The Bainbridge High boys varsity basketball team hung tough but were ultimately bested Friday by the Fighting Irish from O’Dea. The Spartans found themselves on the wrong side of a 64-55 final score, and shouldering their 15th loss of the season.
The defeat left the island squad with an overall record of 3-15 (1-12 in conference) and in a three-way tie for last place in the league with Ballard and Bishop Blanchet. Nathan Hale remains the team to beat (13-0 in conference), followed by Garfield (12-1), and Rainier Beach (11-2).
Against O’Dea, Bainbridge scored first but things were quickly tied before the end of the first quarter. They managed to pour on the gas, though, and entered the second up 19-17 anyway.
Positions had reversed by the end of the half, which saw the Spartans behind, 29-28.
Bainbridge was outpaced in the third and though they almost always answered an O’Dea bucket in turn, playing constant catch-up did not give the island team time to take the lead.
The fourth quarter thus began with BHS behind 50-40.
Despite the loss, BHS Head Coach Steve Haizlip said Friday’s game was a success in many ways.
“It was a great game,” he said. “I think we as a team tonight finally came together in being well prepared and competing for the four quarters.
“That was a complete game in Metro against a good team,” he said, calling it one of the team’s most polished showings all season.
Some were admittedly less rosy.
It was the Spartans sixth consecutive loss after all, and some of the players, Haizlip said, were obviously feeling it.
“I thought we took steps today,” the coach said. “After going through a season where you haven’t won some games and some have been ugly and some have been close, it really could have unfolded badly.
“I think these guys have shown some true character just in sticking together and continuing to fight and see what’s going to come the next day.”
There were some standout performances, as well, including a powerful showing by senior Brendan Burke, who was called by one team official “the hidden gem of Metro.”
“We all want a Brendan on our team,” Haizlip said. “He’s an amazing player.
“He’s a special player and I’ve coached a lot of great guys and I’m just thankful I’ve got to coach somebody like him. It’s going to be hard to see it when he does leave.”
Burke put up 26 points against the Irish, the most of any BHS player, and has been a perpetual points machine for the Spartans this year, regularly topping the postgame stats.
Lyle Terry scored 17 points that night, and Marcus Clyde chipped in six and Charlie Hoberg, five.
Looking ahead, Haizlip said the team was going to attempt to keep their newfound mojo working in their final outings and snag the best postseason seeding they could.
“I want them to succeed,” he said of the team. “I was just talking to a player who’s having a hard time and I told him it hurts me to see him like that.
“For us now it’s just to carry this momentum to Ingraham,” he added. “We can get a win in Ingraham if we do that – and we are. We’re hitting our stride a little bit late, but it’s OK. It’s never too late to hit your stride.”
The Spartans will cap the regular season with a Senior Night home game at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 against Eastside Catholic.
