Sports

Gig Harbor girls punch ticket to state; Peninsula still has a shot

The Gig Harbor girls opened district basketball play by downing Auburn Mountainview, 54-46, Friday night on their home court and clinched a berth in the state tournament while Peninsula still has a road to the Tacoma Dome after falling at Lincoln, 44-37.

But the Tides (15-3) have a few more games before state. They move on to face Kelso Wednesday at Auburn High. The Hilanders topped Bonney Lake, 61-48, Friday. Wednesday’s winner advances to the district championship game against the Lincoln-Auburn survivor. All four already have already qualified for regionals.

Peninsula (12-7) hosts Auburn Riverside in a loser-out game Tuesday at Purdy. The winner plays the victor of Todd Beamer-North Thurston Thursday on the higher seed’s court with the winner securing a state berth and the loser facing another loser-out contest.

Gig Harbor 61, Auburn Mountainview 48

Both the Tides and Lions struggled early Friday with Gig Harbor taking a 5-4 lead while discovering Mountainview to be physical and the refs to be slow on the whistle. Taylor Schwab opened things up a little with a 21-footer from the right wing for an 8-4 lead. Coming out of a timeout, Gig Harbor Coach Mike Guinasso called a nifty out-of-bounds play. It involved a lot of movement and eye candy that distracted the defense, allowing Olivia Paul to set up on the opposite wing, receive the inbounds pass and hit a deep 3. Mountainview’s Ainsley Weatherford answered with a couple of turnaround 10-footers in the lane to close to 11-9 after one period.

Taylor Schwab gets hand-checked by an Auburn Mountainview defender. In top photo, Baylee Young dives on the floor to secure a loose ball. Photo courtesy of Maria Dorsten

Guinasso felt the Tides needed more interior touches, so they got the ball to the post where Riley Peschek hit a 14-footer between two Lions, Schwab sank a 20-footer from the left wing and Baylee Young added a rhythmic 3-point jumper from the top of the key to keep the Tides up by one at 21-20. Momentum shifted when Paul got a steal, raced full court for a layup and was hit hard from behind in what the referees deemed a breakaway foul. Paul hit her free throw and Bailey Young added two more for the technical to stake Gig Harbor to a 26-20 lead.

Weatherford, a 5-foot-10 sophomore post, hit two over-the-shoulder shots to keep the Lions close, but they turned the ball over 4 seconds before halftime, allowing Schwab to race downcourt and get fouled on a 3-point attempt at the buzzer. She downed all three free throws as the Tides took a 32-19 lead.

In the third quarter, Mountainview Coach Caitlin Carr switched from man-to-man defense to a 1-2-2 zone, which worked for the first couple minutes.  Weatherford picked up her third foul going for an offensive rebound and had to sit. Late in the period, when the Tides had momentum, the referee quickly handed the ball to the Lions’ in-bounder after Gig Harbor substituted Abbie Hunter. Before Hunter could get out on Maile Roberts, Roberts nailed a deep three. Hunter raced down the court and buried a three of her own to quiet the Lions and restore the 10-point cushion.

By the time Weatherford got back on the court to start the fourth quarter, the Lions were down, 41-29, the Tides were in control and were instructed to run time off the clock. The teams exchanged buckets and turnovers with the lead staying around 10. The Lions were forced to foul late and Gig Harbor converted its free throws to preserve a 54-46 win.

Schwab didn’t force a ton of shots, but stayed aggressive on offense and sank free throws like she was dropping quarters in a bubble gum machine. She led all scorers with 23 points. Peschek added 10, Paul eight and Young chipped in with five. Berry and Hunter played tough defense and secured rebounds.

Gig Harbor’s Olivia Paul receives a pass. Photo courtesy of Maria Dorsten

“Auburn Mountain View was much more of a physical team than we have played in our conference, but players like Riley Peschek, Tia Berry and Abbie Hunter battle inside,” Guinasso said. “I’m so proud of our girls to come through and win a game like this.”

The victory brought Guinasso two firsts — his first playoff win and his first state tournament bid.

“I feel great,” he said. “These girls have worked so hard. Every night when I come to the gym I know my team will play hard. We may not play as well on some nights, but I know that at least we’re going to give it maximum effort. I never have to worry about that. I am so proud of our team and my coaching staff.”

Guinasso’s goal is to obviously win district and to keep raising the Tides’ RPI, which is the state’s new rating index. They are currently ranked eighth.  The top eight teams receive spots in the high-seed side of the bracket and should draw easier opening opponents at state.

Guinasso has his hands firmly on the wheel of a program that three years ago won the state championship but graduated a handful of seniors and seemed to be starting from scratch after Coach Megan Murray quickly departed. Gig Harbor had two of the best girls to ever wear a Lady Tides jersey that year in Division 1 players Brynna Maxwell and Maddie Willett. Athletic Director Bob Werner interviewed several candidates and boldly chose Guinasso from outside of the program.

Expectations were high after winning state, but Guinasso seems to have embraced the situation. On the sidelines, he challenges his players while offering support and guidance. He has sidestepped pressures and distractions, focusing on the players while driving the young, talented team to the 3A state tournament.

Lincoln 44, Peninsula 37

The Seahawks, trailing just 11-10 after one period, were undone by a poor second quarter. The Abes, who finished 12-0 in the Pierce County League, sank a couple 3-pointers and outscored Peninsula 13-4, and the Seahawks were unable to claw all the way back. Peninsula outscored Lincoln 23-20 in the second half.

Lincoln guard Ciona Wells led all scorers with 16 points and Jaleigha Robinson added 14. Grace Richardson led the Seahawks with 14 and Brooke Zimmerman contributed 12.

Despite the loss, Peninsula still has a pathway to regionals. Because of their regular-season finish, the Seahawks avoided the loser-out portion of their district bracket, so they’re still alive.