MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The Highland Christian girls comeback came up short against North Sound Christian in 54-35 Northwest 1B league loss Jan. 5.

“We had our chances,” said Knights coach Steve Brown. “We were missing a lot of inside shots that we should have made. We make even a third of those and the lead would be seven points.”

The lead was just 30-24 halfway through the third quarter, at the conclusion of a 10-0 Highland Christian run, but that would not last long.

North Sound responded with an 18-4 rally of its own to put the game out of reach.

“Their girls just blasted past our defenders to get offensive rebounds,” said Brown about the Lions’ 20 second chance points.

Leading the way for the Knights was Jade Olin, who had 10 points and freshman Savannah Diemer added eight.

“Savannah was very effective on defense, getting a number of steals on top against their guards,” Brown said. “We used a triangle-and-two and I think that did a pretty good job against their girls.”

The Knights had a difficult time, however, containing senior forward Tori Speck, who scored 12 of her 22 points during that second half run, including 11 in a row for the Lions.

The loss knocks the Knights down to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in league. Brown said he is pleased with the effort and thinks that this team has just one obstacle keeping them from climbing the standings.

“I don’t think these girls realize through experience what they’re capable of,” he said. “They need the confidence to believe that if they stay tough, their opponent will crack.”

Brown’s girls have the time to find that out with the second half of the season just getting underway. And, without a senior on the roster, Brown feels this team is just about to establish its identity.