Trojans defeat Vikings in regional playoff game

Bellevue Christian will have chance to redeem itself at state tourney.

By Shaun Scott • February 23, 2019 8:33 pm
Bellevue Christian defenders Sophia Bold, center, and Molly Olson, left, converge on a Meridian senior Alexis Groen, right, in the first quarter of a regional playoff game on Feb. 23 at Issaquah High School. Meridian defeated Bellevue Christian 40-26. Shaun Scott, staff photo
Bellevue Christian defenders Sophia Bold, center, and Molly Olson, left, converge on a Meridian senior Alexis Groen, right, in the first quarter of a regional playoff game on Feb. 23 at Issaquah High School. Meridian defeated Bellevue Christian 40-26. Shaun Scott, staff photo

Stifling defense unveiled by the Meridian Trojans girls basketball team proved to be the difference in a regional playoff game against the Bellevue Christian Vikings.

The Trojans held the Vikings to just 26 points en route to a 40-26 victory on Feb. 23 at Issaquah High School. Meridian had a 20-11 lead at halftime as well. Bellevue Christian dropped to 21-2 overall with the loss. The Vikings will face Freeman in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 27 at the Yakima SunDome.

“We got some work to do,” Bellevue Christian head coach Mark DeJonge said. “We didn’t play real well tonight. The good part is we get another day (upcoming game). We can flush this, go to work and look forward to our next game. We’ll do some studying and we will get better.”

Meridian head coach Mark Gilmore said his team will never forget its 50-49 loss to Bellevue Christian on Dec. 18.

“We played them earlier this year and it was a close game. I think our team has grown up a lot since then. Our freshman post Skyleigh James played huge against their senior post. We saw some things we wanted to work on. It paid off,” Gilmore said.