Monthly Archives: January 2016

Puyallup Survives Defensive Battle With Braves

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Puyallup Survives Defensive Battle With Braves
By Nic Beckman

Tuesday- January 19th 2016 Boys 4A SPSL
Puyallup High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bethel 6 13 10 3 32
Puyallup 16 10 11 8 45

The Puyallup Vikings coming off an 84-80 loss to division leader Curtis were back at home Tuesday night to host the Bethel Braves. Dakaline White, 6’1” senior for Bethel got the opening two buckets as the Braves got up 4-2, that would prove to be their last lead. The short handed Viks squad looked for scoring as their second leading scorer, Tony Gutierrez was unable to play due to injury. They had seven players score in the first quarter and finished the first up ten, 16-6.

PHS up 20-6 and in the bonus at 6:41 of the second had the game looking to get out of hand. But the Braves weren’t going easy, as Jon Taimanglo and Matt Anderson both hit 3’s and Brian Shaffer added 5 in the quarter going on an 8-1 run to pull back within 7 at 21-14. Viking leading scorer senior Deven Neff, in early foul trouble went 3-4 from the line was held to just 3 points at the half, while sophomore brother, Landen Neff led the team with 8 points, 4-6 from the line as the team collected 11-16 free throws in the first half. Puyallup up 26-19 at the break.

Brian Shaffer had 7 points for the Braves but also picked up 3 personal fouls would pick up his 4th at 6:11 of the third and finish with 7. On the Viking side, Deven Neff earned his 3rd personal foul just 23 seconds into the quarter and before Coach Campbell could get a sub in, Neff was called for his 4th at 6:21 of the 3rd. He would end up with 3-4 from the line in the 4th matching his first half for 6 points from the stripe and 0 field goals never getting into the flow due to foul trouble. Leo Muchiri, 6’0” senior guard for Bethel found his range in the 3rd getting two from beyond the arc and a midrange for all 8 of his points. The Braves would get just 10, as White would add 2. Jaden Vollmen, 6’1” senior for the Viks answered with two 3’s of his own and 3-4 from the line for 9 of the Vikings 11 points, helping his team to a 37-29 lead after the 3rd.

The Vikings defense was able to hold Bethel to only three 4th quarter points. The Braves without a field goal until Dakaline White’s bucket under 1:00 left. Puyallup found themselves at the line 7 times in the quarter going 4-12 along with field goals from Brooks Balmer and Landen Neff totaling 8 to get the win. Free throws would be the difference on a night when scoring was at a premium, Puyallup with a 16 point advantage from the line would win!

The Final Score
Puyallup 45, Bethel 32.

Top Performers:
Puyallup
Jaden Vollmen- 16 points
Landen Neff- 10

Bethel
Dakaline White- 8 points
Leo Muchiri- 8 points

Audio Recap: Puyallup vs. Bethel

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Game Recap
Puyallup vs. Bethel 1-19-16

Tuesday night in the South Puget Sound League offered a defensive battle between the Puyallup Vikings and Bethel Braves. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Garfield Puts on a Display in Unity Hoop Showcase Main Event

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Garfield Puts on a Display in Unity Hoop Showcase Main Event
By Steve Dion

Monday- January 18th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Franklin 12 14 9 7 42
Garfield 30 36 16 12 94


Garfield freshman PJ Fuller

The final game of a solid slate of Metro League hoops in The 3rd Annual Unity Hoop Showcase featured one of the oldest rivalries in the state: Garfield against Franklin. The host Bulldogs have been the dominant team of the two as the back-to-back state champs are once again the top of Washington high school hoops. The Craig Jackson-led Quakers are headed back in the right direction which made Monday a great chance to challenge the most dominant team in the state.

Garfield displayed their team speed early by gaining a 9-2 lead in a flash. Franklin called a timeout to regroup, but the Bulldogs continued their onslaught in which seven scorers combined for 30 points in the first quarter. The lead continued to grow in the second quarter with a few highlight dunks by Jaylen Nowell and Alphonso Anderson sprinkled in who scored 16 and 9 respectively. Keiron Goodwin netted eight tough points in the first half for the Quakers, but the damage was done. GHS led by forty at the break.

A running clock was implemented in the the final two quarters which expedited the contest and in turn slowed the breakneck scoring rate of the home team. Curtis Walker recorded nine off the bench and PJ Fuller also contributed eight of his own. Franklin showed their depth by logging ten players in the scoring column, but it would not be enough to challenge the champs. Garfield fell a half-dozen point short of triple digits despite the rolling game clock in a lopsided, yet entertaining game.

The Final Score
Garfield 94, Franklin 42.

Top Performers:
Garfield
Terrell Brown- 17 points

Franklin
Keiron Goodwin- 8 points

Lynnwood Demonstrates Dominance in King Showcase

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Lynnwood Demonstrates Dominance in King Showcase
By Steve Dion

Monday- January 18th 2016 Girls 4A/3A SPSL/Wesco
ShoWare Center 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Todd Beamer 14 5 11 8 38
Lynnwood 18 22 11 11 62


Lynnwood senior Mikayla Pivec

One of the more intriguing matchups in the King Showcase on Monday was between defending 3A champs in Lynnwood and the Todd Beamer Titans. The Royals are firing on all cylinders once again this season and appear to be a front-runner to hoist the hardware once again in March. Beamer has demonstrated their strength among the 4A classification thus far which made Monday an interesting test for where they stand among the best in state.

Nia Alexander led the Titans early and was countered by Mikayla Pivec who netted ten points in the first quarter alone en route to her game-high 21. Beamer’s ability to continue engaging in a shootout with the high-octane Royals was thwarted in the second frame when a 16-2 run assisted in breaking the game open before halftime. Kelsey Rogers’ defensive prowess played an integral role in starting the series of stops that led to transition buckets.

The lopsided score plateaued in the second half as Todd Beamer was only outscored by three points in the final two quarters. Pivec had matched TBHS’ scoring total into the third quarter at 21 points until she was rotated out of the game with a win heavily intact. Jordyn Edwards finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds and Kelsey tallied 9 in the points and rebounds column. Titans center Makenna Woodfolk ended with 9 points and a dozen rebounds. Lynnwood is locked in and will be tough to take down in the final stretch of the season.

The Final Score
Lynnwood 62, Todd Beamer 38.

Top Performers:
Lynnwood
Mikayla Pivec- 21 points, 9 rebounds

Todd Beamer
Makenna Woodfolk- 9 points, 12 rebounds

Audio Recap: Olympia vs. Tahoma

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Olympia head coach John Kiley

Game Recap
Olympia vs. Tahoma 1-16-16

Saturday night presented an exciting non-league game between Narrows and SPSL representatives in Olympia and Tahoma. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of an exciting matchup including post-game comments by head coach of the Olympia Bears John Kiley!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Woodinville Soars Over T-Birds in King Showcase

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Woodinville Soars Over T-Birds in King Showcase
By Steve Dion

Monday- January 18th 2016 Boys 4A/2A KingCo/Evergreen
ShoWare Center 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Tumwater 4 16 8 21 49
Woodinville 14 13 13 17 57


Woodinville senior Micah Johnson

The first boys match-up of the King Showcase was a clash between the Woodinville Falcons and Tumwater Thunderbirds. Woodinville took advantage of a cold start by the T-Birds and picked up a double digit lead after one quarter at 14-4. The Falcons converted on self-induced turnovers by THS due to lack of communication. As the first half wore on, the T-Birds found a rhythm and closed the gap through added emphasis in the paint. Weston VandenHazel pulled in 5 of Tumwater’s 17 offensive boards which translated to buckets. Woodinville carried a 7 point lead into the locker room.

Micah Johnson set the tone in the third quarter by helping limit Tumwater to eight points in the quarter from his stifling defensive effort. After the game, Coach Folsom stated, “He’s our motor. We talk a lot about him setting the tone defensively. When there’s good ball pressure, it makes everybody better.” The pesky guard led WHS with three takeaways.

Leading 47-31 with the game seemingly in the bag for Woodinville, Tumwater made their move. Ty Gentry sparked the biggest run of the game; a 14-3 stretch that brought the game within one possession. Despite the comeback by Tumwater, Coach Folsom said, “I thought our kids held our poise, it was a tough to call, it was a physical game, I thought our kids stayed together and ultimately got it done.” However, lack of execution down the stretch and fouls thwarted the T-Birds effort to push the game to overtime. According to the winning coach, “They were excited for the opportunity to play in this venue…we’re trying to get back to the state tournament and this is in preparation for that.” Leading scorer Tony Miller agreed about the event and venue stating, “It’s a big win. The environment was different because we were playing with no background in a bigger arena. Other than that, there wasn’t much of a difference in how we played.”

The Final Score
Woodinville 57, Tumwater 49.

Top Performers:
Woodinville
Tony Miller- 20 points, 11 rebounds

Tumwater
Ty Gentry- 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists

Olympia Wins Battle of the Bears Against Tahoma

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Olympia Wins Battle of the Bears Against Tahoma
By Steve Dion

Saturday- January 16th 2016 Boys 4A Narrows/SPSL
Tahoma High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Tahoma 12 10 9 12 43
Olympia 9 6 10 23 48


Olympia senior Liam Murphy

Saturday night at Tahoma High School featured a bear brawl between host Tahoma and Olympia. The home team jumped out to a early lead as Tagen Whitaker and Hayden Sundstrom combined for 19 first half points. The pair outscored the entire output for Olympia in the opening two quarters as their early foul trouble prevented them from finding a rhythm. Additionally, Oly dealt with the misfortunes of a pesky rim that denied several shots that appeared to be on the way down the hatch. At the break, THS led 22-15 with a heavy dose of momentum that would propel their effort at a major upset in the final two frames.

Clearly displeased with the execution of his team in the first half, coach John Kiley brought Olympia back onto the court with significant time remaining in the intermission period. Tahoma was unfazed by the increased intensity shown by the Oly defense as their crisp ball movement led to back-door cuts and open jumpers. David Woodward jump-started the OHS attack late in the third by scoring 8 of his 15 total points which tied Brett Thompson for the team lead. The two seniors additionally led an increased defensive emphasis to spark a run that caused the Olympia fans to rise to their feet. Clayton Stultz quieted the crowd on a pivotal late possession in the third by burying a mid-range jumper that was preceded by a series of great ball movement by Tahoma. The home team led by a half-dozen heading into the final quarter.

An early foul in the fourth on Stultz forced Coach Kilgallon to substitute for his dominant post to which Olympia responded with a run that closed the game. An acrobatic shot by Woodward while drawing contact fell and Olympia could sense they were in control. Thompson was able to knock down some tough shots in the block to add to the lead Oly finally obtained. In his postgame comments, Coach Kiley praised the defense by stating, “I thought the guys dug pretty deep…Brett (Thompson) and David Woodward both just willed something to happen!” Stultz returned and drained some tough jumpers, but the damage was done. Olympia was able to avoid a big loss on their impressive season resume. When asked what was the catalyst for the momentum to shift, Coach Kiley replied, “Once we started to jump some passing lanes smartly in good balance, we were able to make some plays.” Despite the loss, Tahoma can build off their effort on Saturday night.

The Final Score
Olympia 48, Tahoma 43.

Top Performers:
Olympia
David Woodward- 15 points
Brett Thompson- 15 points

Tahoma
Clayton Stultz- 12 points

Gotell Buzzer-Beater Keeps Cascade Unbeaten

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Gotell Buzzer-Beater Keeps Cascade Unbeaten
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 15th 2016 Boys 4A Wesco
Cascade High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kamiak 12 17 18 12 59
Cascade 13 20 14 14 61


Cascade senior Drew Magaoay

Reginald Scodeller Gymansium at Cascade High School was buzzing Friday night as the last two Wesco 4A teams undefeated in league play met to determine divisional dominance. Kamiak showed their advantage in the paint early with an interior combo of Coleman Grayson and Gavin Patrick who jockeyed for post presence and finished high-percentage buckets. Drew Magaoay countered for the Bruins with 14 first half points. Additionally, the Cascade defense which stepped up all night was kickstarted by Brennen Hancock who blocked several shots which led to transition scoring.

Christian Clausen began his lights-out shooting display for Kamiak by draining four from downtown in the first half. The junior guard matched that total in the final two quarters for a team-high 24. He helped erase a growing deficit and the Bruins took a four point lead to the locker room.

Kamiak’s combo of Grayson and Clausen continued to rack up their scoring totals in the third frame gradually swinging momentum in the Knights’ favor. The Bruins ability to get to the free-throw line and earn points from the stripe was an integral component of their third quarter offense. A wild series of back-and-forth possessions in the final thirty second of the third frame set up a highly anticipated final frame as the crowd filled the gym with excitement.

Entering the final quarter in a 47-47 deadlock, the Bruins took the lead on a 7-0 run only to be outdone by eight unanswered points by the Knights. With one minute remaining in regulation, the scoreboard read 59-59. A series of possessions for both sides resulted in no points and the threat of overtime looming. Hancock was set to inbound with 4.6 seconds remaining from near midcourt. Averting a five-second call, he tossed it in to an open Isaiah Gotell. The senior forward drove to the baseline, elevated, drew contact, hoisted up a shot. Nothing but net! The massive Cascade student section rushed onto the floor as the home team defended their home court and undefeated league record.

The Final Score
Cascade 61, Kamiak 59.

Top Performers:
Cascade
Drew Magaoay- 22 points
Isaiah Gotell- 18 points (game-winner)

Kamiak
Christian Clausen- 24 points (8 3-pt FG’s)

Gutierrez Nets 25 in Puyallup Victory Against Plainsmen

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Gutierrez Nets 25 in Puyallup Victory Against Plainsmen
By Nic Beckman

Wednesday- January 13th 2016 Boys 4A SPSL/GSHL
Puyallup High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Evergreen-Vancouver 11 18 18 18 65
Puyallup 21 14 20 26 81

The Vikings of Puyallup had a non conference game Wednesday night against the Evergreen Plainsmen. The game rescheduled from the original December 10th date due to flooding in the Vancouver area not allowing the team to make the trek north. The black and green clad Plainsmen, behind the leadership of senior guard Tyrus Hosley made the Vikings work for their points early. The first quarter would end 21-11 as PHS leading scorer Deven Neff got 9.

Evergreen kept up the pressure and hitting 3 three’s two by Payton Monda and 7 of 8 from the line to out score Puyallup 18-14. Going into half the VIKS held a 6 point lead 35-29, Hosley leading the Plainsmen with 10 and Neff for the Vikings with 13, Tony Gutierrez also had 10 at the break.

Evergreen would continue to stay within striking range hitting 8 of 10 free throws in the third Hosley 5-6 and Greg Washington continuing his precision shooting from the line after 5-6 in the first half hitting 3-4 more in the quarter. Puyallup would answer with Tony Gutierrez hitting another pair of 3’s and a lay-in getting 8 points in the third and the Vikings would increase their lead 55-47 after 3.

This non conference match up got a little tense in the 4th quarter the Vikings opening on a 6-0 run, 4 technical fouls were assessed on a rebound play that ended with a held ball and some extra curricular pushing with 7:02 remaining and the score 61-47. Two T’s on each team, no free throws for either and neither team willing to back down. Tyrus Hosley and Greg Washington each getting 7 points in the final period, Hosely would finish with 25 and Washington with 17. The Vikings relentless defense created opportunities as they put up 20 more points on the Plainsmen, Brooks Balmer getting the last 7 points to put the Vikings over 80 points and getting free wings for everyone in the gym from the Sparks Firehouse Deli 80 point wing promotion. Tony Gutierrez lead the Viks with 25, Deven Neff had 16 and Balmer 12

The Final Score
Puyallup 81, Evergreen-Vancouver 65.

Top Performers:
Puyallup
Tony Gutierrez- 25 points
Deven Neff- 16 points
Brooks Balmer- 12 points

Evergreen-Vancouver
Tyrus Hosley 25 points (7-8 FT’s)
Greg Washington 17 points (9-13 FT’s)
Payton Monda 13 points

Audio Recap: Puyallup vs. Evergreen-Vancouver

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Game Recap
Puyallup vs. Evergreen-Vancouver 1-13-16

The Evergreen Plainsmen ventured north on Interstate-5 for some Wednesday night hoops action in Puyallup against the Vikings. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the non-league matchup between SPSL and GSHL including in-game sound!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Audio Recap: Federal Way vs. Kentwood

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Game Recap
Federal Way vs. Kentwood 1-12-16

Divisional leaders in the South Puget Sound League squared off Tuesday night as the Northwest leading Federal Way Eagles faced the Northwest leaders Kentwood. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of an exciting matchup including post-game comments by head coach of the defending 4A champions Jerome Collins of Federal Way!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Federal Way Remains Undefeated After Knocking Off Conks

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Federal Way Remains Undefeated After Knocking Off Conks
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 12th 2016 Boys 4A SPSL
Federal Way High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kentwood 14 15 18 15 62
Federal Way 20 16 15 27 78


Federal Way junior Marcus Stephens

Defending 4A champions Federal Way have been dominant again this season and Tuesday night would provide a test of their strength with a visit by Kentwood. A hot start by the Eagles forced the Conquerors to take a timeout midway through the first quarter trailing by nine. Eli’Sha Sheppard helped Kentwood draw within six at the end of one by finishing a putback at the buzzer.

The second quarter was highlighted by a pair of Jalen McDaniels dunks who finished with a game-high 32 points. In his postgame remarks, Jerome Collins said, “We recognized tonight that they could just not stop Jalen.” At halftime, the host Eagles led 36-29.

Kentwood strung together a strong third frame which was kickstarted by Darius Lubom who led the Conks with 23 points. Each bucket in heavy traffic Lubom made received an increasing roar from the KW sideline. When Rayvaughan Bolton and Davonte Sanchez joined the scoring spree, the Conqueror bench rose to its feet as the deficit was cut to a single point. The game would be decided in the final frame!

Heading into the fourth, Collins gathered his team to reassure their ability to close out. The Eagles responded and according to Coach C, “We clamped down and stopped the layup drill. We gained the momentum back, put it up to double digits…and it was over at that point.” Kentwood was unable to respond to the Federal Way run to start the final frame. The lone three point bucket in the game for Federal Way by D’Jimon Jones sealed the deal and the Eagles keep their unbeaten record alive.

The Final Score
Federal Way 78, Kentwood 62.

Top Performers:
Federal Way
Jalen McDaniels- 32 points (2/2 FT’s)

Kentwood
Darius Lubom- 23 points (5/6 FT’s)

Head Coach Interview: Mike Arte (Gonzaga Prep) Part 1

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Gonzaga Prep – Girls Head Coach
Mike Arte

Back-to-back 4A champions Gonzaga Prep are in the middle of a competitive Greater Spokane League race this season and we had a chance to catch up with head coach of the Bullpups Mike Arte in a two-part interview.

Listen as Coach Arte talks about this year’s team and the challenges in maintaining state championship level play after a core group of talent including Laura Stockton, Otiona Gildon, Oona Harrington, and Lauren Weir graduated.

To catch the complete interview with Coach Arte, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Audio Recap: Curtis vs. Rogers-Puyallup

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Game Recap
Curtis vs. Rogers-Puyallup 1-9-16

The leaders of the SPSL-South in Curtis hosted the Rogers Rams from Puyallup on Saturday night! Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game including post-game comments from Curtis head coach Tim Kelly!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Head Coach Interview: Matty McIntyre (Gonzaga Prep)

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The Gonzaga Prep Bullpups have a big game tonight against Lewis & Clark who captured the first of two meetings this season in late December. We catch up with 2011 state championship winning Coach Matty McIntyre as Prep is having another strong season in the Greater Spokane League.

Listen as Coach McIntyre talks about the first meeting against the Tigers and how they are better prepared to even the score tonight. Additionally, he describes how the football state championship in December has carried over momentum to the basketball season. He closes by discussing the areas he is tuning up as playoff basketball approaches!

To catch the complete interview with Coach McIntyre, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Audio Recap: Lakeside vs. Garfield (Girls)

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Game Recap
Lakeside vs. Garfield (Girls) 1-9-16

A pair of top Metro League teams met on Friday night as Lakeside hosted the Garfield Bulldogs. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game including post-game comments by Lions head coach Patrick Chinn!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Audio Recap: Spanaway Lake vs. Puyallup

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Game Recap
Spanaway Lake vs. Puyallup 1-9-16

Spanaway Lake visited the Puyallup Vikings on Saturday night in the valley with the Sentinels focused on avenging their loss to the Viks earlier in the season. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the SPSL showdown including in-game sound!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Spanaway Lake Avenges December Loss to Puyallup with Saturday Win

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Spanaway Lake Avenges December Loss to Puyallup with Saturday Win
By Nic Beckman

Saturday- January 9th 2016 Boys 4A SPSL-South
Puyallup High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Puyallup 20 12 15 15 62
Spanaway Lake 13 12 23 19 67

Saturday night basketball at PHS brought the Sentinels of Spanaway Lake into the valley both teams coming off wins over the Rogers Rams, the difference was the rest and free throws. The Vikings got out to a quick lead hitting 4 3’s in the opening period after their win on Thursday, tallying 20. The Sentinels, on the other hand, seemed to need a little warm up after four days off as they went 4-8 from the line missing two front ends of one and ones as they got into the bonus with more than a minute left in the first to end with 13. The Vikings would maintain their 7 point lead through the 2nd quarter, but fouls added up to help keep Spanaway Lake close. Going 9-17 from the free throw line in the first half, the Sentinels kept pace matching the Vikings 12 2nd quarter points, at halftime Puyallup up 32-25 but four players with 2 fouls each and one with 3 personal fouls would limit the trapping pressure the Vikings normally applied as the third quarter unfolded.

Spanaway Lake’s 6’3” sophomore wing Isaiah Turner hit a pair of 3’s to contribute 10 points to his teams 23 point 3rd quarter nearly matching their first half total. The Vikings leading scorer Deven Neff who had 14 at the break added 8 more in the third and would end with a game high 26, but the 23-15 difference in the period had Spanaway Lake holding a one point lead going into the final quarter 48-47. Momentum stayed with the Sentinels as the foul problems for Puyallup inhibited their normal frenetic pace. SLHS seniors Jeremiah Williams with 12 2nd half points and Spencer Lemisio’s 10 added with 17 from Turner combined for 39 of the team total 42 points in the 3rd and 4th quarters. The Sentinels went 16-28 for the line as compared to the Vikings not getting to the bonus in either half and only getting 9 attempts from the stripe for the entire game, hitting only 4.

In typical Coach Scott Campbell PHS fashion the Vikings did hit 12 three’s on the night, Tony Gutierrez and Deven Neff each with 5 three’s, Gutierrez would finish with 16 as the only other Viking in double digits. The Sentinels lead by the 22 of Isaiah Turner would end with four players in double digits, Jeremiah Williams 15, Divante Moffitt 14 and Spencer Lemisio’s 12 as Spanaway Lake would out last the Vikings 67-62 giving Puyallup only their second loss on the season and avenging the December 8th loss to PHS at Spanaway Lake 74-60.

The Final Score
Spanaway Lake 67, Puyallup 62.

Top Performers:
Spanaway Lake
Isaiah Turner- 22 points
Jeremiah Williams- 15 points

Puyallup
Deven Neff- 26 points

Head Coach Interview: Bill Bakamus (Mark Morris) Part 2

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In part two of our interview with Coach Bill Bakamus from Mark Morris, we talk about the community impact of his basketball program. He describes traditions on game night such as honoring someone before each game such as an alumnus or teacher in which they pick up “the gavel” and they “pound the middle of the floor and our announcer then says, ‘The king’s court is now in session!'”

The Monarchs’ involvement in the community is focused on giving back to those that are less fortunate including providing basic necessities during the holidays and helping people with yard work. He tells his players it is a part of showing thanks for everything they receive as high school athletes including uniforms, funds for trips, etc.

We close out the interview by talking about his character development philosophies as a coach. The skills he tries to impart on his student-athletes embodies his claim that, “There’s just a certain expectation we have as being a Mark Morris basketball player.”

To catch the complete interview with Coach Bakamus, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Head Coach Interview: Bill Bakamus (Mark Morris) Part 1

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Steve Dion had a chance to catch up with head coach of the Mark Morris Monarchs Bill Bakamus whose team is atop the 2A GSHL standings. In the first of a two-part interview, he talks about his 2015-2016 team and the challenge of maintaining a dominant program year after year.

When asked about the makeup of this year’s Monarchs squad, Coach Bakamus states, “We start with a backcourt that is very experienced and then our front court is not. So it has been a work in progress trying to get everybody on the same page.” For a league that has a high level of parity, it has required hard work to maintain their first place position in the standings.

He goes on to mention his key to sustaining a successful basketball program is “I’ve always tried to surround myself with great people and people I want to be around.” Listen to the full segment as well as part two for more about one of the great basketball schools in Washington!

To catch the complete interview with Coach Bakamus, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Curtis Continues SPSL South Dominance with Win Against Rams

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Curtis Continues SPSL South Dominance with Win Against Rams
By Steve Dion

Saturday- January 9th 2016 Boys 4A SPSL-South
Curtis High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Rogers-Puyallup 7 8 11 12 38
Curtis 21 11 13 14 59


Curtis senior Glenn Jordan

Curtis has separated itself as the top dog in the South Puget Sound League-South division this season and Saturday night was another opportunity for the Vikings to demonstrate their dominance. To do so, they would have to defeat the Rogers Rams who is hungry to get back on track. The fast start for Curtis set the tone for the game with the duo of senior Aushanti Potts-Woods and Glenn Jordan doing damage. Rogers chipped away at the deficit in the waning minutes of the first half, but still trailed by double digits at the break. In his post-game remarks, Coach Tim Kelly was asked about playing with a big lead and he stated, “We just have to keep playing with the same intensity, that’s what we always preach.”

Rogers made improvements on both ends of the floor in the second half by not allowing Curtis to blow the doors off the game. Daniel O’Brien led Ram scorers with a dozen points in the contest. However, the Viks kept pace down the stretch and avoided letting their lead slip away. One of Coach Kelly’s main philosophies with his team on and of the court is work ethic and after the game he said, “Whether it’s in school as students, or in the community, we don’t want to be outworked.” The home team secures another victory to keep its in-state mark blemish-free this season.

The Final Score
Curtis 59, Rogers-Puyallup 38.

Top Performers:
Curtis
Aushanti Potts-Woods- 21 points
Glenn Jordan- 16 points

Rogers-Puyallup
Daniel O’Brien- 12 points

Garfield Downs Lakeside Despite Brown’s Fifty

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Garfield Downs Lakeside Despite Brown’s Fifty
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 8th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
Lakeside High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Lakeside 13 13 16 20 62
Garfield 16 22 26 20 84


Garfield senior Terrell Brown

The nightcap of Friday night hoops at Lakeside was the boys varsity game between host Lakeside and defending 3A champions Garfield. The high energy of both student sections in the cozy confines of the packed gymnasium translated to the court as the first eight minutes was a back-and-forth affair. The Lions held the Bulldog attack at bay early and led late in the first frame. However, they failed to knock down several attempts from downtown so the margin was slim. J’Raan Brooks capped of the first quarter with a tip-in at the buzzer.

The second quarter picked up where the first left off as Brooks inspired a scoring spree that gave Garfield a lead they would not relinquish. The full compliment of weapons that Coach Ed Haskins has on his roster began to heat up including Jaylen Nowell and former Lakeside Lion Daejon Davis. Isiah Brown made a valiant effort in this game to keep the Lions competitive by scoring 50 of Lakeside’s 62 points. Many of Brown’s shots were in heavy traffic and a number of them were from well beyond the arc. Garfield continues their dominance of Washington state hoops heading into the home stretch of league play.

The Final Score
Garfield 84, Lakeside 62.

Top Performers:
Garfield
Jaylen Nowell- 21 points

Lakeside
Isiah Brown- 50 points