SEATTLE – As the voices of the victorious Spartans echoed across the locker room, the vanquished Spartans were left to quietly share words of encouragement and wonder what might have been.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the Spartans of Bainbridge that were victorious.

The hometown five never found their rhythm nor could they survive a cold shooting spell, losing 69-50 to Skyline in a 3A Sea-King District 2 loser out game Tuesday at Ingraham High School.

“Coach (Terry) Lande said something (afterwards) that I thought really nailed it,” Caleb Davis said. “He said that Skyline just played probably the best game they’ve ever had and we just didn’t.

“I thought we played a good game and it could have gone better, but Skyline came out and made some plays and hit some big shots and we just fell behind and couldn’t get back.”

The game started off well for Bainbridge as Mike Walsh quickly found Davis off the opening tip for a three point shot.

But Skyline stayed right with Bainbridge, as Nick Crossan, Travis Frame and Austin Weige all hit threes to help Skyline take a 15-12 lead.

Ben Eisenhardt and Davis combined for seven points to give Bainbridge the lead and held it for most of the quarter.

Skyline kept in it, then Crossan hit a three to send them into the locker room up by two.

“It was a game where they played near perfect and they were the aggressor,” head coach Scott Orness said. “We were playing on our heels and making a lot of mistakes – forcing shots, defensive mistakes.”

In the third, Walsh and Fling scored – but it would be the only points Bainbridge could muster, as they went abysmally cold, missing shots time after time and even watching some layins go in and out.

“We couldn’t get anything (going) at all,” Fling said. “They played some great defense. They played a hell of a game so kudos to them.”

Meanwhile Skyline barely missed, scoring 21 points between the third and the fourth before Fling ended the skid with a three-point play at the 4:18 mark.

Bainbridge then made a brief run with threes by Will DiIorio, Jesse Powell and Fling to close within ten, but that was all they could do as Skyline hit their free throws to close the game out.

“This game was a little bit like the story of our season,” Orness said. “There were a lot of ups and downs and our guys played hard all the way to the end. You can’t ask for more than that.”

Fling, who led all scorers with 19 points, said he was thankful to spend his time with his “best friends” in the four other seniors – Powell, Davis, Walsh and Dillan Harness – that were on the team.

“It was a hell of a season,” he said. “I’ve been in this system for so long and I’m so thankful to all the coaches and to the players.

“I’ve known the seniors since I moved here in first grade,” Fling continued. “You really don’t get that at an O’Dea or a Prep where you’re drawn from (other places).

“It’s just amazing with the community involved. I’m so grateful.”

Bainbridge finishes their season at 14-10.