Girls b-ball wins three of three games

By Gary Means • December 8, 2009 2:47 pm
Kiki Means grabs a loose ball knocked away from North Mason by Chrissy Swope
Kiki Means grabs a loose ball knocked away from North Mason by Chrissy Swope

The Vashon Pirates girls basketball season kicked off with a bang last week with both the varsity and JV squads playing three games on three consecutive days. The varsity team notched three important season opening victories, while the JV team went 2-1.

On Thursday the Pirates hosted 3A West Seattle.

The Pirates led from midway in the first quarter, but the Wildcats knotted the score at 45 with just over three minutes left. Down the stretch key, free throws from seniors Kiki Means and Kelly Costello put the game out of reach.

Pirate scoring was paced by Kelly Costello (18), Elisa Wendt (13) and Chrissy Swope (10). Swope also led the team with 10 rebounds.

The Pirate defense in the first half was key to their success. Ten first half steals gave the Pirates the cushion needed to survive a shooting clinic by the Wildcats’ Briana Goulet, who scored 27 points. A fourth quarter defensive adjustment to a box-and-one defense by Henry Porter was instrumental in cooling her down.

Defensive superlatives included two highlight blocks of lay-ins: Swope swatting one off the glass in the first half and Means catching up to a breakaway from behind late in the fourth. The final score was Vashon 57, West Seattle 52.

Friday night the Pirates hosted the North Mason Bulldogs.

Once again, the Pirates led from midway in the first quarter. Leading 35-25 going into the fourth quarter, Vashon shut down the Bulldogs convincingly, scoring 17 points of their own for a second win, 52-25. Charlotte Kehoe anchored a swarming Pirate defense. Costello (18), Wendt (11) and Swope (10) lead the Pirate offensive efforts. Swope had a second double- double with 10 rebounds.

Vashon traveled to Port Townsend for their third game in three days on Saturday. The Redskins battled Vashon to a 10-10 tie at the end of the first period. But a 24-3 run over the next two periods gave the Pirates an insurmountable lead. Midway through the fourth the Pirates held a 53-13 advantage, eventually winning 57-23.

The Pirates host 2A Fife today and travel to 2A Eatonville on Friday for two final non-league games. League play starts versus the Chimacum Cowboys on Dec. 15.

— Gary Means is the father of Pirate Kiki Means.