SPORTS

Seahawks Girls Basketball Season Comes to a Close With a 49-39 Loss to Ridgeline

Peninsula loses in the first round of the 3A girls state basketball tournament to Ridgeline High, near Spokane.

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The No. 19-seed Peninsula Seahawks could not overcome a cold night of shooting from the field and the free throw line as they fell to the 14-seed Ridgeline Falcons, 49-39, in the first round of the 3A girls state basketball tournament. The Seahawks ended the season with a 14-10 overall record.  

“Our offense had no flow, which is what hurt us,” said Seahawks Head Coach Hannah Lekson. “If we could have had more flow, made the easy shots, and if we hit our free throws, we would have walked out of that gym with a win.”

After being down 13-12 at the end of the first quarter, Peninsula took a 21-20 lead going into the half.

Senior Kaylia Heidelberg hit a three at the start of the third quarter and Irene Segura made two free throws to put the Seahawks up 26-25, but that was the last time Peninsula had the lead. Falcons freshman Grace Sheridan hit a pair of three-pointers and a pair of free throws to help Ridgeline go on a 14-2 run to close out the quarter and lead 39-28.

The Seahawks started the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run of their own to cut the Falcon’s lead to 41-37, but Peninsula had to make some desperation plays that didn’t pan out and Ridgeline took advantage of the situation.

Junior Grace Richardson had 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals to lead the Seahawks. Heidelberg scored 10 points, nearly nine below her season average, in her last game in a Seahawks uniform. She also had four rebounds and four steals. Segura closed out her high school career with four points and six rebounds.

Ridgeline moves on to face No. 11-seed Kennewick.

This is the third straight year Peninsula has exited early from the state playoffs. The team lost to Hermiston (74-61) in 2022 and Everett (56-51) in 2023, also in the first round.

 


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