Eastlake girls drop their penultimate game to Bothell
The Eastlake girls basketball team lost 60-50 against the Bothell Cougars at home on Wednesday night as they head into the final game of the regular season. The Cougars’ early advantage allowed them to keep their momentum throughout the game.
Bothell immediately got the advantage from the tipoff through the drive and foul on Charlotte Lipkin, who was able to score both free throws. The Cougars capitalized multiple times through gaining possession in the middle of the court, going on swift counters to catch the Eastlake defense out of shape. Three minutes in, the Wolves grabbed their first points of the game through a three-pointer by Brooke McCartney. Eastlake made more shot attempts in the early part of the quarter, but were not able to take the advantage. The Cougars dominated, playing more clinically as well as putting immense pressure on the Wolves’ attacks. In the final seconds of the quarter, a three-pointer from Eastlake’s Maggie Bredeweg narrowed the deficit to two points, 13-11, Bothell.
The Wolves were able to start off scoring in the second quarter, as McCartney’s free throw decreased the gap to just one point. Bothell preferred to keep the ball for long periods of time, and drained the shot clock a handful of times. They were forced to shoot outside of the paint often, but made use of the attempts. Eastlake kept the game tight as Megan Roberts sunk her three-pointer from right court, reducing the Cougars’ lead to just two points. Many drives made by the Wolves were overpowered by the Bothell defense, leading them to concede many offensive fouls. Eastlake tied the game up with seconds left on the clock, but a foul with one second on the clock led them to concede one more point to Bothell’s Kayleah Hawkins, ending the quarter 24-23 in favor of Bothell.
Coming back from the break, the Cougars extended their lead to four points as Lila Stroup scored a three-pointer from left court. Bothell put unnecessary pressure on themselves as they played chicken with the shot clock. However, the Cougars still capitalized through quick switches of possession, using their shorter frames to their advantage against the taller Eastlake defense. The Wolves kept the game tight as Roberts scored a layup off a fast break, minimizing the deficit with a minute left on the clock. A buzzer beater by Addison Baumgartner then tied the game up for Eastlake.
Bothell ended the Wolves’ chances in the final quarter. They quickly scored five points within the first minutes. Eastlake was left constantly chasing that lead. With two minutes left on the clock, Hawkins’ free throw took Bothell seven points ahead. Baumgartner responded with a layup that kept Eastlake’s hopes alive. Sam Brooke’s and Hawkins’ free throws eventually sealed the game for Bothell at 60-50.
“The season has been a successful one to this point, some growing pains and some games we could have won and didn’t, but the day over day broth of the team has been good,” Eastlake coach Sara Goldie said, emphasizing that her team “has to continue to prioritize each possession and control the tempo of the games.”
Eastlake (14-5 overall) will play their last game of the season at Woodinville on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 3:45 p.m.
