Already Winners: Suquamish-led Kingston Girls Fight Their Way to State
By the time the Kingston girls finally saw the ball drop through the net on Feb. 21, they were already in a deep hole.
Eleven points down in a do-or-die elimination game against Steilacoom at Bainbridge High School, the Kingston Buccaneers hadn’t just been outscored — they’d been tested. The gym was loud. The pressure was on. And for a moment, it looked like the night might slip away before it ever really began.
Then something shifted.
By the second quarter, Kingston had clawed all the way back, taking a lead they would never relinquish. The second half wasn’t just competitive, it was commanding. Hustle turned into turnovers. Defense turned into momentum. And when the final buzzer sounded, Kingston walked off the floor with a 60–51 win and a berth in the state regionals.
For the five Suquamish tribal members on the Kingston Girls Basketball Team – Senior and team captain Tati Fontes-Lawrence (#14), Senior Talynn Marquez (#10), Senior Aliana Chiquiti (#4), Freshmen Taya Fontes-Lawrence (#32), and Shaunie Cordero (#13) – it was the latest chapter in a season defined by grit, belief, and a refusal to accept the expectations placed on them.
Led by Head Coach and Suquamish tribal member Charles Deam Jr, together they helped propel one of the smallest 2A schools in Washington to the state stage — not by overpowering opponents, but by outworking them.
LOW EXPECTATION, RISING BELIEF
At the start of the season, state wasn’t part of the conversation.
A “good year” would have meant beating Bainbridge, reaching districts, or simply putting together a winning season. Anything beyond that felt like a stretch.
But Kingston opened strong, starting 7–1. When a pair of tough back-to-back losses shook their confidence, the team responded with grit. Belief followed results. And soon, comparisons began to surface — not just from fans, but from the coaching staff — likening the team to the Seattle Seahawks: overlooked, underestimated, and thriving in that role. They embraced it.
“We might lack height,” says Cordero, “but we don’t lack heart.”
Small in size, though, in more ways than one. Kingston is the smallest school in its 2A division, barely above the cutoff. The Buccaneers just turned it into fuel. Opponents with size found themselves chasing guards, coughing up turnovers, and wearing down as Kingston kept coming. And while the Lady Bucs proved themselves to be fierce competitors, they’ve also shown true sportsmanship, taking their losses with heads held high and just as likely to help a competitor off the floor after a fall as one their opponents’ own teammates.
FIGHTING THROUGH CHALLENGES – TOGETHER
The season wasn’t just about wins.
Senior Talynn Marquez worked through a slow, frustrating recovery from an ACL injury suffered in the previous year’s first home game — a process marked by setbacks, doubt, and the feeling of being behind where she “should” be. Others battled confidence issues, especially early, overthinking mistakes and spiraling after missed shots or turnovers.
What changed wasn’t just growing talent. It was trust.
Teammates learned to read body language, stepping in with encouragement before doubt could take hold. Mistakes stopped defining possessions. Players stopped retreating inward and started leaning on each other.
“That’s when things really came together,” says Marquez. “We started being happy for each other.”
A turning point came off the court during Christmas break — a team sleepover filled with charcuterie boards, scary movies, and a prank that didn’t quite land but bonded them anyway. From that point on, chemistry wasn’t forced. It was felt.
MOMENTS THAT DEFINED THE RUN
Recent games have showcased that identity. Kingston’s defense has forced lopsided turnover margins. The bench stays loud, engaged, and relentless — the “sixth player” making sure the gym never goes quiet.
“Our heart, our quickness, our hustle – and everyone out there ,” says Chiquiti. “That’s how we got here.”
There were wins that mattered more than the score.
Beating North Kitsap — a longtime rival that had dominated them in middle school — was emotional. So was surviving the early storm in their most recent game against Steilacoom, when Kingston fell behind 11–0 before a pivotal timeout.
“They had their turn,” Coach Deam told them in the team huddle. “Now it’s our time to get after them.”
The message stuck.
Kingston adjusted, leaned into conditioning, and turned a faltering defense into a point-racking offense.
MORE THAN A FINAL SCORE
Throughout the season, Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman and his wife Jana have been among those in the stands cheering loudest.
Ahead of the team’s next game — one that will determine whether they advance to the state finals — Forsman put their run in perspective.
“It’s especially meaningful to me because of the prominent Suquamish players and coaches contributed to the overall team victory, reflecting the discipline, resilience, and teamwork shown by everyone involved,” says Forsman. “We wish the Bucs the best as they advance in the post season and congratulate them on what is already a great season. They have proven themselves to be true winners, both on and off the court.”
It’s a sentiment the players themselves echo.
Win or lose, they know what they’ve accomplished.
Out of more than 40 teams in their division, Kingston stands among the final 16. Seniors will walk away having helped build something rare. Freshmen have learned what belief feels like — and how hard it must be defended.
“There won’t be another team like this one,” says Taya Fontes-Lawrence. “We all know that.”
And that’s why, before the next tip-off even happens, they know they’ve already won
