A strong all-around game with plenty of help from throughout the lineup lifted the South Whidbey High School girls basketball team to a 50-34 win over visiting Granite Falls Tuesday, Jan. 7.

The win — the Falcons’ fourth straight after six consecutive losses — pushed South Whidbey into second place in the North Sound Conference standings with a 2-1 record and evened its season mark at 6-6. Granite Falls fell to 0-2 and 2-9.

“(We) played a very solid game,” while “playing lots of kids,” coach Jeff Hanson said. All 11 varsity players appeared in multiple quarters for the Falcons.

He had particular praise for Liz Haines, who “played well scoring and handling the ball.”

South Whidbey will attempt to move into a tie for first place when it hosts league-leader Cedar Park Christian (3-0, 9-4) at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10.

South Whidbey 50, Granite Falls 36

The Falcons began each half with with a bang, scoring 17 points in both the first and third quarters.

Haines helped South Whidbey jump to an early 17-8 lead with 6 first-period points. She was backed by 4 points from Isabelle Wood and a three-pointer by Kayla Knauer.

Buckets by the Wood sisters, Ella and Isabelle, and free throws from Knauer countered 10 second-quarter points by the Tigers as the Falcons went into the break with a 24-18 lead.

Knauer and sister Madi both sank two field goals, one each from long range, and Ella Wood added a three-ball as the Falcons upped their lead to 41-28 heading into the fourth period.

Haines and Isabelle Wood each scored 3 points in the fourth quarter as South Whidbey cemented the win.

Kayla Knauer led the Falcons in scoring with 12 points; Haines had 11 and Isabelle Wood 10.

Madi Knauer chipped in with 7, Ella Wood 5, Emma Hodson 4 and Hadley Eager 1.

Rylee Downs scored 12 points for Granite Falls.