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Big Game of the Week: Bellevue vs. Mercer Island
9-18-15
| Friday | Nov 6th | 2015 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Issaquah | 7 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 28 | |
| Olympia | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | |
Issaquah Avenges Regular Season Loss, Prevails Against Olympia
By Steve Dion
We have reached the “survive and advance” point of the season where a win retains the quest to the Tacoma Dome. An intriguing “play-in” matchup on Friday night featured round two between Issaquah and Olympia. These two non-league squads played just over a month ago in the state capital in which the Bears defended their home turf and won 32-14 in Ingersoll Stadium. For this one, Olympia (7-2) reciprocated by traveling north to the Sammamish plateau to take on Issaquah (6-3) as the second place finisher in the KingCo4A was pitted against the Narrows runner-up.
Both teams got off to a slow start with short-lived possessions as the opposing defensive units caused difficulty for the offense to move the chains. Issaquah took the first step grabbing momentum through their defensive intensity especially demonstrated in Eagle linebacker Danny Flores. His energy resonated to fellow teammates when Issaquah broke the deadlock at 1:51 in the first quarter. Connor Pederson took an interception 47 yards to the house after getting key blocks en route to the pylon. Pederson also kicked the extra point showing his versatility on the field. At 7:54 in the second frame, Bryce Hughes was rewarded from a handful of chunk runs when he punched in a 3 yard score to which the home crowd yelled Huuuuuuughes! Olympia furthered their uphill battle in the first two quarters by shooting themselves in the foot with personal fouls. However, before the first half concluded the Bears commitment to the run was rewarded when Scott Gunther turned what initially was a stop at the line of scrimmage into a 42 yard touchdown run. Issaquah responded with a 29 yard pass from Cam Humphrey to Pederson moments later. The Eagles were still hungry. Hughes scampered 30 yards for a pick six twenty seconds after the ensuing kickoff pushing the lead to 28-7 at the break.
The three touchdown lead built by the home team proved to be sufficient to prevail even though they were unable to score in the final twenty-four minutes of the ball game. The Eagle defense held the Bear attack at bay enough by only allowing a lone touchdown in the second half. The non-league opponents split the season series 1-1, but Issy gets the one that counts. Olympia concludes their season 6-4. Hopefully this organically created rivalry continues in years to come!
The Final Score:
Issaquah 28, Olympia 14
Top Performer
Issaquah
Connor Pederson – 2 TDs (47 yard interception return, 29 yard reception), 3 interceptions
theFinalScore.TV
4A State Football Rankings
By Steve Dion
The regular season has concluded and postseason matchups are set for the first weekend of November. Here are the rankings for the 4A classification.
1) Lake Stevens: 9-0
Hard to not put the Vikings at the top spot when their lowest point total in a game this season is 42 with Lake Jake under center.
2) Gig Harbor: 9-0
The Tides are laden with veteran leadership that is taking the mold of a title contender.
3) Graham–Kapowsin: 9-0
The Eagles edged out Skyline for the second straight season as part of an undefeated regular season.
4) Camas: 9-0
Coach Eagle continues to churn out one of the best teams the state has to offer year after year.
5) Gonzaga Prep: 9-0
Bullpups loaded their schedule and escaped unscathed despite wins against Richland and Bellarmine Prep combining for 9 points.
6) Richland: 8-1
The distinction of the lowest scoring defense in the 4A classification belongs to the Bombers.
7) Skyline: 8-1
Mat Taylor has the talent to shift the Spartans into another gear. Will they find themselves at the Tacoma Dome once again?
8) Olympia: 7-2
The Bears have been impressive with the exception of a hiccup against Gig Harbor followed up by an overtime loss at Bellarmine.
9) Central Valley: 7-2
A win this weekend would double their win total in 2014. They’ll have to get past last season’s runner-up Chiawana to reach the mark.
10) Jefferson: 7-2
Their ability to go toe to toe with Graham-Kapowsin earns the Raiders a top ten spot.
On the Bubble
Battle Ground
Monroe
Moses Lake
Curtis
Kentwood
theFinalScore.TV
3A State Football Rankings
By Steve Dion
The regular season has concluded and postseason matchups are set for the first weekend of November. Here are the rankings for the 3A classification.
1) Eastside Catholic: 8-0
Scary to think the Cru likely hasn’t played their best football yet.
2) Bellevue: 7-1
Chomping at the bit to etch their name back on the 3A trophy.
3) Sumner: 9-0
As if one 1,000 yard rusher wasn’t enough (Wedington), Riley is knocking on the door to be the second Spartan to a grand.
4) Glacier Peak: 8-1
Grizzlies held Bellevue and Arlington well below their scoring averages, a real indicator of this team’s strength.
5) Bishop Blanchet: 8-1
Only blemish on the season a loss at Eastside Catholic. Coach Moore has a talented Braves squad that has seen it all in 2015.
6) Mt.Spokane: 8-1
A final four team last season looking to get back to the latter rounds of the 3A bracket.
7) Arlington: 7-2
The sneaky Eagles fared well against a tough schedule with the lone loss against Bellevue.
8) Lincoln: 9-0
Matsumoto picked up where Kitna left off. They proved their strength against tough teams in the playoffs last year. Can the Abes do it again?
9) Kamiakin: 7-2
Didn’t take a week off all season long as the Braves lit up scoreboard against lesser teams and gave quality opponents all they could handle on the road.
10) O’Dea: 7-2
A debacle at Blanchet was the only setback this season. The Irish won’t be a fun November draw for anyone.
On the Bubble
Ferndale
Oak Harbor
Lakes
Auburn-Mountainview
Juanita
| Friday | Oct 30th | 2015 | 3A Metro | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leon H. Brigham Field at Memorial Stadium | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Eastside Catholic | 12 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 40 | |
| Ballard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
Crusaders Capture Metro Title, Primed for Postseason Run
By Steve Dion
The final week of the regular season coincidentally pitted the top two Metro League teams in Eastside Catholic and Ballard for the city championship. For Jeremy Thielbahr and his high-flying Crusaders, this is just step one for a program designed to make another state title run. For Joey Thomas and Ballard, this game served as an opportunity to show how far the Beavers have progressed in a short period of time. Ballard has won as many games in 2015 as they did in the previous two seasons combined. The deck was stacked against the Beavs to go toe to toe with Eastside Catholic, how would they approach the challenge?
Like many opening drives for Eastside Catholic, the result was a touchdown. However, this was a drive that ate up nearly six minutes and pushed the Cru offense to convert on long yardage third and fourth downs. A long pass from Harley Kirsch to Hunter Bryant set up Brandon Wellington for a 3 yard score. The response drive by BHS was stalled at midfield forcing a punt which was not struck well. The short field for ECHS simply allowed them to score their second touchdown faster as Devon Arbis-Jackson hauled in a reception near midfield on a crossing route and took it 65 yards to the house. Ballard was walking on a tight rope at this point. The Beavs were moving up the field with chunks of yardage eaten up by Davine Tullis and Antoine Patton. Unfortunately, the possession took a turn when the ball was coughed up and taken 60 yards the other way by Malik Putney leading to a Tyler Folkes touchdown. The rout was on. By halftime the scoreboard read 40-0.
Joey Thomas deserves a great deal of credit for rallying his team at halftime facing an insurmountable deficit. Ballard would win the second half by preventing the Crusaders from adding to their point total albeit against the depth chart of Eastside Catholic. This game would not be a shutout as Jack Dineen punched a field goal through the uprights in the fourth quarter. With the win, Eastside Catholic demonstrates they have gas in the tank which will propel them in November and likely December. For Ballard, they will also be a postseason team with the experience of facing the state’s finest.
The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 40, Ballard 3
| Friday | Oct 23th | 2015 | 2A/1A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woolsey Stadium | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Archbishop Murphy | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 | |
| King's | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
Archbishop Murphy Routs King’s, Remains Undefeated
By Steve Dion
There are two leaders in the Cascade League that have emerged from the rest of the pack and week eight would retain one of two blemish-free records between Archbishop Murphy and King’s. The visiting AM Wildcats entered the ballgame with a remarkable 353-19 scoring tally in the first seven games. Jim Shapiro’s home King’s squad opened the season with an impressive victory over perennial 2A contender Lynden and kept winning. It was senior night for King’s at Woolsey Stadium; would the Knights defend their home field against league rival?
After receiving the opening kickoff, Wildcat tailback Kerry Jackson rumbled 82 yards to the house and gave AMHS an early lead. This immediate strike gave the visitors an upper hand off the bat and would serve as a catalyst for the remainder of the contest. Midway through the first, the Knight’s defended a fake punt by AM in Wildcat territory. Would the Knight’s make them pay? Nope. Anfernee Gurley intercepted a Knight’s pass thirty seconds later and was rewarded with a 10 yard touchdown pass by Connor Johnson on the first play of the second quarter. King’s put together a scoring drive set up by a Jake Welch pick that allowed Andrew Cline to pound the rock into the endzone and bring the score to 21-7. Archbishop Murphy didn’t blink. Kerry Jackson scored another touchdown minutes later after steamrolling a King’s defender at the goal line. At the half, the visitor led 21-7.
The opening drive for King’s in the second half seemed important to set the tone for the remainder of the ball game. Unfortunately, they were unable to move the sticks and were forced to punt immediately. The Wildcats put the game out of reach on the ensuing drive when Jackson completed the hat trick on another touchdown run. The rout was in full effect as Archbishop Murphy recorded 21 more points before the final whistle. With a 49-7 final score, Archbishop Murphy has emerged as the clear favorite in the Cascade League. However, King’s has the ability to steer the ship back in the right direction moving forward. They need to get some key starters healthy and put this fluky loss behind them.
The Final Score:
Archbishop Murphy 49, King’s 7
| Friday | Oct 16th | 2015 | 4A SPSL | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Field | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Eastside Catholic | 14 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 54 | |
| Bishop Blanchet | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Kentwood Maintains Divisional Dominance
By Steve Dion
The Conks have been a force to be reckoned with for several years and have established themselves once again as a top dog in the 4A classification. However, the other Kent schools that share French Field appear to be gradually closing the gap. Kent-Meridian stepped up to the plate with an opportunity to grab a crucial win against the division-leading Conquerors. The pregame events concluded with a firework show and proved to be a symbol for the style of game out of the chutes.
Within the first four minutes, there were three interceptions. This frenetic start for both offenses led to limited production early on. KW struck first as senior tailback Isaiah Williams moved the chains several times and was rewarded with the game’s first points. He deceived the KM defense by acting as a blocker on as quarterback Brian Campbell shifted to the left. Williams broke toward the left and Campbell found him uncovered and a short 5 yards from the endzone for six points. Kent-Meridian received a boost by Shamar Malik-Woollery as the running back/defensive back combo made an impact on both sides of the field. He took an interception back into deep Kentwood territory, but the Royals failed to capitalize. These would be the only points of the first half as the Royals failed to challenge the Conks red zone defense.
Kentwood’s Connor Benson took the opening kickoff of the second half 80 yards which eventually set up Campbell for a 3 yard quarterback sneak touchdown. Davonte Sanchez led the Conqueror defense with a toughness that limited KMHS offensive success. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter when Kent-Meridian punched it in to avoid the shutout, but the fate of the game was sealed. The Conks secured a comfortable 28-7 victory and continue to dominate the SPSL Northeast division in 2015.
The Final Score:
Kentwood 28, Kent-Meridian 7
2015 Varsity Football Live Interview
Tumwater Thunderbirds – Junior
Cade Otton
Grandson of longtime Tumwater head coach Sid Otton and current junior for the T-Birds Cade Otton talks to Dick Fain about his high school football experience thus far. He also discusses his involvement with Shirts Across America and the positive takeaways he had from his time with the organization that is focused on helping those affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
To catch the complete radio interview with Tumwater Junior Cade Otton, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
2015 Varsity Football Live Coach Interview
Tumwater Thunderbirds – Head Football Coach
Sid Otton
The winningest head coach in Washington high school football history Sid Otton joins Dick Fain for a few minutes to talk about his 2015 team and the successful Tumwater program over the years. He also chats about his Grandson Cade whom currently plays for the T-Birds and makes him proud on and off the field. This is a must-listen interview with a local legend.
To catch the complete radio interview with Tumwater Coach Sid Otton, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
2015 Varsity Football Live Coach Interview
Lake Stevens Vikings – Head Football Coach
Tom Tri
Lake Stevens has emerged as a top 4A team in 2015 led by Georgia commit Jacob Eason as the Vikings will strive to improve on their elite 8 finish in 2014. Dick Fain catches up with head coach Tom Tri as he talks about his playmakers and expecatations this season.
To catch the complete radio interview with Lake Stevens Coach Tom Tri, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
| Friday | Oct 9th | 2015 | 3A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acosta Field | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Eastside Catholic | 14 | 21 | 13 | 6 | 54 | |
| Bishop Blanchet | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Eastside Catholic Remains Unscathed, Tops Blanchet on Senior Night
By Steve Dion
First year coach of Bishop Blanchet Kyle Moore led his team to one of the biggest wins in program history in week five of the 2015 campaign as they knocked off O’Dea for the first time in over two decades. The Braves were rewarded by putting their 5-0 record on the line against the top team in the state Eastside Catholic at Acosta Field on the plateau. Coach Thielbahr’s Crusaders are firing on all cylinders in the state championship title defense season. Two teams entered the contest undefeated, which record would remain intact?
The home team put their offense on the field following a quick defensive stop and turned the possession into a score by Devon Arbis-Jackson in which the senior wideout shed multiple tackles. The critical drive following this Cru touchdown was highly successful for Blanchet as Alex Freeman marched his team down the field and O’Shea Trujillo closed the deal by crossing the goal line shortly after BBHS converted on a 4th and 21. Minutes later, Harley Kirsch found himself in the endzone after a 4-yard quarterback sneak to put ECHS up by 8. The Crusader defense started to clamp down on the green and yellow clad Braves as linebacker Noah Failauga among others controlled the middle of the field. A 62 yard punt return for touchdown by captain Jonathan Webster extended the Eastside Catholic lead and the blowout was starting to take form.
Missed opportunities for Blanchet such as not recovering a fumble forced on their 1 yard line played into their inability to keep pace with the state champs. Trailing 35-6 at the break, the fate of the game was virtually sealed as Kirsch and Co. entered halftime on a 6-yard touchdown run at the buzzer.
The lopsided matchup continued into the second half as the home squad would log 19 more points for a total of 54. What’s more is the Crusader defense disallowed any second half points for Blanchet. With the win, EC will likely run the table in league play with bigger goals in mind during late November and early December. Blanchet will retain its position in the second tier of Metro and fight for seeding once postseason play begins.
The Final Score: Eastside Catholic 54 Bishop Blanchet 6
| Friday | Oct. 2 | 2015 | 3A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Blanchet High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Bishop Blanchet | 7 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 33 | |
| O'Dea | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 | |
Blanchet Ends 22-Year Winless Streak to O’Dea in Comeback Fashion
By Steve Dion
All good things come to an end. For the O’Dea Fighting Irish, their 22-year streak of victories against league opponent Bishop Blanchet did just that Friday night. A large crowd amassed at BBHS to see two undefeated Metro teams battle to maintain a blemish-free record. The home crowd would be rewarded for staying a full four quarters.
BBHS nearly scored early in the game as quarterback Alex Freeman was approaching the endzone coughed up the ball and was smothered by an O’Dea defender for a touchback. However, the defense held strong for first-year Braves Head Coach Kyle Moore. Freeman was able to avenge the early turnover when he connected with Jamiek Satterwhite for a 17 yard strike. O’Dea woke up after that score as their quarterback Nathan West’s nerves appeared to settle down. He matched Blanchet’s touchdown with a 17 yard dart to Sam Sanchez and followed that up with a 21 yard pass to Race Porter following a Blanchet fumble. The Irish carried a 14-7 lead into the half.
An interesting coaching decision that proved successful for the Braves was staying on the field during the intermission. It appeared that Blanchet’s players were gassed and Moore chose to refrain from making his team schlep down the hill into the team locker room.
This payed dividends early as a renewed sense of green and gold energy resulted in an interception by Ryan Howard. Unfortunately, the offense stalled and were forced to give the ball back up. Monte Kohler’s troops responded with a sustained drive that culminated with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by West which was set up by multiple strong runs by tailback Hunter Franco. That would be the Fighting Irish’s last points of the game.
The Braves began their improbable rally by finding the endzone to bring it back within a score. They would then recover a pair of onside kicks and fumble recovery for touchdown. But a lead was not enough. After taking over with a six minutes remaining, the Braves tacked on another touchdown for good measure to secure a 34-21 victory and end to a streak older than any player on the field!
The Final Score: Bishop Blanchet 33 O’Dea 21
| Friday | Sept. 25 | 2015 | 1A/2A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renton High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Cascade Christian | 0 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 35 | |
| Lindbergh | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 | |
Cascade Christian Prevails in Clash of Nisqually Against Seamount
By Steve Dion
Week 4 of the high school gridiron season included an intriguing non-league game between the defending 1A champions Cascade Christian and rising Seamount squad Lindbergh. The setting was Renton Memorial Stadium featuring the airport in the backdrop where undefeated LHS played host.
The game broke out with a slow start as each team struggled to move the ball fluidly. The first big play of the game was an interception by Eagle cornerback Steve Celis. The home team would eventually capitalize on the momentum of the pick when Anthony Walker took a sweep 58 yards to the house. It wasn’t until the second quarter when the visiting Cougars woke up. Senior tailback/defensive back combo Zach Bartolome rumbled up the gut for a 20 yard touchdown run to tie it up. Later, he forced a fumble and turned it into a 48-yard score and the lead ten seconds later. Needing a response to swing the momentum in their favor, Lindbergh capped off a long drive with a 6 yard scamper to the goal line by DeMarco Sauls. Before the half, Evan Patrick grabbed the lead at 21-14 when he took a 3 yard run to the end zone.
When the teams took the field for the second half, the rain started to fall onto the turf and the pace quieted down. Cascade Christian used extended possession to wind down the clock and continue to build their lead. Madden Tobeck put the Cougs up two possessions on a 1 yard goal line push. The inability of Lindbergh to establish an aerial attack allowed the CCHS defense to load up in the box and pressure Samuel Nehren. Lindbergh made a late charge with a fourth quarter score, but eventually allowed Cascade Christian to put a stamp on the contest with their fifth touchdown of the game. Both teams will carry a 3-1 record heading into next week.
The Final Score: Cascade Christian 35 Lindbergh 21
| Friday | Sept. 18 | 2015 | 3A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Island High School | Final | |||||
| Bellevue | 56 | |||||
| Mercer Island | 0 | |||||
Bellevue Gets Back to Winning with Islander Shutout
By Steve Dion
It’s rare that Bellevue heads into any game with a two game losing streak. Friday night was one of those exceptions as the Wolverines were looking to get back into the win column as the 2014 state championship game and ’15 season opener with Bishop Gorman from Nevada were primed to be put in the rear view mirror. The challenger to this proposition would be rival Mercer Island who found themselves tied 21 apiece when they played at Bellevue last year before eventually losing.
The game started in familiar Wolverine fashion as a quick forced 3 and out on defense was followed by a 55 yard receiving touchdown by Tyson Penn on their first play from scrimmage. This was followed by another forced punt and 35 yard dart thrown by Justus Rodgers to Isaiah Gilchrist up the middle on 4th and six to put BHS up by 14 early. The onslaught had begun. The inability for the Islanders to gain an upper hand on the field position battle left them susceptible to allowing more scoring by the hungry Wolverines. After touchdown runs by Ercle Terrell and Christoph Hirota, Bellevue led 28-0 at the half.
More of the same continued in the final two frames as Justus Rogers scored on a QB keeper adding to the lead and further sealing the fate of the contest. The Islanders fought hard and the Mercer Island faithful showed up loud and proud, but they were unable to find the scoreboard.
The Final Score: Bellevue 56 Mercer Island 0.
| Friday | Sept. 4 | 2015 | 4A | Boys | Football | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | Final | |
| Skyline | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 31 | |
| Issaquah | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 | |
Skyline Stuns Eagles in Season Opener
By Steve Dion
Football season is back and the first Friday night of high school gridiron action featured a classic KingCo rivalry matchup between Issaquah and Skyline. The Spartans have had the upper hand against their plateau foe for over a decade and the Eagles were primed to turn the tides in front a capacity crowd on the premises of Gary Moore Stadium.
A slow pace of play dictated the entirety of the contest as both sides incorporated a heavy dose of passing and short possessions as the ball exchanged hands frequently. After a scoreless first quarter, Blake Gregory found Logan Wanamaker on a long flare down the left side for a big gain. This set up Rashaad Body for a 9 yard scamper to give the green six. Issaquah responded with a scoring drive of their own which closed with a 9 yard tie-toe grab by Joe Nelson from Cameron Humphrey. The scoreboard read 7-7 at the break.
The home team picked up an early touchdown in the second half, a 2 yard goal line dive by Bryce Hughes. Minutes later, Sparty responded as Gregory crossed the goal line untouched on a quarterback sneak. The ping-pong match continued when Jack Dellinger hauled in a pass by Humphrey on what appeared to be a defensive misread for 72 yards and a 21-14 lead.
Issaquah grabbed a two score lead early in the final frame on another Nelson reception. The Eagles were less than ten minutes from stunning Mat Taylor’s perennial 4A juggernaut. The visitors rallied the troops and drove down the field to set up another rushing touchdown for Boddie. Needing seven to tie the game up and send the game into overtime, Wanamaker did just that on a fourth down conversion with less than a minute remaining.
With a complete shift of momentum to the visitor sideline, Buddy Bland needed to rally his team to a score and a stop. They fell short on step one as a field goal attempt did not split the uprights. It was the Spartans chance to complete the comeback and they were faced with a similar predicament. Jack Crane pounded the pigskin through with his big left leg to seal the improbable victory for Skyline.
The FinalScore – Skyline 31, Issaquah 28.
Top Performers:
Skyline
Rashaad Boddie-2 rushing TDs (9, 30)
Issaquah
Joe Nelson-2 rec TDs (9, 72)
Pivec Leads Lynnwood to State Title Over Defending Champs
By Steven Dion
| Saturday- March 7 | 2015 | Girls | 3A | State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Lynnwood | 13 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 54 | |
| Cleveland | 15 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 42 | |
Lynnwood Royals
Championship Saturday at the Tacoma Dome tipped off with a matinee of the 3A girls title game with 2-time defending champs Cleveland and newcomer to the classification recently from 4A in the Lynnwood Royals. It was a remarkable accomplishment that Coach Redd led the Eagles to the final in her first year with the program and major turnover of the roster. Similarly, Coach Edwards has put together a powerhouse that appears to have the pieces to return to the TDome for years to come. The Eagles knocked off familiar foe Bishop Blanchet to earn a spot in the championship game while the Royals took down Bellevue in the semis. In a clash of old guard against the new kid on the block, which squad would raise the hardware?
Lynnwood’s versatile wing Mikayla Pivec kick-started her monster game early by scoring the first dozen points for the Royals which included crafty turnaround jumpers in the paint. Her rebounding prowess was also shown in the opening quarter as the path to a double-double was paved early. The Eagles countered with Aqeelah Williams who continued to heat up as the first half moved along. Pace of play increased in the second quarter and Cleveland benefitted as Jayde Christopher controlled the game speed nicely. Back to back triples by the Giavanni Flowers and Williams pushed the Eagles lead to 27-19 at 2:45 which prompted a Royals timeout. LHS used the remaining minutes of the first half to cut the deficit in half and return to the locker room with a 29-25 score in favor of Cleveland.
When play restarted, Lynnwood used a 6-0 run in under three minutes to make another lead change of the contest in which there were four. This proved to be a turning point in the game because Cleveland went on a major scoring drought which lasted the entirety of the second half. Shots rimmed out and with each miss seemed to dash the confidence of the Eagles. A field goal percentage of 16% in the final sixteen minutes of the game put CHS’ fate in the balance. Lynnwood’s 12-4 scoring edge in the third quarter put them in a good position to secure the victory.
Jordyn Edwards and Kelsey Rogers maintained the Lynnwood momentum by using their defensive pressure to set up offensive production. The pair combined for six defensive rebounds, five steals, and four blocks to keep the high-flying Eagles at bay. Leading 44-36 with a shade under four minutes to go, Cleveland needed a spark.
Myla Hightower answered the call by willing her team to rally and extend the contest. The bulk of her nine points were scored late to cut the margin to a two possession game. A few more defensive stops could make things interesting. However, Pivec eliminated any chance of a comeback by converting on back to back possessions with tip-ins under the cup. These baskets quelled any chance of Lynnwood relinquishing their lead and helped the Royals run the clock down. Before the clock hit triple-zeros, Coach Edwards checked Monty Cooper in who sprained her ankle the day before. The senior limped onto the court and found a spot twelve feet from the basket. In the waning seconds, she received the rock and took the hoisted the final shot of the game. Swish! Lynnwood storms the floor as one of their leaders ends her high school basketball career in a perfect way. The Royals are the new 3A champions.
The Final Score: Lynnwood 54 Cleveland 42
Top Performers:
Lynnwood
Mikayla Pivec-31 points, 17 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists
Cleveland
Aqeelah Williams-14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Lynnwood Cruises to Final in Blowout of Bellevue
By Steven Dion
| Friday- March 6 | 2015 | Girls | 3A | State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Lynnwood | 13 | 19 | 23 | 8 | 63 | |
| Bellevue | 6 | 6 | 19 | 6 | 37 | |
Lynnwood Junior Mikayla Pivec
Lynnwood’s stifling defense and lightning quick offense has put them on a collision course to a deep state tournament run all season long. With one game separating them from their first championship appearance in 3A, Bellevue who has put together another strong season stood in their way. The well-balanced Royals squad Coach Everett Edwards places on the floor each night featuring Mikayla Pivec and Monty Cooper cruised to a convincing 60-36 victory over a talented West Seattle team in the opening round. Meanwhile, the Wolverines rolled to a double-digit win over Prairie in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday. With a ticket to the title game on the line, who would prevail?
The Royals put together a first half that would determine the fate of the game in their dominance on both ends of the floor. Not only did they limit Bellevue to a dozen points in the first sixteen minutes of play, they built a twenty point lead in the process. Their 42% field goal percentage compared to BHS’ 17% told the story in the opening quarters of the contest. A 32-12 halftime score meant the Wolverines had a huge hill to climb.
BHS returned to the floor with a spark in the third quarter in which they registered 19 points, but allowing 23 in the process caused the Lynnwood lead to grow. Bellevue’s key players all season long including Mackenzie Keeter, Deja Rogers, Tatiana Streun, and Mandy Steward were unable to establish a rhythm and react to the incredible team speed of Lynnwood. Back-to-back possessions where the Royals drained long jump-shots including a deep three by Dani Hayes causing the net to get tangled with the rim symbolized the roll Lynnwood was on from start to finish. Four Royals finished in double figures including Pivec and Jordyn Edwards with 15 apiece. LHS advances to take on the back-to-back defending champs in Cleveland on Saturday.
The Final Score: Lynnwood 63 Bellevue 37
Top Performers:
Lynnwood
Mikayla Pivec-15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Bellevue
Tatiana Streun-8 points, 6 rebounds
Cleveland Returns to Title Game for Third Consecutive Season
By Steven Dion
| Friday- March 6 | 2015 | Girls | 3A | State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Cleveland | 13 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 55 | |
| Bishop Blanchet | 6 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 48 | |
Cleveland Sophomore Zakeya Flowers
The first semifinal to determine a championship game berth in the 3A girls classification featured a rematch of last year’s title contest between two-time defending champ Cleveland and the Braves of Bishop Blanchet. The Eagles have put together an impressive run thus far considering the group of seniors that graduated last season and the passing of the head coach torch. Similarly, Coach Willison has done an excellent job of bringing Blanchet back to a deep tourney run with a young squad.
Cleveland jumped out to an early lead as Jayde Christopher and Aqeelah Williams used their backcourt pressure to produce turnovers and points on the other end. They held BBHS to a half dozen first quarter points in the process. As the first half progressed, the tides turned and Jadyn Bush was a main reason for the comeback. The sophomore got tough buckets to fall and was aggressive on the boards. She finished with a team high 19 points and 10 rebounds. At the break, Cleveland led 24-21.
When play resumed, the Braves strung together a roll that last the duration of the third frame. Bella Kemp was a main factor in the momentum swing when she notched 11 points and 9 rebounds. The 36-32 Blanchet lead accounted for the first lead change of the game: would there be another? Joyce Harrell made her post presence felt as the senior heated up in the paint. Just as Harrell was in a groove, she was sidelined for a spell with a knee injury. Upon her return, the Eagles continued a 23-12 run in the fourth quarter that eventually sealed the game. Williams scored 25 in addition to 9 rebounds as Cleveland knocks off a familiar foe once again and is now one game away from a three-peat. Saturday vs. Lynnwood at 3pm!
The Final Score: Cleveland 55 Bishop Blanchet 48
Top Performers:
Cleveland
Aqeelah Williams-25 points (10/21 FGs, 5/9 3-pt FG’s), 9 rebounds
Bishop Blanchet
Jadyn Bush-19 points (8/14 FGs), 10 rebounds
Inglemoor Clinches Title Game Berth with Victory Over Moses Lake
By Steven Dion
| Friday- March 6 | 2015 | Girls | 4A | State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Inglemoor | 17 | 13 | 9 | 26 | 65 | |
| Moses Lake | 11 | 13 | 15 | 21 | 60 | |
Inglemoor Vikings
Coach Augustavo’s Vikings have been knocking on the door of a 4A state championship for the past handful of seasons. With one game separating Inglemoor from reaching the title game, the quest for the hardware is within reach. However, Moses Lake is no stranger to the Tacoma Dome and the Chiefs also have their sights set on advancing to the final round of the tourney. They defeated Skyview by double digits to advance to the semis while Inglemoor squashed Bellarmine Prep to advance to the second round. In a classic east versus west showdown, which team would prevail?
IHS senior Alex Hagen helped the Viks jump out to an efficient first half in which they shot 44% from the floor and grabbed a ten point lead early at 15-5. Conversely, the Chiefs were just 8 for 32 from the field in the first two quarters and faced a half dozen point deficit at the break. The size advantage by Inglemoor was evident as the rebounding advantage and points in the paint favored the Vikings. Moses Lake needed huge contributions from their guards throughout the contest. Jamie Loera and McKenna Walker answered the call, but would it be enough to prevail in the second half.
Moses Lake returned from the intermission with the biggest run of the game to tie up the ballgame and give themselves a coin flip in the final frame. Loera and Walker combined for 42 points and 10 boards while the Viks had four scorers in double figures inclduding Hagen with 20. The 17 point rebound difference in the game played a major role in allowing Inglemoor to get additional looks at the offensive end and ultimately stringing together a 26 point fourth quarter to seal the victory and a trip to the state final.
The Final Score: Inglemoor 65 Moses Lake 60
Top Performers:
Inglemoor
Alex Hagen-20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
Moses Lake
Jessie Loera-25 points, 3 assists, 2 steals
Cleveland Returns to Title Game for Third Consecutive Season
By Steven Dion
| Friday- March 6 | 2015 | Girls | 4A | State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Gonzaga Prep | 5 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 41 | |
| Todd Beamer | 12 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 39 | |
Gonzaga Prep Oona Harrington
The final girls game of Friday night was a 4A semifinal with Todd Beamer and defending champions Gonzaga Prep to determine Inglemoor’s opponent in the title game. Occasionally, the Hardwood Classic features games that are wars of attrition and this particular matchup played out as such. A half dozen lead changes, four ties, and a heroic three-ball in the final seconds were the ingredients to determine the representative in the 2015 final from the bottom half of the bracket.
The defending champs rolled out to a slow start by only recording five first quarter points and submitting a seven point in the process. Todd Beamer grabbed the largest lead of the game early at 14-5 with Quinessa CaylaoDo heating up for what would become a monster game. With only four Bullpups recording points in the contest, the combination of Laura Stockton, Otionta Gildon, Tayler Drynan, and Oona Harrington would need to improve the 22% first half shooting percentage in addition to back-to-back single digit quarters. At intermission, Beamer led 20-14.
As Coach Mike Arte has shown many times in his coaching tenure with GPrep, halftime adjustments and the ability to instill composure in close ball games was demonstrated once again. The Pups strung together the highest point total of the game in the third to bring the score to a 33-33 tie heading into the final frame. The crowd at the Tacoma Dome started gravitating its attention to what was shaping up on the north court.
A tense fourth quarter with minimal scoring came down to a one point lead for Todd Beamer after a tough turnaround in the paint by Nia Alexander with under thirty seconds remaining. CaylaoDo recorded 20 of TBHS’ 39 thus far and the Titans were one possession away from a state berth.
Stockton has the ball at the top of the paint…works the ball to the wing…the ball is passed to an open Lauren Weir in the corner but is tipped…Stockton recovers…ball back to the wing and Stockton twice more…clock is dwindling. Stockton hoists one up from the top of the key with a defender closing fast. Nothing but net. The Gonzaga sideline erupts. Beamer quickly inbounds the ball to set up a desperation shot but it is intercepted and a Bullpup is running the ball and clock to zero in excitement. The basketball is in the hands of Laura Stockton. Ballgame. Gonzaga Prep to its back to back state final.
The Final Score: Gonzaga Prep 41 Todd Beamer 39
Top Performers:
Gonzaga Prep
Laura Stockton-13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists
Todd Beamer
Quinessa CaylaoDo-20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
2015 State Tournament Preview
4A & 3A- Girls & Boys
Steve Dion & Colin Caruso
All season long, Steve Dion and Colin Caruso have been in gyms throughout the state watching the best high school basketball Washington has to offer. With the 2015 Hardwood Classic at the Tacoma Dome coming up, they break down the 3A and 4A brackets for boys and girls and use what they saw throughout the season to project what they expect to see at the Woodshed this weekend!
To catch the complete State Tournament Preview with Steve Dion and Colin Caruso, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Courageous Effort By Montag Sends Sehome to State
By Steven Dion
| Friday- February 27 | 2015 | Boys | 2A | Regionals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renton High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Sehome | 19 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 67 | |
| Washington | 19 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 60 | |
Sehome Sophomore Marcus Montag
Regionals have arrived and what was once the state tournament round of 16 is now a final week of elimination games to determine the eight that will represent their classification in either the Sundome, Spokane Arena, or Tacoma Dome. In a clash of 2A dark horse competitors from the west side of the state, Sehome would square off against Washington hailing from Tacoma. The site Renton High School provided a geographical advantage to the Patriots, but the Mariners’ faithful were out in full force to cheer on the green and yellow. A game loaded with momentum swings featured one player that willed his team to victory.
A stark size advantage by Sehome presented itself early as 6’7 forward Leighton Kingma lit up the scoreboard in a matter of minutes. A pair of corner threes and multiple high percentage shots down low provided the sophomore with 17 first half points. Patriot senior Chandler Whalen countered with 9 in the first sixteen minutes to keep the margin close. Marcus Montag showed resilience as the Sehome guard received an incidental elbow to the face and minutes later hit the deck hard forcing him to the bench for a short spell. The Mariners took a slim lead to break with a halftime score of 36-32.
Insightful coaching by Karl Cordes changed the complexion of the contest early in the second half when he brought Willie Thomas into the game. The freshman forward made an instant impact as he added a presence in the post and an additional scoring option for the Pats. Sehome guard Tanner Clark also started making his presence felt on both ends as he registered a double-double including a game-high 12 rebounds. A fantastic finish was shaping up as the fourth quarter began tied at 49 apiece.
Thomas continued to carry the offense and knocked down clutch shots and pulled down key rebounds. Tory Causey and Whalen continued to feed the hot hand as the freshman finished with a dozen points and eight boards. With a five point lead and three minutes remained, Washington appeared to in the driver’s seat to a win. Additionally, Kingma and Logan Deboo were in foul trouble sitting on the bench. Marcus Montag stepped up and knocked a contested three to cut the lead to two. A stop and quick basket tied the ball game up with a minute and a half to go. Sehome continued to protect their bucket and Montag was fouled twice in the final ninety seconds. He nailed all four pressure free throws in the bonus to complete a 12-0 run in the final minutes. The Mariners pulled off a major comeback to punch their ticket to the Sundome for the big dance.
The Final Score: Sehome 67 Washington 60
Top Performers:
Sehome
Leighton Kingma-20 points (4/5 3-pt FGs), Marcus Montag-17 points, Tanner Clark-10 points, 12 rebounds
Washington
Chandler Whalen-10 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, Willie Thomas-12 points, 8 rebounds
Rainier Beach Downs Wolverines For SeaKing Title
By Steven Dion
| Saturday- February 21 | 2015 | Boys | 3A | SeaKing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Rainier Beach | 27 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 70 | |
| Bellevue | 19 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 56 | |
Rainier Beach Vikings
In what could become a state final matchup, the 3 time defending champs Rainier Beach squared off against a surging Bellevue team for the district title on Saturday at Bellevue College. The capacity crowd was eager to see two of the top teams in the state square off to determine district dominance. This particular game had seeding implications on the line in addition to an extra boost heading into regionals weekend. The stage was set: Metro League versus KingCo. Which league would prevail?
As Rainier Beach does better than anyone, the Vikings pressed the Wolverines in the backcourt with Ivy Smith and Shadeed Shabazz. This defensive effort provided dividends on the offensive end as Shabazz got a hot hand early. Bellevue countered with high scoring early as big man Mikey Henn notched eight points including a pair of triples in the first quarter. Ivy Smith connected on a long toss at the first quarter buzzer to give RB a 27-19 lead after one quarter.
Senior leader for Beach Dejounte Murray demonstrated his versatility by pulling down tough rebounds and controlling the Viking attack. He followed his 10 point first quarter with half a dozen more in the second frame. Murray finished with a game-high 22. The Wolverines kept pace with a variety of scoring options including reserve Andrew Kinney who provided a nice boost. At the break, RBHS held a nine point lead.
When play resumed, BHS was eager to find a groove and cut the deficit to set themselves up for a chance to win. Senior captains Kyle Foreman and Gunther Klimes attempted to will their team to reach that extra gear Bellevue is capable of locking into. Rainier Beach dashed their hopes on back-to-back possessions when a two-handed alley-oop slam by Murray was followed up by a defensive stop and a tomahawk slam by high-flying freshman Kevin Porter. Trailing by a dozen with a quarter to go, could Coach O’Connor rally the Wolverines?
Beach responded with a resounding “no” as Murray converted on two crucial possessions to put the game away. He zipped an assist to Vincenzo Reiser who was parked under the cup and on the next possession dished the rock to Ivy who knocked down a three while being fouled in the process. These two plays put the game on ice and propelled Rainier Beach to a district championship. Don’t be surprised if these teams meet up again in the Tacoma Dome in March!
The Final Score: Rainier Beach 70 Bellevue 56
Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Dejounte Murray-22 points
Bellevue
Gunther Klimes-15 points
King’s Captures 1A District Title Over Seattle Academy
Friday- February 20
2015
Boys
1A
District 1/2
Mountlake Terrace High School
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
King's
15
9
16
8
48
Seattle Academy
2
6
14
9
31
King’s Sophomore Corey Kispert
In the face of adversity, friends and family that come together are able to respond in a positive way. The King’s Knights experienced a frightening moment last week after winning a league title when their team bus flipped and injured a number of players. Thankfully, tragedy was averted as minor injuries were the extent of the crash. With more basketball to be played, the King’s High School community rallied around their team to continue their quest for a state championship. However, there was a challenger from Capitol Hill in the Seattle Academy Cardinals that was hungry for a district title on Friday night at Mountlake Terrace. Both teams already punched their tickets to the big dance, but important seeding implications were at stake.
The enormous King’s crowd with “Saved for a Reason” emblazoned on their tee shirts had plenty to cheer about early when the Knights built a double digit lead before the Cards registered their first points. Calvin Kispert’s 5-0 run to open the ballgame fired up Coach Skeen’s bench. Trailing by a baker’s dozen after one quarter, Seattle Academy needed to find a rhythm to erase the early deficit.
More of the same continued in the second frame as the lead ballooned to nearly twenty points. The Cardinals’ inability to challenge the interior defense of KHS prevented them from finding high-percentage attempts in the paint. The commitment to isolation and jump-shooting was evident by SAS and in the first half, it led to a 16 point deficit heading into the locker room.
Early in the second half, the Cardinals continued to go to the three-point well in the hopes to claw their way back into the game. Eventually, the strategy paid dividends when some shots fell and the lead shrunk back to 11 at 30-19. Up to this point, King’s had left quite a bit on the table as the lead certainly could have been 25 or more without missed opportunities and unnecessary turnovers. This proved not to haunt the Knight’s because they emerged from the called timeout on a 10-2 run. Leading by 18 with one quarter to go, the outcome of the game was sealed. King’s retained their double digit lead in the final frame to earn the victory and hoist the hardware for the District 1/2 1A title.
The Final Score: King’s 48 Seattle Academy 31
Top Performers:
King’s
Calvin Kispert & Noah Bundrant-12 points
Seattle Academy
Ben Gerke-13 points
Henn’s Explosive Second Half Propels Bellevue Past Crusaders
By Steven Dion
| Tuesday- February 17 | 2015 | Boys | 3A | SeaKing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Bellevue | 12 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 69 | |
| Eastside Catholic | 12 | 10 | 9 | 16 | 47 | |
Bellevue Senior Kyle Foreman
The 3A District 2 tournament is underway and the second round was played on Tuesday night including a pair of contests at Bellevue College. The nightcap featured the 3A runner-up in the state championship tournament Eastside Catholic and a surging Bellevue squad who enjoyed a sense of home-court advantage due to close proximity. The winner would advance to the quarterfinals where they would take on Garfield who won the early game over Franklin. Conversely, the losing squad would move to the other side of the bracket where they would have a chance to finish up to fifth place in the highly competitive SeaKing district.
A buzzing gym with packed sidelines may have taken a toll on the nerves of both teams in the opening minutes, but it did not take long for each side to find a rhythm. An emphatic dunk by Gunther Klimes gave Bellevue a burst. EC responded moments later when Matisse Thybulle elevated for a one-handed tip jam that brought many people to their feet.
Tied at dozen apiece heading into the second quarter, the ability for one team to create some separation was available. The Wolverines seized the opportunity by stringing together an 11-0 run that ate up nearly five minutes. Sharif Khan scored five in the frame and Javon Jefferson provided a lift off the bench by knocking down two buckets in the quarter. Max Hudgins finally got the Cru off the scheid at the 3:30 mark when the senior knocked down a three-pointer. This allowed ECHS to close the quarter strong by outscoring the Wolverines 8-4 in the final minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to five points at 27-22.
Bellevue’s versatile post Mikey Henn had a quiet three points in the first half, but that quickly changed in the second. A few early buckets including a monstrous two-handed slam earned the junior more time with the ball in his hands as the half progressed. Senior guard Kyle Foreman distributed the ball nicely to Henn in addition to knocking down shots of his own. He buried a pair from downtown en route to 15 points and ten by Henn helped Bellevue blow the doors off the game in the pivotal third quarter. The final frame was on cruise control for Chris O’ Connors Wolverines as they chewed up clock and used precision passing to neutralize the Crusaders press. Henn netted eight more points to pad his game-high 21 point total. The BHS bench was emptied to protect the starters down the stretch and the clock wound down quickly as Bellevue ran away with a 22 point win.
The Final Score: Bellevue 69 Eastside Catholic 47
Top Performers:
Bellevue
Mikey Henn-21 points
Eastside Catholic
Max Hudgins-14 points
Bellevue Girls Advance in SeaKing District Tourney Over Lakeside
By Steven Dion
| Tuesday- February 17 | 2015 | Girls | 3A | SeaKing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Bellevue | 18 | 8 | 24 | 12 | 62 | |
| Lakeside | 8 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 43 | |
Bellevue Senior Dejah Rogers
Tuesday night at Bellevue College featured four SeaKing matchups including a clash of top girls squads in Bellevue and Lakeside. The Lions picked up a 40-31 victory over Seattle Prep on Saturday to advance to the second round of the winner’s bracket. Leah Krautter’s Wolverines earned a first round bye to place Bellevue directly into this game. Advancing to the next round in the district tourney was on the line for the victor of this contest.
Bellevue jumped out to an early lead as the disruptive perimeter defense forced turnovers and created open looks on the offensive end. Mandy Steward showed her shooting range by knocking down jumpers after intercepting passes on the defensive end of the floor. Kimijah King led the Lions in scoring by strong takes to the cup despite strong defense in the paint. A stark difference in the contest was the sure-handedness of Bellevue. They pulled down rebounds stronger and were able to pluck away loose balls more regularly. After garnering a ten point lead after the first quarter, Bellevue was on its way to a blowout. However, Lakeside finished the second quarter strong and was able to retain a ten point deficit going into halftime.
The Wolverines continued to build their lead early in the third as their variety of scoring options made a presence. Steward tacked on eight, Ann-Marie Jacobs added four points, and five other Bellevue contributed to the huge 24 point third quarter. With eight minutes remaining and a 50-24 lead, the fate of the game was sealed. However, Lakeside continued to battle and the support showed by those on the bench fueled the Lions to a strong final frame. Their tenacity on defense including hitting the deck for loose balls paid dividends on offense. Kelly Keene knocked down a corner three and after Lakeside intercepted the ensuing inbound, found Keene in the same spot for another triple in the matter of seconds. The Lions would outscore BHS in the fourth quarter by a 19-12 margin, but the Wolverines walked away with the win.
The Final Score: Bellevue 62 Lakeside 43
Top Performers:
Bellevue
Mandy Steward-18 points
Lakeside
Kimijah King-16 points
Rainier Beach Holds Metro League Champion Title for Another Year
By Steven Dion
| Friday- February 13 | 2015 | Boys | 3A | Metro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Pacific University | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Rainier Beach | 17 | 25 | 19 | 23 | 84 | |
| Garfield | 18 | 12 | 18 | 33 | 81 | |
Rainier Beach Senior Ivy Smith
In a packed Brougham Pavilion at Seattle Pacific University, the Metro League title was up for grabs between 3-time defending 3A champs Rainier Beach and reigning 4A winner Garfield. There were former star alumni in the audience including Brandon Roy and current Philadelphia 76er Tony Wroten to see Washington’s top talent square off for a league title. Garfield took the regular season matchup by a score of 84-67 so The Beach Boys were eager to avenge the defeat in the Metro Championship. Regardless of the result, these familiar foes are likely to see one another again this season.
Super sophomore Jaylen Nowell started the game on a 6-0 run to give the Bulldogs an early spark. Garfield’s early advantage was compounded by the Vikings’ inability to find an offensive rhythm. However, as Beach seemingly always does, they closed the quarter strong by when Ivy Smith buried two threes in the corner.
The second frame proved to be a pivotal stretch for RBHS as a Dejounte Murray dunk propelled the Viks to a 25-12 run. When Garfield’s Alphonso Anderson picked up his second foul and was forced to sit on the bench, RB capitalized and the complexity of the game changed. The Bulldogs lost their effortless flow and resorted to operating in the half-court with a visible lack of confidence. Mike Bethea’s Vikings grabbed a double-digit lead with 1:30 remaining in the first half and led by a dozen at halftime.
Rainier Beach’s leading scorer in the contest Shadeed Shabazz started to pour it on during the third quarter. The senior guard was able to get tough shots in the paint to fall and demonstrated his defensive prowess by turning the Bulldogs over. Leading by 13 with eight minutes to play, could Rainier Beach hold on?
Jaylen Nowell re-emerged in the as his 11 point fourth-quarter propelled Garfield to a 9-0 run late to bring the contest to 77-73 with 2:48 remaining and a RB timeout to talk things over. In the ensuing possession, Murray was able to knock down a contested jumper with an expiring shot-clock. Garfield was able to respond and keep the margin close. In the final 20 seconds, Ivy Smith was at the line with a 83-81 lead and two shots to seal the contest. The senior made the front end of the one-and-one. Shot two rimmed out and Garfield had a chance to put the game into overtime. Jaylen Nowell fired a good look from downtown and it rimmed out to the hands of Austin Anderson. The ball was fed to Nowell for a second chance, but Shabazz jumped the passing lane and created a pile-up as the fight for the ball erased the last seconds on the clock. Rainier Beach holds on to capture another Metro League championship.
The Final Score: Rainier Beach 84 Garfield 81
Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Shadeed Shabazz-25 points
Garfield
Jaylen Nowell-33 points
King’s Caps off Perfect League Record Against Archbishop Murphy
By Steven Dion
| Friday- February 6 | 2015 | Boys | 2A/1A | Cascade | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| King's | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 56 | |
| Archbishop Murphy | 10 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 44 | |
King’s Sophomore Corey Kispert
The end of the regular season has arrived and the top dogs of the Cascade League in King’s and Archbishop Murphy would see the rivalry renewed on senior night for the Knights. A packed Mike Martin gymnasium was excited to see undefeated King’s take on second place Archbishop Murphy who was hungry to avenge a 65-40 loss earlier in the season. Would Rick Skeen and Co. finish conference play blemish-free or would the Wildcats play spoiler in the league finale?
Archbishop took a quick 7-0 lead to start the contest which got the home team off balance. Coach Skeen switched up his normal starting lineup for senior night and it appeared the chemistry early on was affected. The Knights proceeded to roll out a 14-2 run and capture a lead by the end of the first frame. Corey Kispert drained one of his four three-pointers en route to a game-high 27 points. The dynamic sophomore would go on to show his all-around versatility as a top player in the state. The Wildcats responded in the second quarter by increasing the intensity on both ends of the floor. D’Andre Bryant knocked down some tough shots and the Cats rebounded well as a team. At halftime, the home squad led by a single point at 28-27.
With anticipation for an exciting second half, the seesaw ride continued for the majority of the third quarter. Points were at a premium and with a chance to take control of the contest, King’s stood up. Their length advantage paid dividends as tenacious defenders like Noah Bundrant forced turnovers that led to buckets at the other end. Kispert scored nine in the frame including a pair of triples which proved to be daggers. AMHS could not climb back the double digit lead built in the fourth quarter despite efforts by Abraham Lucas and Anfernee Gurley. The Knights finish Cascade play undefeated and poised to make a run at the 1A state title.
The Final Score: King’s 56 Archbishop Murphy 44
Top Performers:
King’s
Corey Kispert-27 points
Archbishop Murphy
Abraham Lucas-9 points
Monster Second Quarter Propels Roosevelt Over Lakeside
By Steven Dion
| Tuesday- February 3 | 2015 | Boys | 3A | Metro | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Roosevelt | 8 | 23 | 11 | 28 | 70 | |
| Lakeside | 13 | 6 | 10 | 32 | 61 | |
Roosevelt Senior Lewis Gregerson-Spencer
The final week of regular season hoops kicked off with a full slate of matchups Tuesday night. A Metro League game with playoff implications attached was the clash between host Roosevelt and Lakeside who are vying for postseason berths. The Lions feature leading Metro scorer in Isiah Brown at 27.6 points per contest where the Riders counter with senior Cam Haslam with a shade under 20 per game. This game carried major weight for deciding the final seeds coming out of the most competitive league in the state.
Lakeside’s tenacious interior defense in the first quarter provided a spark to grab a quick lead. They prevented the Riders from finding a groove on offense early in the game. The gameplan for each team contrasted greatly as the Lions attacked the rim early and Roosevelt ate the bulk of the shot clock by distributing the ball. LHS sophomore Daejon Davis knocked down a difficult lay-up and one at the first quarter buzzer to give his team a 13-8 lead after one frame.
Roosevelt woke up in a big way in the second quarter to the tune of a 16-0 run over the first five minutes. Haslam started heating up by notching 10 of his team-high 26 points in the quarter. The Riders capitalized on Lakeside’s inability to get shots to fall through the cup by setting up good looks to a variety of scorers such as Jakob Bauer and Jonathan Lang. The Lions finally registered their first points of the quarter at 2:06, but were trailing by double digits at that point. At intermission, the home team was buzzin’ as they led by a dozen!
When the second half commenced, Roosevelt kept the pedal down by extending their lead to nearly 20 points and placing the Lions in danger of having the ability to climb back into the game. Isiah Brown reached a point where enough was enough and started to will his team to make a comeback. He used his explosive first step to shed his defender and elevate to the rim. The junior would shoot lights-out from the free throw line in the second half en route to 24 of his game high 30 in the second half. At the end of the third, LHS cut the deficit to 42-29 and their body language displayed they could taste blood in the water.
As the Lions playing eight minutes of frantic catch-up, Roosevelt responded by knocking down timely buckets to quell momentum swings. Lewis Gregerson-Spencer and Carl Salvino made their presence felt by converting on crucial possessions down the stretch. Lakeside’s Davis finished a two-handed slam which sparked a late surge for the visitors including a 5-point boost by Isaiah de la Fuente. At 1:36, the score was 58-51, but the margin of error was razor thin and the Roughriders were able to put the final nail in the coffin. Coach Bart Brandenburg picked up a quality win for the green and yellow.
The Final Score: Roosevelt 70 Lakeside 61
Top Performers:
Roosevelt
Cam Haslam-26 points
Lakeside
Isiah Brown-30 points
Worthy, Thybulle Register 15 Apiece as Crusaders Defeat Prep
By Steven Dion
| Tuesday- January 27 | 2015 | Boys | 3A | Metro-Mountain | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Prep High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Eastside Catholic | 20 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 60 | |
| Seattle Prep | 11 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 50 | |
Eastside Catholic Mandrell Worthy
Any given Tuesday in the Metro League will deliver exciting basketball and showcase some of the top talent in the state of Washington. This particular night featured a clash of top ten squads as Seattle Prep would host the 2013 3A runner-up Eastside Catholic. The Mountain division leader heading into the contest was the Panthers, but a win for the Coach Liley’s Cru would yield identical league records with a tie breaker to Eastside Catholic.
The visitors jumped out to a nice start by converting several offensive possessions into easy buckets through well executed sets. ECHS made use of the shot clock to earn good looks at the cup from crisp ball movement. University of Washington commit Matisse Thybulle netted seven of his fifteen points in the first quarter to help his team pick up an early 20-11 lead. However, the senior forward found himself in foul trouble and Seattle Prep responded with a boost in tempo. Sophomore guard Aaron Nettles dazzled the crowd with crafty passes to teammates and smooth ball handling to get penetration in the paint to open up offensive options. Each time the Panthers picked up momentum, Eastside was able to knock down a rally killer to protect their nine point lead heading into the locker room.
When play resumed, Mike Kelly drew up a new defensive scheme for Prep by plugging Jordan Kitchen into EC’s backcourt. His long 6’8” frame created havoc for the Crusader offense and caused turnovers which sparked a Panther run to tighten up the contest. A 9-2 scoring spree to begin the third quarter caused Eastside Catholic to call a timeout as their lead shrunk to a deuce. J’Raan Brooks established his post presence by finishing tough shots near the cup and registering 8 of his 14 points in the third quarter. Nettles also drained a big three-pointer to help the blue and white climb back into the game heading into the final frame.
Eastside regained their composure in the fourth quarter and knocked down big shots to put pressure on Prep as the clock winded down. The free-throw contest in the final minute put EC to the test as SP tried to extend the contest. They passed with flying colors draining 11 of 13 from the charity stripe. Mandrell Worthy buried the final dagger on a cross-up jumper to give his team a lead they would not sacrifice. With the win, the new leader in the Metro-Mountain division hails from the Sammamish plateau.
The Final Score: Eastside Catholic 60 Seattle Prep 50
Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy (4/5 FTs) & Matisse Thybulle (2/2 FTs)-15 points
Seattle Prep
Aaron Nettles-17 points (8/10 FTs)