It wasn’t a win according to the scoreboard, but the payoff was powerful nonetheless for the Spartans in Tuesday’s major matchup against Mercer Island in girls varsity water polo.

Though the powerhouse Islanders emerged victorious, slogging to a 19-15 win, Bainbridge battled until the end in a game that finished with a shockingly close score.

“That was the best we’ve played all season,” said Bainbridge Coach Kristin Gellert. “That was incredible. I think we were all surprised at how every girl stepped up to the challenge.”

Four Spartans scored in the contest, with Grace Carson, the team’s top scorer, once again fueling the Bainbridge offense.

Carson finished with 11 goals. Julia Brooks added two more for the Spartans, and Emma Gace and Trudy Rimbault added one each.

Bainbridge knew before the start of the game that Mercer Island would once again be a tough opponent to match up against.

“They have a couple really strong players. They had one girl we just couldn’t keep up with,” Gellert said. “They played a really strong game.”

Still, it was a quality outing against a quality team, and a game that should give the young Spartan squad (just three on the 13-member team are seniors) more confidence in a sport that’s still new to some.

“We’re pretty excited to move forward from that,” the coach said of the Mercer matchup, adding that she’s see multiple areas where the Spartans are getting better and better.

“Our passing has improved, our awareness is improving, protecting the ball is improving, and reaction time,” Gellert said.

“I think that they not only learned more about the game, but they learned a ton about themselves,” she said.

That’s important, because the Spartans are fielding a team this season with just seven returners.

“Almost half of the team is new. So we knew it was going to be a challenge. It’s a varsity sport, but you’re starting from the beginning with half the team,” Gellert noted.

This year’s roster includes seniors Gace (captain), Brooks and Taylor Jumpa; juniors Carson, Rimbault, Alex Miller, Juliana Moeller, Julia Tlapa and Frances Weller; sophomores Jillian Webb, Milena Broom and Sagel Bush; and freshman Melony Bourgeois.

Unlike other teams, the Spartans don’t have a strong base of club players to rely on. Even so, the newest players have shown to be quick learners.

“They’re picking up on it really quickly and taking the extra steps to improve on their own and they’re all excited,” the Spartan coach said. “They are a really cohesive team and they really seem to enjoy each other, which makes it fun.”

Bainbridge has always a boasted a pretty quick team, so speed will remain a focus.

Endurance, reaction time, and knowledge of the game are also on the list.

“Just kind of learning the game and trying to master the flow of it and to better anticipate what might happen next, so that we can react a little faster,” Gellert said. “I think that’s going to be what we keep seeing improvement in.”

Following the game against Mercer Island, Bainbridge’s overall record stood at 6-4 overall this week, which includes earlier losses this season to Gig Harbor, Newport and Stadium.

The Spartans were due to face another big test late this week: Wilson High on the road.

“They are the team that knocked us out of state last year,” Gellert recalled.

“We had beaten them twice in the season and they beat us when it really mattered, so we’re excited for a rematch,” she said.

Wilson likely is, as well, after the teams played in a jamboree at the start of the season and came up tied.

“It’s going to be a really, really fun game,” Gellert said.

Overall, Bainbridge is currently second in league play, which will give the Spartans a good shot at making it to State.

“We haven’t faced any teams from the East, which is the league we are facing at Regionals, so only time will tell, but for now we have to keep preparing for the unknown,” Gellert said.