Friday night, the Mountlake Terrace Lady Hawks lost to the Lincoln Lady Abes, 61-59 in the regional round of the 3A state basketball tournament at Mount Tahoma High School, ending the Mountlake Terrace girls’ season.

Throughout the first half, Terrace was staying ahead of the Lady Abes, but Lincoln had shortened the gap to 28-26 by halftime, with Mountlake Terrace leading.

At the beginning of the second half, Lincoln had switched up its defense, and that worked in favor of the Lady Abes.

“They (Lincoln) switched up their defense and we didn’t want to attack them,” Terrace head coach Zach Wilde said.

Terrace, which finished the season 18-6, was frustrated in most of the second half; that led to turnovers, and risky and quick shots, ending in the Lady Abes pulling too far ahead for the Lady Hawks to catch up.

But rather than focus on the fact that the Lady Hawks lost, focus on the fact that this team made school history: The farthest that the women’s basketball program has gotten before this year was district playoffs in 1980; this year the Lady Hawks were one of the top teams in the state, making the regional round of the State Tournament.

“As much as the scoreboard says it’s a loss, it’s a win,” said Terrace head coach Zach Wilde. “Especially where this team was, and where they are now.”

 — By TK Johnson

MTHS Girls Basketball vs. Lincoln, Feb. 28

Terrace           11        17        10        21        —          59
Lincoln             9        17        16        19        —          61

MTHS individual scoring: Maddy Kristjanson 19; Samantha Romanowski 18; Nikkie Forehlich 11;Shaian Pagaling 9; Kirsty Dale 2; Amanda Tompkins; Riley Zucker; Claire Zucker

Lincoln individual scoring: Breneya Johnson 18; Aamira Turner 16; Kiara Thomas 12; Tamia Braggs 11; Joy Failauga 2; Kayla McLean 1; Donaisiah Brooks 1;Victoria Mukisa; Charity Talo

Records: Mountlake Terrace 18-6 (season ends); Lincoln 20-5 (advances to WIAA state tournament quarterfinals)