The timing couldn’t have been worse.

As the Tomahawk girls basketball team prepared for a loser-out game against Jackson Feb. 25, nearly half the team came down with the flu.

“We had a little bit of a dilemma. The practice before, we only had six players,” said M-P coach Julie Martin of her efforts to prepare the girls for what was ultimately a season-ending game. “We played Jackson that Wednesday. They fought hard, but they didn’t have a lot of the energy they usually have.”

Nonetheless, after being outscored by the Timeberwolves in the first half, the Tomahawks were in the game down the stretch against the Wesco South No. 1 seed, taking a 41-40 lead in the fourth quarter thanks to a big third quarter where M-P played catch-up, outscoring Jackson 17-9.

But then, Jackson made changes on defense, forcing four Tomahawk turnovers. They capitalized on those, forcing M-P to foul for possessions and held on for a 55-49 win.

Senior post Britt Harris had 15 points and sophomore Morgan Martinis had 12, the latter scoring four baskets from three-point range.

Harris and senior Brittany Pierce combined for 23 points in the paint, an area they’ve been particularly effective in this season against non-conference opponents. More familiar rivals game-planned for the Tomahawks’ post presence.

“I could see that’s a big factor. I know people talk about us and say we’re really strong in the inside so they pack it in,” Martin said. “We weren’t real strong with our outside shooters that night.”

The Tomahawks were unable to gain an advantage from playing in their own field house, which hosted the district tournament. The team’s lone district win this season came on the road as Edmonds-Woodway, the South’s No. 2 team, hosted a first-round game.

Martin said she and her team wanted to keep playing this season, crediting a strong work ethic and team identity for a great season.

“I had one of the best group of girls ever. It’s a really good solid team that got along really well. We had no problems. They really wanted it, fought hard. They put in the effort that they needed to put in. I respect this team fully,” she said. “It was really hard for me this year to let these guys go.”

With the win over M-P, Jackson advanced to a winner-to-state game against Oak Harbor. They won that one as well, advancing to state as the No. 3 team out of the Western Conference.

The Tomahawks graduate Harris, Pierce and senior guard Kaitlyn Enberg.