BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls pull out nailbiter district-playoffs win over Garfield

(Video added: Jenna McPhee three-pointer during second quarter)

FIRST REPORT, 4:36 PM: We’re at Bellevue College, where the West Seattle High School girls-basketball team has just pulled out a thriller of a district-playoffs win, 64-63 over Garfield HS. The Wildcats were behind for the entire first half, took the lead for the first time midway through the third quarter, but never pulled away, and the fourth quarter was a nailbiter, but when the buzzer sounded, WSHS took the win. Photos, video, and more details later.

ADDED 6:48 PM: The first quarter was not a good one for West Seattle – Garfield led the entire way, pulling out to a double-digit lead within a few minutes, and ending the first quarter on top, 22-13. They kept the lead for the second quarter too, but the real turning point of this game was probably the West Seattle three-pointers that bookended halftime: Izzy Turk sank one at the buzzer that ended the half, so what had been a 10-point deficit for the Wildcats was cut to 7, 34-27. Then the first scoring of the second half was a three by Jenna McPhee that trimmed the Bulldogs’ lead to 34-30.

Two minutes into the third quarter, WSHS tied Garfield 34-34. The two teams fought especially hard in the second half, and foul shots abounded. WSHS took the lead 38-36 with three and a half minutes to go in the third quarter on a basket by #20 Grace Sarver. Just a few minutes later, Turk was knocked down and had to leave the game. But her teammates fought on. The lead was traded multiple times; Garfield had it, 42-40, at the end of the third quarter.

A WSHS foul early in the fourth quarter gave Garfield more opportunities at the free-throw line, and shortly thereafter, same went for WSHS. Then a Garfield bucket took the Bulldogs’ lead to 45-41; WSHS’s Jasmine Gayles answered quickly to cut the lead to 45-43, with six and a half minutes left. After a couple more intense minutes, WSHS tied Garfield 45-45, and more lead-trading ensued. Back-to-backs by Sarver and Fiso opened a four-point lead for the Wildcats – three-fourths erased by a Garfield three-pointer – and the scoring was fast and furious from there. They were tied again, 59-59, with just a minute and a half left; within the final minute, they had a three-point lead, cut to one by Garfield with seconds to go, and WSHS held on for the 64-63 win.

Next up in districts, head coach Darnell Taylor‘s Wildcat girls will play another 3 pm game at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Circle SE) on Thursday (February 16th), vs. the winner of tonight’s game vs. Bellevue and Seattle Prep.

4 Replies to "BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls pull out nailbiter district-playoffs win over Garfield"

  • workdowntown February 14, 2017 (5:40 pm)

    Wow, way to go!!! 

  • nw February 14, 2017 (6:35 pm)

    CONGRATULATIONS WSHS!! Thanks for the coverage wsb. 

  • Joe K February 14, 2017 (7:07 pm)

    Way to go, Wildcats!!!

  • winafterwin February 14, 2017 (7:25 pm)

    way to go, girls! we’re all very proud of you!

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