The boys basketball team led ninth-ranked Seattle Prep at 29-26 at halftime in Friday’s game on the strength of sinking five three-point shots. But Prep returned the favor in the second half, sinking several crucial treys to pull away 64-49.
“The score is a little misleading,” said coach Scott Orness. “It was a seven-point game with a minute to go, then they connected for a lot of free throws.”
Teddy Picha led the team with 13 points. Travis Guterson had 12, Adam Brenneman 11, Mike Botefuhr 6, Spencer Evans five and Simon Pollack two.
The loss in the season finale made the team’s final record 7-13 overall, 6-12 and tied for fifth with Cleveland in Metro’s Sound Division, as the team had dropped out of playoff contention two weeks ago. Orness could only gaze enviously at the Mountain Division, where both Lakeside and Sealth (6-11) – teams the Spartans had beaten – advanced to the playoffs.
“We’re a lot tougher now than we were at the start of the season,” Orness said. “We peaked at the right time. We would have made things happen if we were in the playoffs.
“Overall, I’m really pleased with the way the guys grew during the season. They gained trust in me and I in them. A lot of teams would have folded in the last two weeks, but these guys didn’t.
“Next year starts today. Guys are already starting to build strength and quickness. We have a lifting and conditioning program starting in March, two spring league teams, and we’ll also be playing in the summer and fall.
“People are starting to get excited about basketball on the island.”
Seattle Prep JVs 65, Bainbridge JVs 50 – “They jumped on us in the beginning,” said coach Keith Kirkwood. “It was 10-0 in a heartbeat.” The Panthers were up 51-31 at the half and coasted. Andy Kelly led the team with 17, Mark Korsak had ten and Bill Kirkwood added nine.
“We should have been a little better,” Kirkwood said of the team’s 7-12 mark. “In a successful season, you win the games you should win, and pull an upset or two. We had the upset, beating Ballard, but we were only about .500 against teams of equal caliber.
“But I was very impressed with the junior class and how hard they worked. There was never a junior with a bad practice.
“And I think that everybody on the team is capable of competing for a spot on the varsity next year, depending on how hard they work in the off-season.”
Seattle Prep “C” 51, Bainbridge “C” 37 – The Spartans took a 14-8 first quarter lead, but only scored four in the second quarter to fall behind 21-18 at the half and trailed 34-31 after three quarters.
“The guys came out and played hard,” said coach Chris White, “but they just stuffed us in the fourth quarter.”
Cody Bludorn finished with ten points, Grant Leslie added nine and Sean Callahan and Eric Baker both had five as the team finished 10-8.
“The future of Bainbridge basketball is in good hands,” said White. “The core of the team sounds like they’re committed to playing year-round.”
