SCS had problems protecting the ball while Mabton stormed back to tie the score, 58-58.

Seattle Christian guard Taryn Standley calmly swished two free throws to put the Warriors back on top, 60-58, with 5.2 seconds left in overtime.

The ever-present Williams sent Mabton supporters into delirium by catching a long down court pass near the basket and scoring at the buzzer for a second overtime.

SCS stayed ahead by two points or tied on good play from Abe, Rablin and Megan Collier. Abe's drive to the basket resulted in a 66-64 Warrior advantage at the 1:48 mark.

Mabton bolted to a 68-66 lead before Abe tied the score at 68 on a basket inside the 1 minute mark to set up the final, draining, dramatic concluding sequences.

Despite the loss, Seattle Christian's Abe, who scored 15 points and did yeoman work on the boards, looked forward to the rest of the season.

"We weren't at our best at the start," admitted Abe. "We came out stronger in the second half and were more pumped up. We're pretty stoked for state. Each game is getting us ready."

For rebounding, Walter and Melissa Collier aided Abe with gigantic second half contributions.

Homad came on strong in the second half to post 15 points.

"We want to go back to state and show better than we did last season," an extremely exhausted Homad stated. "We're more experienced and tougher. We're looking for big things this season."