Spartans overcome a tough Sealth team, stay undefeated in Metro League play.

The Bainbridge boys basketball team got a big boost from one of their big men.

Cody Gibler registered a triple-double of 28 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks as the number one ranked Spartans outlasted the fourth ranked Chief Sealth Seahawks 77-68 in overtime Friday night at Chief Sealth High School in Seattle.

“Coby had a monster game,” head coach Scott Orness said. “Overall, I’ve been very pleased with his growth from last season. I can’t think of a game this year where he hasn’t been a presence on the floor.”

The 6-9 senior post shot 13 of 20 from the field while holding Sealth’s big man Reggie Rogers to just 3 of 13 shooting.

While Rogers was contained, Melvin Jones broke out for 28 points as the Seahawks withstood a strong first quarter by the Spartans to take the lead and hold it all the way to the end of the third quarter, when they went up by 10.

Bainbridge slowly worked their way back to cut the lead to two with 20 seconds left.

As Sealth drove the ball down the floor, Steven Gray went in for the steal. He couldn’t get his hands on the ball, but it was knocked away.

Caleb Davis grabbed the ball and was fouled. He hit his foul shots, but a Sealth player was fouled on the way down by Davis, putting them on the line for two shots to get the lead back.

Orness said the foul came from a miscommunication between him and Nick Fling during Davis’ time at the line on what to do when Sealth got the ball back.

“They’re looking at me like ‘you said to foul,’ and I said no, but you can’t think about it,” he said. “Who knows what happened. I probably said the wrong thing or it came out wrong.”

But redemption came just seconds later on the inbounds pass where Gray was to get the ball on a “double stack high” or a double screen to free him up for the shot.

But Sealth had him double teamed, so he passed to Gibler who knocked down the three with five seconds left – or so it seemed.

According to Orness, his foot was on the line, but it was counted as a three. The referees noticed the mistake and fixed it, forcing the game into overtime.

Gray did the rest, scoring 10 points all on free throws as Bainbridge held Sealth to three points in the overtime period.

“Sealth is a great team,” Orness said. “Coach Slingsby has done a great job in raising the program up. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them again in the playoffs.”

Orness also said they have to do a better job of handling the ball.

Bainbridge had 24 turnovers.

“You don’t win many times with 24 turnovers,” he said. “You can’t do that against Rainier Beach or O’Dea.”

Bainbridge played Beach yesterday.

They travel to Lakeside Friday.

Girl hoopsters fall to .500

The Bainbridge girls basketball team are finding it more of a struggle in the Metro League this year.

They defeated the Cleveland Eagles 50-36 last Wednesday, but lost to the number one ranked Chief Sealth Seahawks 68-39 last Friday, then lost to the ninth ranked Holy Names Cougars 75-63 on Monday.

The loss puts them at .500 for the year and in fourth place in the Mountain Division with a two game lead over Bishop Blanchet.

After starting the season 4-0, Bainbridge has gone 2-6, but all of their losses have come against ranked teams.

Bainbridge had four players in double figures – Brittany Gray had 17 points while Emily Farrar had 14 and Caitlyn Salo and Lindsay Bratonia had 11 apiece – but Holy Names had four players in double figures, led by Bri Reichelt who had 23 points.

Salo also had six assists in the game.

The Spartans led 37-34 at halftime.

Against Sealth, the Spartans were able to hang with the much bigger Seahawks as they went into halftime down by seven, but Sealth ran away with it in the second half.

Bainbridge hosts Rainier Beach tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Tumblers on pace for perfection

The Bainbridge gymnastics team is one more win away from another perfect season.

They defeated the Nathan Hale Raiders 160.8-117 for their 87th dual meet win in a row.

Marie Welsh finished first in the all-around competition with 37 points.

She has not finished second in the all-around all year.

Welsh was first on all four events, including a 9.4 on the floor and a 9.6 on the beam.

The next five spots were all taken up by Spartans.

Bainbridge hosts North Kitsap Friday.