Issaquah lost to Woodinville Girls’ basketball at home 54-75 at home on Jan. 4.
The Eagles featured a new starting lineup, with the rest of the team leading cheers for defense on the sideline. Hundreds of eyes were darting between an unforgiving scoreboard and the court as the game kicked off. Rapid plays from Woodinville and subsequent countering from Issaquah resulted in a 5-2 lead from the Falcons. With an abundance of player swaps, fouls on both sides, a notable block from senior Sallie Thieme and a long-range shot from junior Lia Hanson, the quarter ended with Falcons leading Issaquah 18-9.
In the second quarter both teams displayed talent and tenacity. After a brief timeout called by Issaquah when the Eagles were down by 10 points, the game heated up. Gibbons took a charge upon the advice of Thieme. Through persistence and Head Coach Edens’ guidance, the Falcons progressed little, and Issaquah remained down by 10 at halftime. The second half flew by, with equal playing time on both sides of the court, ensured by consistent turnover. Chemistry on the team was visible with connecting passes between sophomore Clara Gibbons and junior Liliana Meissner. Standout shots came from sophomore Rhenna Hung and junior AnnaRose Eckmann-Manahan.
Despite the loss, there was a palpable sense of positivity when green emptied from the court. Gibbons stated, “Woodinville is a really strong opponent and has always been a powerhouse in KingCo and even though we lost it was a great opportunity to get better and lift each other up as a team.” Thieme agreed, “I thought it was a great team effort and we did well playing to our strengths and staying connected as a team through the game.” This connectivity was executed through encouragement as they hustled into the locker room at halftime. Additionally, tons of fans populated the stands, but the most vocal supporters were the players on the bench. Assistant Coach Jackie Bykonen stated, “You need to have four strong quarters to win a game,” and a gaggle of ball girls (the promising next generation of girls’ basketball) chimed in that the Eagles “worked hard and played well.” Woodinville holds the second in state position, therefore it was an anticipated difficult game, but Issaquah remained optimistic and persistent. Support the Eagles this week on Jan. 10 at North Creek High School and Jan. 12 at Inglemoor High School.
