![Game, set, and match. Corbin Atchley, sophomore, high fives Sanam Sidhu, freshman, after a rally with other club members. “I just joined [the club],” Sidhu said. “[I heard about it] on Instagram, they always post about it, I’ve been wanting to come. My parents used to play [net sports] too and they taught us, and then I learned from my brother.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MG_7715-2-1200x800.jpg)
![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![The teams prepare to start another play with just a few minutes left in the first half. The Lions were in the lead at halftime with a score of 27-0. At half time, the team went back to the locker rooms. “[We ate] orange slices,” Malos said. “[Then] our team came out and got the win.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_2385-1200x800.jpg)
In the final home regular season game for the West Linn Lions (11-13, 5-5 Three Rivers League), seniors Julia Boyd-Helm and Megan Longtain were honored with a pregame ceremony to recognize all they had accomplished throughout their Lion basketball careers. Once the game began all the festivities died down and the visiting number one ranked Oregon City Pioneers (22-1, 10-0 TRL) did they have done to every other TRL team this year: win with style. When the final horn sounded the final score was 81-40.
For Boyd-Helm, her senior night ended early as she went out in the first quarter with an apparent ankle injury, finishing with two points.
“It was great for everyone,” Boyd-Helm said of her senior night. “I was a little disappointed because I twisted my ankle in the first few minutes and was out for the rest of the game.”
The leading scorer for the Lions was Sidney Kolasinski, sophomore, who poured in nine points. She was helped by eight points from both Genna Hughes, junior, and Morgan Haskin, junior.
For the Pioneers, who shot an impressive 59 percent from the field for the game, were lead by Johanna Paine, senior, with 13 points. She was helped by four other Pioneers in double figures including 12 points from Chelsi Brewer, senior.
Despite the loss the Lions qualified for the 32 team OSSA State tournament because they tied the Canby Cougars (11-10, 5-5 TRL) for third place, but the Lions have a higher RPI ranking than the Cougars so they qualified for the automatic bid into the tournament.
“I think we still have a chance to make it to the Rose Garden,” Ashley Johnson, junior, said.” We have been working really hard and I think we have what it takes to get there.”
