By the time you read this the Auburn Mountainview girls basketball team will know the fate of its season.

On Wednesday, the Lions played South Puget Sound League 3A rivals White River in a loser-out, winner-to-state-contest at the West Central District III 3A tournament, with results unavailable at press time.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s been a heck of ride for the Lions this season.

Auburn Mountainview started the season as a shoe-in to return to the state tournament, with a roster chock full of returning players, including all-leaguer Stephanie Smolinski at the post.

A hand injury in a preseason game, however, derailed Smolinski and the Lions, forcing them to wade through five league games without their star player. All told, Smolinski missed eight games before returning to action after the winter break.

The loss forced the team to look to its depth, including sophomores Caitlin Carr and Hattie Kosko.

“I thought we did a pretty good job,” coach Chris Carr said. “We had a tough part of our schedule (when Smolinski) was gone. That was where our tough times lay. We knew going in that it was going to be tough. I think we were 2-3 in league before Smo came back. Getting that win against Lakes was huge. We just kept in the race.”

“At first it was really overwhelming,” Caitlin Carr said. “After swinging up from JV last year, and now being a real varsity player, it was really overwhelming because now I know what Stephanie felt like. I had to rebound, I had to work extra hard to become what we needed to replace.”

The team struggled but stayed in the race, Coach Carr said, largely because of the efforts of Caitlin Carr.

“When Smo was out she averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds for us and really kept the middle intact,” Coach Carr said. “I think everybody has played steady for us. I think Hattie Kosko has had her moments. She’s another of those big kids for us and we’ve been relying on her. Aalia Braboy has been our defensive stopper, and she usually gets the best kid defensively.

“I think everybody has filled their roles like we’ve asked them to.”

The Lions stayed competitive, posting a 5-3 record before Smolinski’s return on Dec. 22 against North Thurston.

After her return the squad went on a six-game winning streak, broken by a loss to White River and one to Bonney Lake.

After stumbling, the team again posted six straight wins, compiling a 15-7 record before Wednesday’s game against White River.

“Defensively, we are much better with Smo,” Coach Carr said. “Before she came back we were giving up 50 points per came. When she came back we were giving up 37.”

“When Smo came back, Caitlin was able to move back outside again and that helps her game a little bit because she can shoot from the perimeter a little bit,” he continued. “But she still averages eight-and-a-half boards for us.”

According to Caitlin Carr, absence did make the heart fonder.

“It was a relief when she came back because I could work on my outside game a little bit more,” she said. “I still have to go inside and rebound though, because she can’t do it all herself. But it’s made me way better and made me more confident at what I could do. It was kind of a blessing because it showed me what I could do. And once we got Smo back it wasn’t just her, it was me and her.”

Smolinski said it was hard finding her rhythm on the court.

“It was hard stepping back into playing and getting used to everybody again,” Smolinski said. “I know eight games doesn’t seem like a lot, but it was a challenge to get back into the groove and step into the chemistry that was already built on the floor.”

“It was kind of awkward the first couple of games,” Caitlin Carr agreed. “She wasn’t sure what was going on at first, because it was a new season. It took her awhile to get back into the swing of things. But once she got back, it was natural. Everybody was looking to her, it was nice. It was a breath of fresh air.”

On the eve of the most crucial game of her career, Smolinski remained confident in her team’s chances at making it to the state tourney.

“Typically we peak late as a team, so this is really our time as a team,” Smolinski said.