Vashon’s girls basketball team traveled to Chimacum Friday night and were roped into a barn-burner with the rough and tumble Cowboys, but pulled away with a 61-53 victory.

It was a close game in the first half, with Vashon leading by 1 at the end of the second quarter buzzer.

“We weren’t moving our feet on defense, talking or working as a unit in the first half,” said coach Henry Porter. “At halftime, we talked about getting after the Cowboys on defense, moving the ball and not losing our focus in this hostile environment.”

The Pirates came out and outscored the cowboys 18 to 14 in the third quarter to take a 5-point lead into the final period.

All the Pirates stepped up in the fourth quarter — moving their feet on defense and out-rebounding Chimacum.

They made their big plays down the stretch and shot an amazing 81 percent from the free throw line, hitting 21 of 26 shots.

“We have been shooting a high percentage from the free throw line all year long, and in this game it really paid off for us,” Porter said.

The Pirates took home a 61-53 win to remain 6-1 in Nisqually League play.

Earlier in the week, the Pirates traveled to Charles Wright Academy and played the Tarriers in the cavernous Tarrier Dome, which was a challenge for the team, Porter noted.

“I think the environment of the dome was difficult for the girls offensively and shoot-wise to get going,” he said.

The Pirates led 14-6 at the end of the first quarter, and in the second quarter outscored Charles Wright 15 to 5, taking a 29-11 lead into the locker room.

In the third quarter, however, the Pirates were outscored by the Tarriers 11-9 and wound up with a 16-point lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Pirates turned up their defense and adjusted their offense to counter Charles Wright’s tactics, outscoring them 17-5 to trounce the Tarriers 55-27.

The Pirates played a home game yesterday against the Cascade Christian Cougars, though results came too late for publication in this week’s edition. On Friday, the girls travel to face the Orting Cardinals, and on Saturday they will play at Auburn Adventist.

— This article was compiled with information supplied by Coach Henry Porter.