The Bainbridge girls basketball team ran out 2002 with a win and two losses at the Cascade Classic basketball tournament at Eastlake High School.

After dropping their first game last Thursday against Chilliwack, B.C. in a wild 73-71 run-and-gun loss, the Spartans came back Friday to beat the Eagle Point, Ore. team 45-43.

A scheduling snafu – two teams that were supposed to appear in the tournament were unable to come – gave the Spartans a bye in the consolation round and a berth in the consolation finals. There, they finished with a 57-43 loss to Metro League rival Chief Sealth.

Although Bainbridge finished 1-2 in the tournament, the experience playing teams they normally wouldn’t see could prove beneficial when the post-season comes in February.

“As a whole, we had some good individual performances,” said Bainbridge coach Penny Gienger. “(But) as a team, we’re not playing well together.”

Some of the individuals who played well in the Classic included junior forward Lee Maloney, who scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss to Chief Sealth; Morgan Zajonc, who averaged 14 points a game in the tournament, including the go-ahead free throws against Eagle Point with 15 seconds to go; and freshman guard Allie Picha, who averaged 12 per game.

In their game against Chief Sealth, the Spartans held their own but couldn’t get the ball to drop at the right time.

The Seahawks had no such problems, as MeMe Lewis-Roberts and Brenee Mullen each scored 14 points against the Spartans to lead Sealth to the win.

It was the second time Sealth defeated BHS this season, beating them 55-44 earlier in December.

“Chief Sealth is improved and they were aggressive,” Gienger said. “They just got it to the right people.”

It was Bainbridge’s first appearance at the Cascade Classic, now in its third year. Despite the early morning ferry rides, the Spartans liked playing in a holiday tournament close to home.

“It’s a great idea,” Gienger said of the Cascade Classic. “Hopefully, it will have a long run.”

– George Edgar