MARYSVILLE — The Squalicum basketball team proved worthy of their mascot, storming back from a 32-11 halftime deficit to threaten the M-P girls’ big home lead.

Half of senior Britt Harris’ 12 points came in the fourth quarter as the Tomahawks held off the Storm’s late surge to win 61-55.

After losing four starting seniors to graduation, the new-look Tomahawk team finally took the floor in competition Dec. 2 in the non-conference match. Quite early on, the three starting sophomores made their presence felt.

The girls allowed Squalicum only one field goal, coming almost five minutes into the game. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Andi Adams poured on 11 points in the first half en route to a game-high 16-point performance. In the second quarter, fellow sophomore Morgan Martinis hit three of her four field goals, all from three-point range. It took the Storm until the final second of the half to break 10 points.

Along with sophomore Dacia Heckendorf, whose six points all came in the second half, these starting underclassmen make up the heart of the new Tomahawk girls team.

“You know with those three girls, they just have … a heart for basketball. They’re extremely competitive and it’s a win, win, win thing,” said M-P coach Julie Martin. “As sophomores, their maturity and knowledge of the game is pretty unbelievable.”

The girls faltered a little coming into the second half, giving up 19 points in the third quarter. Martin later attributed the shaky post-halftime act to Squalicum gaining some key rebounds the Tomahawks had hoped to avoid allowing. The Storm also made its way to the free-throw line five times where they took full advantage, shooting 90 percent.

The visitors pulled closer in the fourth quarter, getting within four points on a 9-2 surge. A three-point play by Brittany Pierce gave the girls a little breathing room, but with three of the next four shots, Squalicum came within a play of tying it up in the waning seconds.

But the Tomahawks stood up to the pressure. Heckendorf sunk both baskets on a key one-and-one, and Martinis was also perfect from the line as the girls put the game away for a 1-0 start to their season.

“We’re getting better and better and I just can’t wait to see where this team is going to go,” Martin said.