In Sammamish Basketball, Eastlake High Girls Too Much for Inglemoor, Move Into Third Place Game

The  LadyWolves, behind a game-high 21 points from junior forward Kendra Morrison, proved far too much for the Inglemoor High Vikings Tuesday afternoon at the Juanita Field House.

Coach Sarah Goldie and her Lady Wolves moved past Inglemoor, 66-53, to remain alive in the 4A KingCo girls' basketball tournament.

Using a harrassing full-court trap throughout the game, the Lady Wolves took control over a four and a half minute stretch in the first half that saw them push their lead from two to 15.

Eastlake continuously caused problems for Inglemoor ball-handlers, trapping guards near the sideline boundary and forcing several misguided passes that were immediately turned into easy points on the other end.

The Lady Wolves team-oriented style of up-tempo defense is a case-in-point example of their philosophy of "FAMILY," which adorns the back of each player's warm-up shirt.

"We're very unselfish and it's just huge, we believe in everybody," Goldie said postgame.

"We feel like our defense and being able to switch our defense up puts a lot of pressure on opposing teams and gets them uncomfortable."

The Vikings pulled within 22-20 after sophomore Julia Haining's bucket inside with 2:12 left in the second period, but Inglemoor would score only nine points over the ensuing four-plus minutes and the Lady Wolves took full advantage, moving out to a 42-27 lead with 5:37 remaining in the third.

Inglemoor would put together one final run, outscoring Goldie's squad 22-15 in the final period.

But in the end it was not to be for the Vikings, who struggled with foul trouble and turnovers throughout the game.

Coach John Augustravo's team pulled to within 60-51 after a Taylor Peacocke three-pointer with only a minute and a half remaining in the contest, but would score only two more points in the game in an effort symptomatic of their entire evening on the offensive end.

There is no doubt Goldie has her players buying into the "team-first" attitude she preaches as they continuously did something basketball coaches everywhere praise: Pass up a shot for a better shot.

On Tuesday, many of the best shots came open for Morrison both in the painted area and on the perimeter.

Morrison gave the Vikings defense headaches all game and showed a diverse offensive skill-set by getting buckets by backing her opponents down, facing up in the post and also extending her offense to the three-point line, making her virtually impossible to defend one-on-one.

"When she comes into the game and plays relaxed, it makes everybody relaxed," said Goldie of Morrison.

"It's nice when she can get a little of her inside and her outside game going, she was immensely helpful tonight."

The Vikings were led by 13 points from sophomore Kelly Conroy and the 12 from junior guard Taylor Peacocke.

With the win, the Lady Wolves move into the tournament's Third-Place game and will face the Issaquah High School Eagles.

The winner of that game will be then take on the third place team from WesCo (which will be either Stanwood, Jackson, Marysville-Pilchuck or Edmonds-Woodway) for a spot in the 4A State Tournament.

The game against Issaquah will be the third this season between the two area rivals.

The teams split their previous two meetings with the Eagles prevailing 61-48 in the first contest and the Lady Wolves coming out on top 60-57 in the rematch.

That game is scheduled to take place on Thursday at the Juanita Field House with a tip time of 6:30pm.