Wolves follow free throws to winner's circle

It’s never too early in the season to worry about free-throw shooting, and that proved to be very true Saturday as the South Kitsap girls basketball team was nearly perfect from the line in beating Mountain 52-46 at the SK gym.

The Wolves, off to a 2-0 start, made 17 of 19 free throws to hold off a 3-point barrage by the Thunder and then relied on its defense to put the game out of reach.

“We’re playing really good defense I think,” senior guard Megan Gilbert said. “And it’s starting to put other teams in a panic situation, which puts us in better and more opportunities to score.”

Gilbert led the Wolves with 17 points, nine coming from a perfect day at the free-throw line.

Senior post Morgan Wiggin tallied 14 for South, while point guard Schelsey Zimmerman added nine.

Mountain View made just five of 13 free throws, with all eight misses coming in the second half.

“Our defense first, and then the offense just sort of opened up for me in the second half,” Gilbert said. “But I wasn’t really looking to score that much.”

South got out to a slow start for the second time this year but got things going in the second quarter to lead 19-18 by halftime. But then Mountain View began raining down three-pointers to grab the lead back.

The Thunder’s Kristina Wilson hit four three-pointers in the third quarter alone and ended with a game-high 20 points, but it was the Wolves’ pressure defense that got them back into the game.

“We picked it up in the second half and caused a lot of turnovers,” Gilbert said. “Our defense is seriously coming along and that’s going to help us win games.”

South outscored the Thunder 16-8 down the stretch to preserve the win.

The Wolves travel to Wilson tonight before hosting Mount Tahoma and Eatonville in its next two game.

The Wolves begin Narrows League Bridge Division play Dec. 15 at Shelton.

South Kitsap 52, Mountain View 46

Score by quarters

Mountain View 10 8 20 8_46

South Kitsap 6 13 17 16_52

Mountain View - Heidi Jensen 6, Britney Knotts 4, Sara Skelton 5, Mallory Schott 11, Kristina Wilson 20, Lynsey Stepan, Michelle Donachie, Kelly Burke..

South Kitsap - Schelsey Zimmerman 9, Sharrisa Pauley 6, Morgan Wiggin 14, Megan Gilbert 17, Sierra Vinson 2, Caty Lieseke 2, Kristen Emel 2, Gabby Aromin, Erin Carpenter, Jamie Boyer, Valerie Robinson.

 

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.