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The Vashon High School Pirates boys’ varsity basketball team kicked off Nisqually League play Friday night with a win in SeaTac against the Seattle Christian Warriors.
The game was the first of eight Nisqually league games in the 2016 season for the Pirates, who are now 10-2 overall.
The game started quick and strong for the Pirates, with Samuel Schoenberg hitting a three-pointer within seconds of the tip, and Vashon’s full-court defense holding the Warriors for a shot clock violation. After Edgar Polkat’s steal fed into Sam Yates’ speedy fast break, it felt like the rout was on with a 15-6 lead after the first period.
The Vashon defense held firm for the remainder of the half, with Jahmiah Hoogen and Langston Dziko absorbing two physical offensive charge fouls from Seattle Christian, which ended the half with 14 team fouls. And on Vashon’s offensive end, Sean Delargy and Sam Schoenberg led the way, hitting multiple three-pointers and finishing out the half with a combined 22 points. Vashon led 29-15 at the halftime buzzer.
In the second half, Vashon came out to score, with Alex Symbol getting in on the action with a baseline jumper and Schoenberg hitting his fourth three-pointer of the game. But the Warriors came fighting back on the performance of senior center Taggart Anderson to come within five points by the end of the third quarter. The score was 42-37 heading into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Seattle Christian’s Anderson kept his team in the game, showcasing his own three-point range to match the deep accuracy of Vashon’s Yates, Delargy and Schoenberg. Anderson led his team with 25 points but did not get much help from the rest of the team.
In the end, Vashon’s rebounding and ball handling skills helped to drain the clock. And as Seattle Christian resorted to fouls, the Pirates were able to convert free throws to seal the game 57-52.
The boys played Bellevue Christian Tuesday after press time and will take on Lindbergh (Renton) on Monday, Jan. 18 at home.
— Joel Schoenberg is the father of a Pirate basketball player.
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