| Saturday- Feb. 16 | 2013 | – 3A – | SeaKing | District | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Bellevue | 9 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 41 | |
| Mercer Island | 5 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 35 | |
Girls- Bellevue tops Mercer Island for 4th time this year,
Capture Sea-King District Third Seed
By Colin Caruso
In their fourth matchup of the season, the Bellevue Wolverines played the Mercer Island Islanders for the 3rd/4th seed in the Sea-King district. Bellevue won all three matchups coming into this contest, and Mercer Island was looking for something to carry them past the Wolverines for the higher seed in regionals.
Because these two teams had seen each other so many times, both defenses were prepared for the offensive sets from their counterparts. Both teams combined for 17 turnovers in the first, compared to just 14 points. Bellevue took a 9-5 lead into the second.
Mercer Island started the second quarter on a 12-2 run, taking the lead over the Wolverines 17-11. Bellevue responded with a three pointer from Erin McGowan and a one for two showing at the line from Tatiana Steun to cut the halftime lead to two, 17-15.
Capitalizing off of four offensive rebounds early in the third quarter, the Wolverines came back to tie the Islanders at 21. Bellevue controlled the glass in the quarter and took a 25-24 lead into the fourth.
Both teams were in the bonus in the fourth quarter, and the final few minutes of the ballgame came down to free-throw execution. Bellevue had a seven point cushion late in the fourth, but failed to convert from the line, allowing Mercer Island to cut the lead to one.
The Wolverines responded, with a late basket from freshman Shelby Cansler and a pair of free-throws from junior Erin McGowan to win by six, 41-35.
Top Performers:
Bellevue
Shelby Cansler (19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals)
Tatiana Steun (7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals)
Mercer Island
Rachael Tessem (9 points, 6 rebounds)
Renae Tessem (4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals)