MOUNT VERNON — Shorecrest learned from its previous encounter with Bellingham at a Christmas tournament not to try and outrun the Red Raiders.
So the Scots decided to outsmart Bellingham instead.
Tempering their usual up-tempo pace, the Scots picked apart the Red Raiders 66-60 in a loser-out contest Feb. 27 at Mount Vernon High School to advance to the consolation final of the Northwest District 3A playoffs.
“I think we’re a good running team as well, but we’re not as good as Bellingham,” Shorecrest coach Don Dalziel said. “So one of our keys was to make sure they didn’t get in transition.”
Though the Scots led from start to finish, Bellingham sliced Shorecrest’s 16-point, fourth-quarter lead down to seven with 20 seconds to go.
While the Scots struggled from the free throw line — making just 11 of their 23 attempts in the final period — the Red Raiders erupted for 22 points in the final 2:52, surpassing their point total through the first three and a half quarters combined.
Bellingham hit three straight 3-pointers in the last 35 seconds to liven up a game the Scots were in charge of since early in the second period.
Senior point guard Whitney Michiels nailed a pair of 3-pointers during a 17-6 second-quarter run that boosted Shorecrest’s halftime advantage to 31-16.
Michiels scored all 13 of her points in the first half and added seven assists. Haley Martin led the Scots with 20 points and eight rebounds, Mary Tseng added six boards and four steals and Banimi Lawson had nine boards and five points.
Senior post Erin Farquhar contributed 13 of her career-high 17 points in the second half and grabbed 11 rebounds.
“She really settled down and became an offensive threat for us,” Dalziel said. “That’s something we’d been missing the past couple games.”
It was the second straight loser-out victory for the Scots after an opening round defeat to eventual district champion Meadowdale a week earlier.
“You’ve got one day to put in a game plan in the loser’s bracket,” Dalziel said. “Our kids have been patient and responsive in practice to be able to adjust to new styles of play.”
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