Eastside Catholic girls basketball advances in state tourney with win over Bellarmine Prep

The Eastside Catholic Crusaders girls basketball team advanced in the 3A state championship tournament on Saturday by claiming victory over the Bellarmine Prep Lions at Issaquah High School.

The game started with the Lions’ Melina Petramalo scoring the first basket. But Eastside Catholic quickly responded with a 2-pointer from Amy Nduka. Both teams kept up the pressure early, with Bellarmine’s Kyla Frazier and Eastside Catholic’s Tatum Carter trading baskets. Carter’s free throw and another 2-pointer helped the Crusaders build a lead. By the end of the first quarter, Eastside Catholic was ahead 13-9.

In the second quarter, Eastside Catholic’s offense picked up. Olivia Wollum and Nduka added key baskets, while the team also took advantage of free throws to extend their lead. The Lions stayed competitive, with Frazier scoring a 3-pointer and following it up with a 2-pointer to close the gap. However, the Crusaders remained strong and closed the half with a 25-16 lead.

The third quarter saw Bellarmine push back, with Frazier continuing to lead. She hit two quick baskets, and Saphia Lazrak added points to help close the gap. However, the Crusaders kept control of the game, with Nduka hitting multiple shots and Sophie Lugolobi contributing at the free-throw line. As the quarter ended, Eastside Catholic maintained a 43-35 advantage.

In the final quarter, the Crusaders dominated. Nduka, Lugolobi, and Carter continued to score, while their defense held the Lions to limited opportunities to score. Bellarmine fought hard, with Jaela Jones and Frazier’s free throws, but Eastside Catholic’s steady shooting and defense secured the win. The Crusaders added multiple free throws to seal the 60-42 victory.

The Eastside Crusaders will play Seattle Prep at the Tacoma Dome on Wednesday, March 5, with tipoff scheduled at 12:15 p.m.