The last time the Squalicum girls basketball team had won a district playoff game, most of the current players were learning to walk. Fourteen years later, the Storm broke their playoff drought with a 38-35 win at home over Anacortes in the opening round of the 2A District 1 tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
“I am really proud of the girls and to be a part of history,” Squalicum coach Jenalyn Brown said. “That was an intense game, but I appreciated how hard everyone worked and how they helped in these pinch-hitting moments.”
The fourth-seeded Storm found themselves in foul trouble early, racking up eight fouls in the first quarter to just two by fifth-seeded Anacortes. Despite having a couple players foul out throughout the game, the Storm’s bench players stepped up in big moments.
Gallery: Squalicum girls beat Anacortes in opening round of districts
“I feel like we can trust anybody on the team to go out there and play their hardest and do everything they’ve got to do to win,” Squalicum’s Tiana Thompson said.
Thompson played a pivotal role, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds, one block and a steal. Lexi Robbins tallied a game-high 15 points.
“We all working together and playing selflessly,” Robbins said.
Even though the Storm had support from several players, Anacortes took an early 10-8 lead after the first quarter.
Mikiah Dunham and Regan Hunt combined for five of the Seahawks’ 10 first-quarter points. Hunt led the team with a team-high 12 points and three rebounds.
In the second quarter, Squalicum took the lead back with a 3-pointer from Carli Kiesau. The Seahawks responded immediately and tied the game at 16-16 with a couple minutes left before the break.
With seconds remaining in the first half, Squaliucm trailed by a basket, until a Storm 3-pointer fell short into Thomspon’s hands, who rebounded the ball and made the putback to end the half with a 23-23 tie.
The Storm opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run, but Hunt rallied the Seahawks back into the game with five points and a steal that led to another basket. Thompson and Loretta Murphy-Kangas were then able to score underneath the basket to give the Storm a 31-28 lead.
In the fourth quarter, both teams traded baskets until the final minute. Robbins stepped up to the line with a chance to secure the game but missed a couple of free throws. Dunham threw up a 3-point shot with the time expiring but fired it off the backboard.
“It feels great,” Thompson said. ‘I am really enjoying this season and our team is coming together.”
Squalicum will face top-seeded Lynden in the district semifinals at 7:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at Mount Vernon High School. The winner of that will face the winner No. 2 Archbishop Murphy and No. 3 Burlington-Edison in the district title game.
Anacortes will play eighth-seeded Bellingham in a loser-out consolation match at 7 p.m. Friday at Anacortes High.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
