By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
The Garfield Bulldogs (#1 in 3A Metro League) and the Everett Seagulls (#6 in 2A/3A Wesco District) played in a high-stakes matchup last night at the Tacoma Dome, where both teams were vying to advance to the semifinal round of the State 3A Girls’ Championships.
As the 3A State Championships draw near the end, the intensity on the court heightens. Teams are evenly matched and games are closely scored. The first quarter saw a lot of back-and-forth play, making it difficult for either team to score, as both were locked in on defense.
The two teams kept the score close, trading baskets throughout the quarter. Everett’s Alana Washington set the tone early for the Seagulls, scoring 8 of her team’s 13 first-quarter points. Meanwhile, Garfield’s unstoppable trio of Jayda Lewis, Sarah Lessig, and Katie Fiso worked seamlessly together, ending the quarter trailing Everett by one point, 13-12.
In the second quarter, Garfield took control. Led by Fiso’s 9 second-quarter points, the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Seagulls 15-6. Lewis was a key contributor, always in the right place at the right time for rebounds, and her teammates were busy intercepting passes for steals.
The Bulldogs ended the half on a high note, as Fiso got a steal and a layup in the closing seconds, helping Garfield extend their lead to 27-19 at halftime.
Coming back from halftime, Garfield initially struggled to regain their first-half momentum. The opening minutes of the second half were quiet for Garfield as Everett went on a 10-0 run to get back into the game. Fiso broke the Seagulls’ run with a layup, bringing the score to 30-29.
The last 30 seconds of the third quarter were eventful for Lessig, who was sent to the free-throw line three times, making four out of five shots, pushing the Bulldogs ahead by 6 at the end of the quarter.
In the final quarter, the Bulldogs took control of the game, maintaining their lead over the Seagulls. Fiso and Lessig worked hand-in-hand, continuously scoring points.
Everett began to show signs of defeat as their chance of heading to the semifinals started to slip away. Still fighting to keep her team in the game, Alana Washington continued to score, rebound, and aggressively pursue the ball until the final buzzer.
Despite the defensive efforts of Washington, Emily Barton, and Mae Washington, the Lady Bulldogs remained unstoppable, beating the Seagulls 54-43 and securing their spot in the semifinal round of the 3A State Championships.
With the victory, Garfield will play Lakeside on Friday, Mar. 1st at 9:00 p.m. to either advance to the championship game on Saturday or to a consolation game for 3rd and 5th place. Everett will play North Thurston in a loser-out game on Friday, Mar. 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome.
Pictorial Highlights
