Last Saturday was absolutely wild for Highline Thunderbirds basketball. Both the men’s and women’s teams came out swinging with fire – each of the games against Pierce College. And by the end of it all, Highline walked away with two unforgettable wins that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Right from the tip-off, the energy was electric. On the men’s side, the Thunderbirds and the Pierce Raiders were neck and neck the whole game, trading buckets, hustling on defense, and refusing to give in. It was one of those games where every possession mattered, and it showed. In the final seconds, Highline managed to pull ahead, 66–65, capping off an unreal finish that left the crowd roaring.
Sophomore guard Kayden Kayden Lamebull-Ingram added, “It was a well deserved win, we’ve been working a lot at practice everyday improving on offense and defense to be able to secure wins like these coming together as a team and earning our wins for games like these.”
But the highlight that everyone’s talking about didn’t even come at the end, it came right at the start. Sophomore center Ian Prictor threw down an insane, huge dunk just minutes into the game that basically set the tone for the whole afternoon. You could feel the fans jump out of their seats. It was a momentum boost the Thunderbirds clearly rode all the way to the finish.
The women’s team didn’t let up either. After falling behind early, the Thunderbirds fought back hard, chipping away at the lead until they flipped the script and took control. When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 50–45, giving the Highline women their own sweet victory over Pierce.
What made the day even better was seeing both squads show that same grit and determination we’ve come to associate with Highline athletics. These weren’t easy wins. Pierce came ready to play, and Highline had to dig deep in both games to earn every bucket. That kind of effort speaks volumes about the heart of these teams.
After Saturday’s doubleheader, South Puget Sound grappled the Thunderbirds on Wednesday, Jan. 14, with the men coming out on top winning 90-75 – an exhilarating game to watch.
Lamebull commented on last night’s win saying, “The energy was there all night. We started from the jump, the team was flowing, connecting, and celebrating each other. Being together and showing how a college team wins games, we showed all the work we have been putting in and that we can compete in the North West Athletic Conference (NWAC).”
Highline women fought hard against South Puget sound but took an unfortunate loss. Fans are buzzing, and honestly, with wins like these, confidence is going to skyrocket, and it’s clear that Highline is ready to compete hard as the season keeps rolling.