The Vashon girls’ basketball team won their game at home last week and fell to a close game on the road.

The team, now with a record of 7-2, played Sultan at home on Dec. 19, defeating that team 36-26.

Coach Rob Kearns attributed the success against Sultan to “a real good defensive team effort.”

The team is young this year — with no seniors — and Kearns said that they turn the ball over a lot. Against Sultan, however, the Pirates kept turnovers down but caused Sultan turnovers, which the Pirates were then often able to score on.

Kearns added that his team typically sees about 10 freethrows per game, but they had 30 that night. Liv Larson had 12 of them, making six.

Two days later, the team headed to Port Townsend and played a good game, Kearns said. The Pirates led in the third quarter, but the larger, more experienced Port Townsend players pressed the Pirates and prevailed, defeating the Pirates 46-38.

Brynn Mueller scored 10 points, Kearns said, and Berline Kilpartick, with her best game of the season, was behind her with seven.

The Pirates are playing in a tournament this week and will take on Mount Baker and Blaine.

— Susan Riemer