(UPDATED SUNDAY AFTERNOON with info on state games for SLHS, SCHS)

(WSB video: SLHS starters’ introduction)

8:15 PM: We’re at Renton High School, where the first quarter is over and the Seattle Lutheran High School boys are ahead of Columbia Adventist Academy, 15-7, in the regional playoffs. SLHS went out to a 11-0 lead before the Kodiaks got on the board. With tough defense by the Saints, at six seconds left in the quarter, Columbia Adventist ran out of time and notched a shot-clock violation. Winner of this game goes to state, while the other team’s season will be over. We’ll be updating each quarter.

8:31 PM: Halftime, and the Saints lead the Kodiaks, 31-13. (Photo above, basket in progress by Josh Meyer, midway through the second quarter.)

8:54 PM: End of the third quarter now, and Seattle Lutheran is up 51-26. Highlights during this quarter included two back-to-back baskets by Meyer, including a three-pointer.

9:10 PM: The Saints kept building their lead, and have just won the game 71-32:

They’re headed to the state tournament in Spokane; we should find out tomorrow who they’ll play and when. We’ll add more photos and game stats when we’re back at HQ. (added) Leading scorers: Meyer with 20, Xavier Turner (below) with 19:

Simon Solomon scored 9 points.

ADDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON: The opening round in the state 1B boys’ basketball tournament is set: Seattle Lutheran will play Almira-Coulee-Hartline at 2 pm Thursday, right after Shorewood Christian (which is just east of Arbor Heights) plays Yakima Tribal at 12:15 pm. (Both SLHS and SCHS made it to the state tournament last year, with Seattle Lutheran finishing third, Shorewood Christian finishing fifth.

Somebody in your family playing youth baseball this season? Here’s a new way to get geared up – a swap event at Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) coming up one week from today. To get ready for it, SGS is accepting gear starting TOMORROW! Here’s the announcement:

Second Gear Sports and West Seattle Baseball are hosting a first annual cleat and gear swap extravaganza on March 5, 4-7 p.m.

Join us to trade in outgrown cleats for newer ones! Get the first shot at this season’s best used and new baseball gear at a special price. This event is open to all families with baseball players.

Before the exchange, bring clean, gently used baseball gear (cleats, bats, mitts, helmets, pants, bags, etc.) to Second Gear Sports for drop-off between Feb. 28 – March 3. Items will be inventoried and gear (except for cleats) will be priced.

During the exchange, every attending family can take free cleats from the swap table. Free cleats will only be available during the event on a first-come, first-served basis. Other baseball gear will be available for sale at great prices, as well as additional in-store discounts, complimentary snacks and drinks.

After the exchange, remaining cleats/gear will move into store inventory, subject to regular consignment terms.

Questions? Contact Second Gear Sports at 206-935-3552 or info@secondgearsports.com

Second Gear Sports is at 6529 California SW in Morgan Junction, open 11 am-5 pm Sundays, 10 am-6 pm Mondays-Saturdays.

Another season-ending loss for a local team this afternoon: The Seattle Lutheran High School girls’ winning season has come to a close, with their regional-playoffs loss to Mount Vernon Christian, 36-24, at Mount Vernon HS. Here are the Saints’ full-season results. (Thanks to Mike Jensen for all the updates!)

P.S. The SLHS boys are playing their regional game at 8 tonight at Renton HS, vs. Columbia Adventist Academy (from Battle Ground in SW Washington).

(WSB video: Introduction of the starting lineups)

12:04 PM: We’re at the Everett Community College gym, 38 miles from home, where the regional playoff game between the West Seattle High School girls and defending state champ Lynnwood HS has just tipped off. It’s a loser-out game – winner goes to the state tournament. In case you couldn’t make it up here, we’ll be updating live.

WSHS scores first – basket by #30 Lexi Ioane. Lynnwood ties it at 6:40 to go in the first quarter, 2-2.

12:07 PM: Two more baskets, after many trades of possession, and Lynnwood’s up 6-2 with 4:33 to go in the quarter. WSHS is defending tough, two-on-one under the Royals’ basket. They’ve fouled Lynnwood twice, resulting in one foul shot, and it’s now 7-2.

12:11 PM: Another basket by Ioane, quickly answered by two from Lynnwood, and it’s 11-4. Shortly afterward, Grace Sarver nets a basket, and it’s 11-6:

Lynnwood followed (they’re the home team, by the way, for this game), bringing it to 13-6. The Wildcats are doing a good job of rebounding but shooting is a bit of a challenge.

12:15 PM, END OF FIRST QUARTER: With a basket almost on the buzzer by Lynnwood, at the end of the first quarter, they lead 15-6.

12:18 PM: The Wildcats’ first basket of the second quarter is by #3 Izzy Turk, and it’s now 15-8.

12:23 PM: Lynnwood’s now up 21-11 after two unanswered baskets, and WSHS calls a time-out. 4:13 to go in the half.

12:27 PM: It’s been a tough few minutes for the Wildcats, now down 28-13, with the most recent two points on two foul shots by Ioane.

12:32 PM: The Lynnwood girls are slowing down to run out the rest of the half – and then a steal by WSHS. The Royals smothered Ioane as she attempted a shot, and she was fouled. Shooting two, she gets both, and it’s 31-15 with a minute left in the half. … Less than half a minute later, WSHS’s Gabby Sarver gets her third foul, and Lynnwood gets another point out of that, 32-15.

HALFTIME, 12:35 PM: That’s the score at halftime – Lynnwood 32, WSHS 15.

*************

SECOND HALF, 12:46 PM: WSHS opened with the ball but couldn’t convert and Lynnwood scored first, now up 34-15. When players moved back under the WSHS basket, a struggle for the ball ensued, and Lynnwood gets possession on the jump ball. The Royals called a timeout first.

12:52 PM: WSHS continues to have trouble shooting and hasn’t scored yet, more than halfway through the second quarter. Lynnwood’s now leading 36-15 and has just been fouled – making both shots, 38-15 now. Grace Sarver then scores a quick basket, the Wildcats’ first of the second half, 38-17.

Shortly afterward, #10 Jenna McPhee is fouled. She gets the second of two shots, score now 38-18. Two foul shots for Lynnwood bring it to 40-18.

12:57 PM: With two minutes to go, the Wildcats pick up two points from Turk, who was fouled. 42-20 now. On a subsequent possession, they lose control of the ball by their basket, so it goes back to Lynnwood, now trying again to slow things down, with a minute to go in the third quarter – and then a three-pointer, so they’re now up 45-20.

Grace Sarver, fouled shortly thereafter, gets the second shot, and it’s Lynnwood 45, WSHS 21.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER, 1 PM: Lynnwood 47, WSHS 21.

1:03 PM: Kelsey Lenzie scores first for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter, with a three-pointer, and it’s 48-24. Lynnwood gets two fast baskets after that, 52-24, and draws a foul, missing the shot.

1:07 PM: Just over six minutes to go in the game, and both Sarvers now have four fouls. Lynnwood just got two foul shots, up by 30 now, 54-24. #32 Lydia Giomi, often the Wildcats’ leading scorer, just now got her first 2 points, on a layup. Lynnwood answered again quickly, and it’s 56-26.

1:11 PM: Another ferocious fight for the ball, and WSHS gets possession. Basket by Rilcy Newsome follows, 59-28 Lynnwood with three minutes in the game. The Wildcats are still battling, but time’s running out.

Giomi is fouled and makes the second shot (above), 59-29 with two minutes to go. Shortly afterward, Lynnwood calls a timeout.

1:15 PM: Right after that, Jenna McPhee steals, and Lenzie gets a three-pointer, 59-32. One minute to go, and Ioane gets another basket. 59-34, half a minute to go.

1:19 PM: That’s the final score, and the WSHS girls’ excellent season comes to an end. We’ll add game stats shortly. (added) Here they are:

WSHS scoring leaders – Ioane 10, Turk 7, Lenzie 6
WSHS rebound leaders – Giomi 9, Turk 6, Ioane 5

First-year head coach Darnell Taylor‘s team went to 21-0, undefeated in the regular season plus the first offseason game, before their first loss (see the schedule/results here). Today’s game was their only double-digit loss.