With 30 seconds left in their 3A winner-to-state battle against Arlington, the Edmonds-Woodway girls basketball team had a three-point lead and were at the line to make it 4 or 5. E-W was unable to convert the free throws, giving the Eagles a chance to tie. Jessica Ludwig did just that, draining a deep 3 with 12 seconds left to tie things up. The game went into overtime, and Arlington went 7 for 8 from the line to come away with the 57-52 victory and a berth to the state regional.

The Warriors’ season ended with only six losses, all to teams who are advancing to state.

Edmonds-Woodway led by one after the first quarter, trailed by 10 at the half and then rallied in the third quarter to close the gap to two, setting up the fourth-quarter battle.

The Warriors scored the first three points of the fourth to take their first lead since the end of the first. The game stayed close the rest of the way, with neither team able to separate themselves. Down three with a little over two minutes left, the Warriors scored six straight on a Peterson 3-pointer, followed quickly by a Natalie Kasper running bankshot and Claire Fyfe splitting a pair of free throws with just under a minute left.

Arlington failed to score at their end, with Sevi Bielser missing a contested layup. After a timeout, the Warriors inbounded the ball and Arlington chose to foul. Their strategy paid off as the Warriors missed the front end of a one-and-one. E-W’s swarming defense forced Arlington way out on the perimeter, but Ludwing managed to get off a shot from five feet behind the line and the result was nothing but net, a basket that would eventually send the game into overtime.

The Eagles scored the first five points of the extra period, on a Ludwig banker and three of four free throws from Emma Janousek and Gracie Castenada. Kasper closed the gap to three at the 1:50 mark. The teams traded baskets until Mady Burdett hit a 3 to bring the Warriors within two with 55 seconds left.

The Warriors had a chance to tie it up, but failed to convert a pair of free throws. Arlington’s Castenada, meanwhile, was clutch down the stretch, making five of six to extend the lead to 6. The Warriors were unable to overcome the deficit, and their season ended one game shy of State.

Missy Peterson led the Warriors’ scoring with 15, followed closely by Claire Fyfe’s 13. Arlington was led by the 17 from Jayla Russ and 13 from Ludwig.

Free throws proved to be the Warriors statistical downfall. Arlington converted 13 of 19, including six of eight in overtime, while the Warriors not only attempted just eight, but made just three.

Saturday’s game marked the finale for six seniors on the Edmonds-Woodway team: Allie Browning, Lea Bakken, Moni Jackson, Keitra Jones, Kasper and Fyfe. The Warriors finished the season at 18-6.

— By Jeff Smarr