TACOMA – The Skyview girls basketball team won’t remember this season by how it ended – a 51-35 loss to Bellarmine Prep on Friday.
Rather, Skyview will remember that a “rebuilding year” still saw it finish among the top eight teams in the state.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this group as basketball players, but more importantly as people,” Skyview coach Jennifer Buscher said. “They’re going to remember overcoming challenges, buying into something and accomplishing more than most people ever thought they could.”
Skyview (20-6) bowed out of the 4A state tournament Friday with a cold-shooting, turnover-plagued consolation-round showing at the Tacoma Dome.
But for Storm seniors Genevieve Lo and Hannahjoy Adams, that won’t put a sour end on careers that saw Skyview reach the final eight three times in four years, including a state title in 2012. Skyview’s top three scorers from last year’s team graduated.
“We didn’t expect to get this far,” Lo said. “But it’s always a goal to get to the dome. We just played one game at a time and worked hard on defense.”
“We used what people thought of us to work harder and get back here,” Adams added.
Bellarmine’s 6-foot-4 post Claire Martin caused trouble near the hoop. She led the Tacoma school with a game-high 19 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots. The Lions (23-3) will play for fourth place Saturday morning.
With 10 turnovers on 16 first-quarter possessions, Skyview fell behind 15-5. That deficit grew to 40-19 after three quarters.
But Skyview fought back in the fourth quarter, pulling within 44-33 with 3:06 to play.
“We left it all on the court,” Lo said. “One of our mottos is ‘no regrets,’ so we went for it.”
But Skyview couldn’t overcome 27 turnovers and shooting 27.5 percent from the field.
“We didn’t play our best basketball the last couple of days,” Buscher said. “The turnovers and just not making shots really hurt us. But it can’t take away from the experience and what this group has accomplished.”
BELLARMINE PREP 51, SKYVIEW 35
BELLARMINE PREP – Shalyse Smith 6, Madeline Garcia 4, Shelby Gavigan 5, McKenzie Alton 13, Jenny Hagle 0, Hailey Maher 0, Maddy Graves 0, Daizanique Anderson 0, Maggie Smith 0, Maya Willis 0, Claire Martin 19, Jayana Ervin 4. Totals 19 (2) 11-17 51.
SKYVIEW – Hannahjoy Adams 7, Riley Friauf 2, Sydney Friauf 3, Hanna Van Nortwick 2, Genevieve Lo 8, Mimi Kalani 0, Tiana Klutz 1, Kirsten Johnson 1, Ashlee Comastro 7, Maddie Lord 4. Totals 11 (1) 12-23 35.
Bellarmine 15 9 16 11 – 51
Skyview 5 10 4 16 – 35
