Bainbridge’s girls water polo team could have been put in the driver’s seat if the Spartans defeated Gig Harbor by four or more goals.

Instead, Gig Harbor stunned Bainbridge 11-9 at home April 29, with Spartan Emma Atchison leading the way with five goals. If BHS had won, it could have received the top seed to state.

“There was a lot of overthinking, and that took us out of playing our regular game,” Bainbridge coach Kristin Gellert said. “We kept improving each quarter, which is our goal no matter what.”

In the first period, Gig Harbor took a 3-0 lead. Atchison responded but the Tides took a 4-1 lead heading into the second quarter.

Bainbridge rallied with goals from Lilia Manges and Atchison. Gig Harbor responded to take a 6-3 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the game became much more physical.

“I told the girls to keep persevering and try to show what should be ejections, and we got more in the second half,” Gellert said. “Water polo should be physical and when the teams are evenly matched, it should be like that.”

Atchison fired two goals and Ilana Gonzales and Montana Rist each scored. But Gig Harbor still led with a 9-7 lead going into the fourth quarter. Rist and Atchison scored in the fourth but Gig Harbor’s offense kept the Tides in front.

Since Bainbridge lost, the Spartans are destined for the second seed at the state championships with a handful of regular-season games remaining.

“They just threw propane on our fire,” Gellert said. “The worst thing that could have happened was going into state thinking we would win it easily because we won a big game. The girls talked about how they will adjust in practice and make sure this doesn’t happen again.”