Brittany Gray scores 26 points, but rest of the starters struggle.

The frustration was evident in Penny Gienger’s voice afterwards.

It may have been from the inability to get the refs to notice her calling a timeout after Bainbridge had scored late in the fourth quarter, but there were other things troubling her.

“We just can’t find a way to score,” the Spartan head coach said.

Brittany Gray led the team with 26 points and 12 rebounds, but the rest of the starters for Bainbridge combined for just 19 points as the Spartans lost to top-ranked Meadowdale 54-47 Thursday night at Paski Gymnasium.

The last time the two teams met was a loser-out game at the 2001 state tournament.

The Spartans took the early lead at 9-5 on a Lindsay Bratonia bucket, but the Mavericks went on a 13-0 run on the back of junior guard Eryn Jones, who hit two three-pointers and scored 11 points in the quarter.

Bainbridge worked their way back into the game on a technical foul on Meadowdale in the second quarter.

Caitlyn Salo hit three of the four foul shots, then on the inbounds play, Brittany Gray drove to the hoop for the score.

Kirsten Michael scored on another drive to the basket and Gray scored on a rebound and putback to tie the game at 24 with 3:49 left.

But the Mavs went on a quick 6-2 run to put Meadowdale up by six at the half.

“We’re not as aggressive as we were last year,” Gienger said. “So then our mistakes are compounded by not being able to score.”

In the fourth quarter, Jones and Gray duked it out to push their team ahead.

The sophomore wing had eight points in the period to bring the Spartans within six with 3:20 left, but Jones had nine, while center Marelle Moehrle scored four points in the last 1:30 to put the game out of reach.

Bainbridge played at North Kitsap yesterday. They take on Seattle Prep next Friday at home at 8 p.m.

BIGC starts season right

The Bainbridge Island Gymnastics Club are off to a great start after their first meet of the season at the Metropolitan Gym in Kent.

The level seven gymnasts, coached by Alison Mayberry, competed on December 16th and earned a team score of 103.3, good enough to earn the team fourth place overall.

Annie Zuckerman finished in fourth in the all-around competition with a score of 34.875.

She was fourth on the beam exercise with a 8.650, fourth on the floor with an 8.80 and fifth on bars with an 8.50.

Zucker­man was named most valuable gymnast for the BI team.

Rachel Kaminer placed fifth on floor with an 8.750 and Anne Schwartz placed fifth on the beam with an 8.40.

Together, with teammates Jaclyn Foris, Chloe Kent, and Kathleen Callahan, the level seven girls are off to an excellent start of the competitive season.

The Level Five gymnasts, coached by Norton Schimke, competed on Dec. 17th and earned an all-around team score of 94.45.

Marielle Summers was named most valuable gymnast with an all around score of 32.225.

Sarah Rice placed fifth on vault with a score of 8.65.

Along with teammates Chloe Seferos, Miller Shor, Alexis Trussell, Catherine Trussell, and Grace Allen, the level five girls placed ninth in the all-around team competition.

The BIGC will host a home meet Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. at Woodward.