News

Jan 10, 2009
by Don Olson & Wendy Gage

Vashon 57  - Cascade Christian 43

The sweet taste of winning is fast becoming a staple of Pirates basketball.  On January 11th, they savored the taste of the Cascade Christian Cougars. Being long time rivals, Saturday was an emotionally charged match up for both top-ranked Nisqually League teams.  A huge Vashon crowd cheered relentlessly as their Pirates emerged onto the Cougar court in classy new black uniforms.  The Pirate Cheerleaders, also dressed in black, waved splashy gold pompoms to the chants of what looked like the entire Vashon football team… painted in black.  It was going to be a dark and stormy night both inside and outside of Cascade Christian’s standing-room-only gym.

Tip-off went like clockwork to Thomas Timm-Skove.  A flurry of two and three pointers and semi-successful trips to the foul line registered 11 points for both teams by the end of the first quarter.   Coach Sears called timeout only minutes into the second quarter after a steady stream of Cougar counters shot through the hoop.  Regrouped and refocused, the Pirates thundered an answer as Chris Pieterick and Max Burnham bolted to join Timm-Skove and Alex Wegner in the Pirates’ three-pointer posse.  Dropping 5 of 7 free throws, the Pirates exited at the half time buzzer with a tie score: 21 to 21.

Halftime is when critical adjustments are made. It was a safe bet the Cougars would continue to drape two to three players all over Pirate John Gage when the ball came his way. So, while the Cougars were consumed with holding down BIG JOHN, Pirate pals Timm-Skove, Burnham and Wegner power hosed balls into the hoop. This time sinking 4 of 5 free throws, Vashon outscored Cascade Christian 20 to 9 in the third quarter.

When Cougar sharp shooter Jonnie Washburn bolted a 3 pointer into the basket at the onset of the fourth quarter, Cascade Christian fans went wild.  Timm-Skove immediately answered with a Pirate 3 pointer.  Vashon fans erupted.  Back and forth the teams and fans volleyed points and pointed chants.  With five minutes left in the game, Pirate Matt Kerns buried the last 3 pointer of the night.  Another flurry of spot-on shooting ensued. Cougars were left in foul trouble. From the top of the key, John Gage and Max Burnham each sunk two free throws.  With less than a minute left, Vashon’s Black Tide chanted ominously “It’s All Over! It’s All Over!” while John Gage batted down two final Cougar attempts.  

Once again the Pirate defense was terrific. After eight games this season, the Cougars’ average was 62 points per game – Vashon limited them to just 43! Thomas Timm-Skove scored his season high with 18 points while point guard Max Burnham hit well above his season average at 12 points. The Pirates play Cascade Christian again on Tuesday, January 27th at 7 pm in the Vashon High School gym.   Come see for yourself just how sweet it is! See: vashonbasketball.com for more team details and schedule.


Pirate Points:
Timm-Skove 18, Burnham 12, Gage 11, Wegner 10, Kerns 3, Pieterick 3