6:56 PM: We’re at the Chief Sealth gym, where the Metro League basketball championship games are being played tonight. The girls’ title game has just ended, with the West Seattle High School girls losing to still-undefeated Bishop Blanchet. They were tied 27-27 at halftime, but Blanchet pulled away in the second half, and the final score was 62-46.

10:12 PM: Photos and details added, and what’s next for the WSHS girls:

WSHS started strong. It was run-and-gun in the first quarter. And when Blanchet got the ball, tenacious defense from the Wildcats forced them to have to shoot from further outside. When the first-quarter ended, West Seattle was ahead 15-8.

It was run-and-gun in the first quarter. And when Blanchet got the ball, tenacious defense from the Wildcats forced them to have to shoot from further outside. When the first-quarter ended, West Seattle was ahead 15-8.

Blanchet stepped it up in the second quarter, but WSHS kept fighting back. The Wildcats couldn’t hold off their opponent’s comeback, though, despite some solid shooting. But they fought back after Blanchet took the lead, and went into the locker room at halftime with a 27-27 tie after scoring leader Grace Sarver (21 points) got the last basket of the half.

The second half was off to a rocky start for WSHS, including a couple early traveling calls, and less rebounding success. Blanchet scored first in the second half, and never lost the lead. By the middle of the third quarter, they started to pull away, with the lead getting to double digits. The Wildcats cut that a bit by the end of the third – 45-36 – but then the final quarter was mostly Blanchet’s game, and they worked to slow things down and draw fouls, building their lead steadily to the 62-46 final score.

WHAT’S NEXT: The next game for the WSHS girls and head coach Darnell Taylor is their first in the district tournament, 3 pm Tuesday (February 14th) at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Circle SE). Their opponent won’t be determined until tomorrow night.