Prep girls basketball Playoff loss to Shorewood ends season for young Hawks

The Mountlake Terrace Hawks, the youngest team in the Wesco League with no seniors, ended their season with a 50-29 loss to the Shorewood Stormrays in the District 1 3A girls basketball tournament. Despite their inexperience, the Hawks achieved a commendable nine wins in the regular season, positioning themselves as the no. 9 seed for the postseason. In the playoff game, Terrace struggled to find their rhythm, shooting only 10% in the first quarter and committing 26 turnovers throughout the contest. Although they mounted a brief comeback to narrow the gap, the Hawks could not overcome Shorewood's experienced roster, which included nine seniors.

Coach Nick Starks noted that nerves and sloppy play contributed to the defeat but remained proud of his team's growth over the season. Starks emphasized the importance of this year as a developmental phase, focusing on building a competitive future with all players returning next season. The Hawks' overall record of 10-13 reflects significant improvement from the previous year. Moving forward, the team aims to build on this foundation and establish themselves as a formidable force in the league.