Lakeside's dynamic low-post duo does it again, this time lifting Lions over Lincoln to 3A state quarterfinals

Claire O'Connor had 22 points, 17 rebounds and Hannah Dickinson added 16 points and seven rebounds as their low-post presence helped lift Lakeside of Seattle over Lincoln to advance to the 3A quarterfinal date with No. 2 Garfield.

TACOMA, Wash. — If there was hooting and hollering at the Tacoma Comfort Inn & Suites on Wednesday night, attribute that to Mia Augustavo-Fisher and her Lakeside of Seattle girls basketball team. 

"We've never been so excited to stay there," Augustavo-Fisher said with a laugh. "It's because of these people and the bonds we have. We don't want it to end. 

"Usually during this time it's the teams that so want to stay together that are the ones that can really push it during the postseason." 

And with one of the most potent frontcourt duos in the state in 6-foot-1 Claire O'Connor and 5-foot-10 Hannah Dickinson the Lions, rest assured they can sleep easy. 

• WIAA Class 3A state girls basketball updates, first round

O'Connor scored a game-high 22 points and gobbled 17 rebounds with four assists as the junior displayed her wide-range of tools from both outside the arc and in the paint in No. 9 Lakeside's 60-52 win over No. 8 Lincoln of Tacoma in the first round of the 3A state tournament. 

Dickinson, who has signed with USC as a goalkeeper, added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Mia Broom lit Lincoln up from the 3-point line with 20 points on 4 of 5 shooting from distance. 

That kept this young, stingy Lincoln squad at bay despite an impressive effort of its own from the 3-point line. 

"I think we could have dealt with Claire getting hers," Lincoln coach Jamila Jones said after the 3A PCL-champion Abes' season-ending loss. "But when you leave the shooter open multiple times, that's tough." 

All that set Lakeside up for a date with an all-too-familiar foe -- No. 2 Garfield at 9 p.m. Thursday in the state quarterfinals. 

No team has handled Garfield (18-0) like Lakeside (19-5) this season, but each of their three meetings have gone to the Bulldogs, including a 55-33 Lakeside loss in the 3A SeaKing District title game on Feb. 19. 

Garfield edged Lakeside its first meeting, 58-46, then again on Feb. 11, 64-57. That's the lone game for Garfield that was decided by single digits of any team it has played. 

"I mean, we're just excited to play them again," O'Connor said. "We play hard, we play together and we always believe we're going to win. So we're excited." 

But the Lions first had to get past Lincoln. 

The Abes were scorching from behind the 3-point line, connecting on eight of those, including a 4-for-6 effort from sophomore Ciona Wells, who scored a team-high 21 points. 

Jaleigh Robinson's wing 3 cut Lakeside's lead to 49-46 almost midway through the fourth quarter. But every time Lincoln made a run, Lakeside quickly squashed it. 

Broom followed with a euro-step fastbreak bucket, O'Connor got to the foul line and Dickinson hit a jumper to quickly push the Lions' lead back to 56-47. 

• Photos: Claire O'Connor powers No. 9 Lakeside (Seattle) past No. 8 Lincoln (Tacoma) in Class 3A state opening round

Augustavo-Fisher said their team chemistry has what has continued to set this team apart, especially O'Connor and Dickinson. 

"Honestly, I don't think Hannah gets enough credit," she said. "And I'm not being biased. We are not here without Hannah. Her footwork is phenomenal and her brother was a quarterback here at Lakeside, so I always joke with her about her passing. But she doesn't get the credit she deserves and sometimes that can tear teams apart. Like -- why am I not getting the attention? 

"But she's been great this entire time and they (O'Connor and Dickinson) are one of the best 1-2 punches around." 

And a game like this was no surprise to Augustavo-Fisher, either. 

"When you work hard, it pays off," she said. "There's no magic pill. You have to grind it out. She's always in the gym, the first one there and the last to leave and she's super coachable. It's been so rewarding to be able to coach her." 

---TJ Cotterill; @TJCotterill.