After a tough loss to Astoria on Feb. 6, the Seaside girls basketball team rebounded with a 52-46 victory Feb. 11 against Scappoose to maintain a one-game lead in the Cowapa League standings.

The Seagulls are now 5-1 in league play and 10-8 overall. The team is scheduled to host St. Helens in another league match Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Results of that game were not available before the Signal’s press deadline.

In the second of the Clatsop Clash games against Astoria on Feb. 6, the Seagulls rallied in the fourth quarter but fell short in a 46-40 defeat. Tough defense by the Fishermen held Seaside to 11 points in the first quarter and helped Astoria to a 10-point halftime lead.

“Seaside is a team that is going to keep coming at you,” Astoria head coach Teke Silva said. “They are gritty, they are tough, compete hard and get after you. We have started to become a little more resilient throughout the season, we’ve grown some and continue to grow, which is the goal. We don’t want to be satisfied with where we’re at.”

For Seaside, the word for head coach Marla Olstedt was resiliency: The junior-heavy Seagulls whittled the double-digit halftime deficit down to two before the Fishermen pulled away late in the fourth quarter.

“The game didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but I am going to love these girls until the end,” Olstedt said. “They’re an incredible group of girls who I will never have to doubt ever; they want it and understand the importance of every game. The great thing is we are just fine, (we’ll) reset ourselves and keep going.”

Olstedt lamented missed free throws as a key factor in Thursday’s loss. The Seagulls were just 6 of 16 from the free throw line while Astoria finished 15 of 22.

For the Seagulls, Makenna White had 12 points and Carly Corder scored eight of her 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Seaside beat Astoria 51-43 in the team’s first meeting Jan. 17.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again in the rubber match on Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Seaside boys surge to win

The Seaside boys team has rattled off eight straight wins, including a 54-40 win Feb. 11 over Scappoose that propelled the Seagulls into first place in the Cowapa League.

The Seagulls boast a 7-1 record in league play (12-8 overall) heading into a Feb. 13 game against St. Helens. That game was played after the Signal’s press deadline. Scappoose is 7-2 in league play, a half-game behind Seaside.

The eight-game winning streak includes a 51-36 win against Tillamook on Feb. 8 and the team’s second win against Astoria by a 67-53 score on Feb. 6.

The game against Astoria showcased Barett Blodgett, who transferred from Warrenton over the summer and poured in 22 points, including two breakaway dunks, to lead the Seagulls over the Fishermen.

The game was tied at 31 at halftime, but the Seagulls pulled away in the second half.

Austin Palmer joined Blodgett with 22 points and Jake White scored 12 points in the win.

“Playing at Astoria is never going to be an easy game,” Seaside head coach Bill Westerholm said. “Their kids are competitive, they have some kids who can shoot and defend. … We feel lucky to get out of here with a win.”