(Photo by Mike Jensen – both teams during the pre-game anthem)

11:56 PM SATURDAY: The two schools that played for the Tri-District boys-basketball championship tonight are less than 5 miles apart, but they played on a court more than 110 miles from home. Shorewood Christian from just east of Arbor Heights goes home with the win over Seattle Lutheran from just north of The Junction, 65-57, at Lummi Nation High School in Bellingham. Both will play in the 1B regional round, opponents/locations TBA, Friday or Saturday.

10:30 PM SUNDAY: The bracket for regional games is set – Seattle Lutheran will play Columbia Adventist at 8 pm Saturday (February 27th) at Renton High School (400 S. 2nd); same location for Shorewood Christian’s 2 pm game Saturday vs. Naselle. All regional games are winner to state, loser out.

(UPDATED SUNDAY with details of WSHS’s next game)

(WSB photos: WSHS #20 Grace Sarver)

4:58 PM: As we left the Bellevue College gym following the West Seattle High School girls’ 48-44 loss to Mercer Island this afternoon, WSHS principal Ruth Medsker pointed something out:

The team is exactly where it was at this point last year – taking fourth place in the district playoffs.

The next game, in the “regional round” to winnow the field for the 3A state tournament, is must-win. The Wildcats have at least six days to rest up for it, after the grueling past two weeks of tournament play, which have been rocky, with their only three losses of the year, following an undefeated regular season and a long list of Metro League honors.

Today’s game ended in nerve-wracking fashion for WSHS fans. Things looked a little gloomy at the end of the first quarter, down 20-7. They got within two points and then went into the locker room at the half down 28-24.

Midway through the third quarter, they pulled even at 28-28. But shooting trouble and multiple traveling violations didn’t help their case and they were down four points again at the end of the third. They stepped up the defense to keep the Islanders from pulling away, but even the foul shots weren’t going in. Nonetheless, the battle continued, and within 18 seconds left they were just one basket down, 46-44. Mercer Island took the ball from there, and to keep them from running the clock out, there was nothing to do but foul, and both shots went in. WSHS couldn’t convert after that, and the game ended 48-44.

Today’s top scorers: #32 Lydia Giomi with 22, #30 Lexi Ioane with 10, #20 Gabby Sarver with 5, #21 Grace Sarver with 4, #3 Izzy Turk with 3.

The Wildcats’ next game will be listed here when the regional field is set.

12:16 AM UPDATE: According to the bracket, WSHS will play the defending 3A state champions, undefeated Lynnwood, at regionals, time/location still TBA.

4:49 PM SUNDAY UPDATE: Time and place now set – WSHS will face Lynnwood at 2 pm NOON next Saturday (February 27th) at Mountlake Terrace HS EVERETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (2000 Tower).

12:11 PM: First of today’s three district-playoff games involving local high-school basketball teams is over: The Seattle Lutheran girls finished fifth in the Tri-District playoffs with a 51-42 victory over Mount Rainier Lutheran. The Saints are now off to regional competition, the last step before the state tournament, next game TBA, next Friday or Saturday – we’ll update when we have that info.

12:50 PM: Photo added – shared by Mike Jensen via Twitter.

ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: As Mike reported in comments, the girls will play Mount Vernon Christian in Mount Vernon on Saturday (February 27th) at noon.