By Kurt Howard

The Chief Sealth Seahawks girls’ basketball team played host to the Bishop Blanchet Braves in a rare Saturday afternoon game. Going into the game Chief Sealth’s Metro Sound conference record was 3-2, 6-3 overall while Bishop Blanchet’s Mountain Conference record was 3-4 conference, 5-6 overall.

Only one day earlier Chief Sealth was blown out by Cleveland in a lopsided score of 14-57. It is hard to forget a game like that and move on, especially when it happened less than 24 hours earlier. Coach Katie Jo Maris added, “Last year we had the same problem bouncing back with the new Friday, Saturday games”.

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From the start of the game Bishop Blanchet initiated a full court press, causing Chief Sealth havoc which led to many turnovers. Chief Sealth Coach Katie Jo Maris said, “We don’t have a set press break for man because I have a lot of confidence in my guards, but tonight my guards just didn’t seem to have confidence in themselves”. At half time just 11 points separated the two teams, 15-26.

The second half started with a Chief Sealth burst, they looked a lot better! They reminded me of the team I’ve seen many times this year. Sadly, it was short lived as they ran into the same things that plagued them in the first half. At that point Bishop Blanchet seemed to have regrouped and regained control of the game. “They did come out fighting like I asked” Coach Maris said, “But we don’t yet know how to keep it, trying to keep it going. We had a few good shots and a few defensive plays but besides that, we were just definitely defeated this game.”

Only four players scored in the game for Chief Sealth. Victoria Elleby scored 16 points, 4 of her baskets were three pointers, Zoe Haywood 8, Mariah Rubio-Reboca 7 and Averie Mascarinas 2.

Chief Sealth will not have an easy go of it for their next game as they travel to play Franklin on Wednesday the 11th, at 7:30 pm. Franklin's conference record is 6-1, and their overall record is 8-3.