BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

TACOMA - West Seattle rode the back of a colossal game by Jasmine Gayles to fend off hard charging Stanwood 64-58 to annex third place in the 2018 3A girls state Hardwood Classic on Sat., March 3, at the Tacoma Dome.

"It was all about getting into preparation after last night's loss," said head coach Darnell Taylor. "I told the girls that this game could catapult us into next season. Stanwood tried to use the amoeba-like defense that Gig Harbor used, but the girls showed good maturity in figuring it out."
The final three minutes began with the teams in a 56-56 standoff.
Kelsey Lenzie assisted to Gayles for a lay up ahead of her own inside basket to gain the Wildcats a 60-56 clearance with 1:49 in the fourth quarter.
Jillian Heichel drove the baseline to draw the Spartans closer at 60-58, but Meghan Fiso worked into the interior for a West Seattle basket with 63 seconds to go.

Ashley Alter barely missed a three-pointer for Stanwood with 12.3 seconds left and Gayles fiittingly sealed the deal with two free throws at the 11 second mark to seal the Wildcat's highest finish in girls basketball history, matching the boys finish of last season.

The teams raced into action with the Wildcats courtesy of Jasmine Gayles raining down a pair of threes plus Kelsey Lenzie bombing a three from downtown for an 11-0 run to lead 11-2.
Stanwood replied with a 14-1 scoring wave for a 14-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
Grace Sarver's driving lay up with 5:26 until halftime trimmed the Westsiders' deficit to 17-16, but Kaitlyn Larson's three- ball touched off an 11-2 Spartan surge into a 25-18 lead as Ashley Alter and Jullian Heichel were tearing up the WS defense.

"This was a big thing," said Sarver, who finished at five points. "We could get on our hands or pick it up and show we belonged here. Next year, we're going to do it."
Capitalizing on several Wildcat misfires from the field, Stanwood took the play away to  build a 28-20 margin.
Enter the needed offensive catalyst.

Julianna Horne cleared herself in the corner for a three - point torcher to close the gap to 28-23.
Following a Spartan free throw, Fiso dropped home two free throws.
Southpaw Jayla Wilson homed in to sink a three to narrow the Spartan lead to 29-28 ahead of matching field goals from Alter and Gayle to leave Stanwood with a wafer-thin 31-30 halftime edge.

Powering out of halftime with renewed purpose, West Seattle used four consecutive points from Fiso plus a Gayles charity toss  to grab a 35-31 lead with 5:38 showing in the third quarter.

In a strong effort powered by a Gayles whirlwind, the Wildcats establish leads of seven points twice ahead of a Fiso driving lay up that pushed the Wildcats into another seven point spread at 49-42 on an additional Fiso lay up.

Stanwood closed within 49-44 heading into fourth quarter action.
Heichel and Wilson traded field goals ahead of a Larson three-point rainbow goal that had the stubborn Spartans within 51-49.

Lenzie triggered a scoring trey to extend the Wildcat lead to 54-49.
This salvo was replied in kind by a Stanwood 6-0 rally into a 55-54 Spartan edge with only 3:53 left.

Again, Gayles came to front with a power move basket for WSHS.
After Larson converted the first of two free throw chances, the teams were locked into the 56-56 tie that precipitated the Wildcat run to glory.
All players felt the team was good enough to win it all this year, but next season has the potential to be even greater.

West Seattle loses only one senior to graduation and Jenna McPhee is healing nicely from surgery on her way to playing next season.
"We pulled it together as a team and came out fighting," declared Fiso, who posted 12 points and seven rebounds.

Lenzie finished with six points. Wilson worked to five points in 10 minutes of court time.Horne had three points and served well in her 20 minutes.
All in all, reserves played more important roles than just bits of time. Braeden Swanson, Kaiya Mar, Anissa Babitu and Rilcy Newsome contributed time which also included early action as complete sub units.
The 24-6 SeaKing champions earned their highest finish with an excellent look ahead.

Lenzie triggered a scoring trey to extend the Wildcat lead to 54-49.
This salvo was replied in kind by a Stanwood 6-0 rally into a 55-54 Spartan edge with only 3:53 left.

Again, Gayles came to front with a power move basket for WSHS.
After Larson converted the first of two free throw chances, the teams were locked into the 56-56 tie that precipitated the Wildcat run to glory.
All players felt the team was good enough to win it all this year, but next season has the potential to be even greater.

West Seattle loses only one senior to graduation and Jenna McPhee is healing nicely from surgery on her way to playing next season.
"We pulled it together as a team and came out fighting," declared Fiso, who posted 12 points and seven rebounds.

Lenzie finished with six points. Wilson worked to five points in 10 minutes of court time.Horne had three points and served well in her 20 minutes.
All in all, reserves played more important roles than just bits of time. Braeden Swanson, Kaiya Mar, Anissa Babitu and Rilcy Newsome contributed time which also included early action as complete sub units.
The 24-6 SeaKing champions earned their highest finish with an excellent look ahead.