Bellarmine Prep blows out South Kitsap in league title game | Girls Basketball

South Kitsap hoped to earn its first Narrows League championship since 2001.

Now they will just try and avoid being the league's No. 3 seed at next week's West Central District Tournament.

The role change occurred after a 69-45 loss Thursday night against Bellarmine Prep at Foss High School. South (15-6) plays Mount Tahoma, which defeated Wilson 64-41 on Thursday, at 2 p.m. Saturday at Foss for the league's second seed.

The Thunderbirds (18-3) lost 62-52 on Jan. 22 against the Wolves.

With the exception of a layup by junior Dana Goularte that made the score 2-all, the Lions led the entire game. Bellarmine junior Sarah Hartwell, who scored a game-high 16 points, split a pair of free throws to give the Lions a 34-23 lead with 39 seconds left in the first half. South never came away closer than that.

"They played aggressive the whole game," South coach Mark Lutzenhiser said. "They're a very good team. We've got to play our best to beat them."

Hartwell was one of four Lions who scored in double figures along with Mechela Barnes (14), Shelby Swofford (14) and Simonne Potts (12). Bellarmine (15-6) shot 50.9 percent from the field.

"They got a lot of lay-ins," Lutzenhiser said. "We didn't play our best defense."

Goularte led the Wolves, who shot just 30.4 percent from the field, with 10 points.

"They played very good defense," Lutzenhiser said. "They had us on our heels all night."

South will host its first game in districts Thursday regardless of the outcome against the Thunderbirds. But a loss would mean facing the Class 4A South Puget Sound League's No. 6 team. That could be Kentwood (18-4), Federal Way (17-4), Puyallup (15-6) or Rogers (15-7). A Wolves' win would mean facing the SPSL's No. 8 seed. Most of those teams have won a game or two most than they have lost.

"We really would like to get the second seed," Lutzenhiser said. "It's really important."

Thursday

Narrows League Tournament at Foss High School

Bellarmine Prep 69, South Kitsap 45

South Kitsap 12 13 6 14 — 45

Bellarmine Prep 19 18 13 19 — 69

South Kitsap: Kelsey Callaghan 7, Kelsey Stoner 7, Jackie Steiger 6, Angela Romonsky 3, Danielle Stewart 6, Ali Davis 0, Jodi Bowe 0, Monieca Thuring 2, Dana Goularte 10, Molly Werder 4.

Bellarmine Prep: Grace Beardemphl 7, Mechela Barnes 14, Simonne Potts 12, Brittany Jackson 0, Jessica Christian 2, Nyzhe Primas 2, Haley Grant 0, Shelby Swofford 14, Sarah Hartwell 16, Jadea Brundidge 2, Nakaira Petty 0.

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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