An epic performance unveiled by Jade Loville combined with clutch free throw shooting, propelled the Skyline Spartans girls basketball team to a victory against one of their biggest rivals.

Loville scored a game-high 31 points and the Spartans hit 10 free throws in the fourth quarter, catapulting Skyline to a 57-47 win against the Issaquah Eagles on Jan. 19 at Issaquah High School. The Spartans improved their overall record to 10-5 with the win while Issaquah dropped to 7-5. The Spartans, who led by just six points at the end of three quarters, controlled the action for most of the fourth quarter to seal the win.

“Before the game we talked about keeping our composure and just going out and doing what we had to do,” Loville said. “We knew they (Issaquah) were going to make runs. We just had to come out there the whole time and focus on our job. We love this game. This game is so fun for us every year and we always have a big crowd. We came out here with a lot of energy.”

While the schools are rivals, both coaches are long-time allies. Skyline head coach Stacie Erfle and Issaquah head coach Jackie Bykonen are best friends and both graduated from Auburn-Riverside High School in 2002.

“Jackie (Bykonen) is my best friend. We grew up together. We just love basketball and bringing these teams together,” Erfle said of the rivalry.

Erfle said having Loville on the team is a game-changer.

“Jade is probably the best player that will go through Skyline High School,” Erfle said. “It is a luxury to have her on the team because she is dynamic offensively. Other teams try (to stop her) but honestly she has something in her pocket for everything. She is a phenomenal player.”

Skyline senior guard Julia Mitchell scored 13 points in the win and hit six free throws in the fourth quarter. Maya Witherspoon scored a team-high 13 points in the loss for the Eagles.