Bainbridge Spartans girls basketball dropped its second game of the season to the Peninsula Seahawks 56-35. The Spartans did not have Hannah Bounketh or Kaela Cole suit up and Bella Ramirez was on a minute restriction due to illness. However, it was no excuse for the Spartans’ performance.
“I knew some of the girls were sick before the Mercer Island game and if the players wanted to play, I gave them the benefit of the doubt and it showed today,” head coach Zach Burnham said. “Bella was trying to get back into the groove of things.”
The Spartans offense fell flat again. Carlyn Moore’s layup was the only basket in the first quarter.
“I tried to switch some things up but we are just too stagnant,” Burnham said. “It’s black and white with the girls. We are working on eliminating the point A to point B mentality because sometimes you have to skip ahead.”
Ramirez improvised in the second quarter, scoring five of her nine points. In addition, Maia Greiwe scored a pair of free throws, Sierra Berry made a basket and Moore nailed a three-pointer. Yet, the Spartans’ three-point defense was the weakness again.
The Spartans gave up 13 three-pointers against Mercer Island and seven against Peninsula, including four by No. 30 Kaylia Heidelberg. The Spartans offense only scored six points in the third quarter to make it 41-20. Berry, Ramirez and Anna Rowe scored in the quarter.
“I don’t know how many times I talked about number 30,” Burnham said. “She is three feet off the line but when she hits three in a row, run her off the line. I don’t know how many teams will be shooting like these last two.”
In the final quarter, the Spartans began to shoot from everywhere. However, the shots barely fell compared to the Peninsula. The Seahawks opened the lead to 56-35 before running out the final minute of the game.
“I want to win these games out of conference because we are playing 2A games all year then jump back up to 3A,” Burnham said.
Ramirez led the team in scoring and assists with nine points and three assists while Berry led with 11 rebounds and four points.
Jordan Gardner passes the ball during a fastbreak.
Sierra Berry grabs 11 rebounds against Peninsula.
