Astoria girls basketball struck back Thursday night.

After being outplayed by Seaside on Jan. 17, the Lady Fishermen returned fire with a 46-40 victory Thursday at The Brickhouse. Behind a suffocating defense and nine first-half points from freshman guard Kyah Gohr, the Fishermen held off a fourth-quarter push from the Seagulls to even the season series at one game apiece.

The story of the first game was the efficiency in which the Seagulls scored 51 points and ripped apart an elite Fishermen defense. This time, the Seagulls were held to just 11 first-half points and the Fishermen led by 10 at the break.

“Seaside is a team that is going to keep coming at you,” Astoria head coach Teke Silva said. “They are gritty, they are tough, compete hard and get after you. We have started to become a little more resilient throughout the season, we’ve grown some and continue to grow, which is the goal. We don’t want to be satisfied with where we’re at.”

With the victory, the Fishermen extended their winning streak to five.

Senior Malory Dundas and sophomore Brooklyn Avalon joined Gohr in double figures. Gohr finished the game with 16 points and four three-pointers. Dundas had 13 and Avalon scored eight of her 10 points in the fourth quarter.

For Seaside, the word for head coach Marla Olstedt was resiliency: The junior-heavy Seagulls whittled the double-digit halftime deficit down to two before the Fishermen pulled away late in the fourth quarter.

“The game didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but I am going to love these girls until the end,” Olstedt said. “They’re an incredible group of girls who I will never have to doubt ever, they want it and understand the importance of every game. The great thing is we are just fine, reset ourselves and keep going.”

Olstedt lamented the missed free throws as a key factor in Thursday’s loss. The Seagulls were just 6 of 16 from the free throw line while Astoria finished 15 of 22.

For the Seagulls, Makenna White had 12 points and Carly Corder scored eight of her 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Just a half-game now separates the two rivals in Cowapa League play: Seaside is 4-1 (10-7 overall), while Astoria is 3-1 in league (9-7 overall). The two teams meet at Seaside on Feb. 18 for a rubber match.

Seaside boys surge to win

The Seagulls’ Barett Blodgett might only get to experience the Clatsop Clash as a player for one season, but the senior is making the most of it.

After transferring from Warrenton this summer, the 6-foot-5 Seagulls center is developing into a force. On Thursday, he poured in 22 points, with a pair of breakaway dunks, and contributed multiple blocks to lead Seaside to a 67-53 victory over Astoria.

The game was tied at 31 at halftime, but the Fishermen’s lack of size and depth caught up to them in the second half.

Austin Palmer joined Blodgett with 22 points and Jake White scored 12 points in the win. With the victory, Seaside moves to 10-8 on the season and keeps pace with Scappoose atop the Cowapa League with a 5-1 mark.

“Playing at Astoria is never going to be an easy game,” Seaside head coach Bill Westerholm said. “Their kids are competitive, they have some kids who can shoot and defend. … We feel lucky to get out of here with a win.”

Kanon Huber led Astoria with 15 points, senior Tyson Robinson had 10 and Quin Gohr contributed eight in the loss. Astoria fell to 1-5 in league play, 3-13 overall.

PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE

SATURDAY

Boys basketball: Seaside at Tillamook, 1:30 p.m.; Astoria at St. Helens, 3 p.m.; Corbett at Warrenton, 6:30 p.m.

Girls basketball: Astoria at St. Helens, 1:30 p.m.; Corbett at Warrentown, 5 p.m.

TUESDAY

Boys basketball: Scappoose at Seaside, 7 p.m.; Warrenton at Riverdale, 7:30 p.m.; Clatskanie at Knappa, 7:30 p.m.

Girls basketball: Scappoose at Seaside, 5:30 p.m.; Warrenton at Riverdale, 6 p.m.; Clatskanie at Knappa, 6 p.m.