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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

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

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)

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.

 

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: 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: 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 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

King and Spiller Lift Lakeside Past Bulldogs

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King and Spiller Lift Lakeside Past Bulldogs
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 8th 2016 Girls 3A Metro
Lakeside High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Garfield 8 9 12 5 34
Lakeside 8 22 13 10 53


Lakeside senior Kimijah King

Friday night at Lakeside High School showcased a double-dip of varsity hoops as the host Lions squared off against the Garfield Bulldogs. This clash of strong metro league squads opened in an unusual way with Garfield leading 2-0 before the game started. That’s right, a clerical error on the Lakeside scorebook provided Garfield with two free throws without any time elapsing. The Bulldogs carried a lead for most of the first quarter until LHS began an extended run that continued for the remainder of the first half. Kallin Spiller’s four buckets from downtown helped the Lions grab a 30-17 lead at the break.

Garfield was able to string together a handful of point bursts to trim Lakeside’s lead. Samiyah Tolliver led the GHS cause with a dozen points overall. However, Kimijah King answered the call when the Garfield deficit shrunk. In his postgame comments, Coach Chinn said, “having some poise down at the end, we had a freshman out there Alex Friends who I thought did a great job converting” when the Bulldogs made second half runs. Lakeside’s ability to control the tempo through the majority of the contest earned them a valuable league win.

The Final Score
Lakeside 53, Garfield 34.

Top Performers:
Lakeside
Kallin Spiller- 24 points
Kimijah King- 19 points

Garfield
Samiyah Tolliver- 12 points

Audio Recap: Puyallup vs. Rogers-Puyallup

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Game Recap
Puyallup vs. Rogers-Puyallup 1-7-16

Thursday night featured an SPSL-South rivalry game between the Puyallup Vikings and Rogers-Puyallup Rams. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the contest including in-game sound!

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

 

Rainier Beach Rides Past Roosevelt

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Rainier Beach Rides Past Roosevelt
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 5th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
Roosevelt High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Roosevelt 14 12 7 11 44
Rainier Beach 28 18 19 18 83


Rainier Beach senior Travis Washington

The first Tuesday of the new year featured a full slate of hoops including a Metro League matchup between the high-flying Vikings of Rainier Beach and host Roosevelt. The game opened with an explosive first half by Beach which put them on pace to reach 100 points in the contest. Sam Cunliffe and Kevin Porter recorded ten and nine points respectively in the first quarter alone. Roosevelt’s Jonathan Lang countered with 9 of his team-high 19 points in the first frame. However, despite Lang’s efforts, Rainier Beach’s suffocating defense continually forced turnovers which led to fundamental buckets in transition. The margin grew wider in the second quarter when Cunliffe finished at the rim with a pair of two-handed slams. N’Keil Nelson joined the dunk show with a baseline rim rocker of his own before the break. Roosevelt would need more Dylan Jacobi threes and Lang jumpers if the Riders were hopeful in erasing the twenty point hole at halftime.

Mike Bethea evidently emphasized the defensive success in the first half because the Vikings tightened the clamps even more in the third quarter. Rainier Beach only allowed seven points in the frame and increased their lead even further. Khalil Shabazz recorded half of his dozen points in the quarter and Beach was able to cruise to a comfortable road victory despite a valiant effort shown by the Riders until the clock hit triple zeros.

The Final Score
Rainier Beach 83, Roosevelt 44.

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Sam Cunliffe- 23 points
Roosevelt
Jonathan Lang- 19 points

Audio Recap: O’Dea vs. Bothell- Bothell Holiday Classic Final

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Game Recap
O’Dea vs. Bothell 12-30-15

The O’Dea Fighting Irish and Bothell Cougars met for the championship game in the 2015 Bothell Holiday Classic! Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game including post game comments from the winning coach!

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

 

O’Dea Wins 2015 Bothell Holiday Classic

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O’Dea Wins 2015 Bothell Holiday Classic
By Steve Dion

Wednesday- December 30th 2015 Boys 4A/3A KingCo/Metro
Bothell High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final
Bothell 15 12 24 30 6 87
O'Dea 19 20 24 21 15 96


O’Dea Fighting Irish

The final game for the 21st Annual Bothell Holiday Classic featured O’Dea and the host team Bothell Cougars. This high-scoring affair opened with a 9-point first quarter by Cougar sophomore Jake Medjo who finished with 21 total and 10 first half points by Cameron Tyson who ended with a game-high 31 points. The Irish countered with sharpshooter Quin Barnard who found a rhythm from distance as the first half progressed. The senior guard recorded 13 of his 29 in the first two quarters included three from downtown. The Irish closed the first half strong and took a twelve point lead into the break.

Bothell would need to find a way to gradually chip away at the deficit if they were to hoist the hardware on their floor. By the 3:42 mark in the third quarter, the scoreboard read 46-43 in favor of O’Dea. As the clock winded down in the fourth, Bothell faced another sizable margin to overcome. This is the point when Cameron Tyson and Josh Kollman sparked a heroic comeback. The Cougs defense got the defensive stops it needed and the scoring duo capitalized on the other end. Trailing by two with five seconds remaining, O’Dea’s Barnard was at the free-throw line to shoot two. The first was nothing but net. The second shot rimmed out and Tyson grabbed the rebound. He rushed down the floor and let one go from the top of the key at the buzzer. After clanging around the rim and backboard, the shot fell and the gym burst into elation. The championship game was headed to overtime.

O’Dea coach Jason Kerr gathered his squad and told his players, “Regulation is over…you gotta start a new game for four minutes.” They responded accordingly as the Irish rattled off a dozen points in extra time. A dagger three pointer by Barnard sealed the deal. After the trophy ceremony, when asked about how winning this tournament sets up his team for league play, Kerr stated, “When they execute correctly, they can play with anybody.” Congratulations to O’Dea on their tournament victory.

The Final Score
O’Dea 96, Bothell 87

Top Performers:
O’Dea
Quin Barnard (Tournament MVP)- 29 points
Bothell
Cameron Tyson- 31 points (Made 3 point shot at end of regulation to force overtime)

Audio Recap: Timberline vs. Ballard- Sterling Shootout

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Game Recap
Timberline vs. Ballard 12-28-15

The Timberline Blazers defeated the Ballard Beavers in the first semifinal game of the Sterling Shootout! Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game.

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

 

Audio Recap: Washington vs. Cascade Christian- Sterling Shootout

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Game Recap
Washington vs. Cascade Christian 12-28-15

The Washington Patriots and Cascade Christian Cougars faced each other for an exciting Sterling Shootout contest! Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game.

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

 

Timberline Dominates Beavers Wire to Wire

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Timberline Dominates Beavers Wire to Wire
By Steve Dion

Monday- December 28th 2015 Boys 4A/3A Narrows/Metro
Kennedy High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Ballard 12 9 13 9 43
Timberline 17 18 23 20 78


Timberline sophomore Eli Morton

The first semifinal matchup on Monday Night of the Sterling Shootout matched up Timberline and Ballard. The winner would play for the tournament championship game against the victor of Peninsula and host team Kennedy which were on tap to play afterwards. The Blazers set the tone early by opening with a 12-0 run before the Beavs could record their first points. After Coach Broom called a timeout, Ballard regrouped and worked their way back into the game by closing the first quarter on a 12-5 run. Timberline built their lead back up in the second quarter Erik Stevenson and Austin Curry each notched a half-dozen in the frame.

If Ballard were to make a comeback, they would need to work quickly to cut down the lead. However, THS broke the contest wide open by scoring 25 points in the third from 6 different scorers. Ballard wasn’t able to keep pace and the Blazers cruised to a comfortable victory in which Coach Thomas distributed playing time up and down his bench. Timberline will play in the final!

The Final Score
Timberline 78, Ballard 43

Top Performers:
Timberline
Austin Curry- 25 points
Ballard
Nick Conway- 11 points

Washington’s Late Charge Lifts Patriots Past Cougs

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Washington’s Late Charge Lifts Patriots Past Cougs
By Steve Dion

Monday- December 28th 2015 Boys 2A/1A SPSL/Nisqually
Kennedy High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Cascade Christian 14 14 11 12 51
Washington 15 13 8 18 54


Washington junior Alijah Maddox

The fourth game in a big slate of Sterling Shootout tournament play featured the Patriots and Cougars of Washington High School and Cascade Christian. The excitement of the previous game that extended into triple overtime continued in this game as both teams traded buckets throughout the first half of play. Tyler Fox, Jesse Howells, and Grayson Jones each scored eight points in the first two quarters, providing a balanced attack. Washington’s Alijah Maddox and Dante Willis contributed solid first half production and the score was knotted at 28 going into the break.

When play resumed, the Cougars gradually were in the process of building a lead that would extend into the final frame. A pair of buckets from downtown by Fox and Dylan Cooley helped the Cougs grab a lead that grew to eight point heading into the final minutes of play. This is when Jaomani Scott and Kaleb Whitemarsh struck as the pair of guards combined for 15 fourth quarter points which was enough to pass CC in the final seconds. A full court desperation heave by Cascade Christian hit the rim which would have sent the game to overtime, but no such luck for the Cougars.

The Final Score
Washington 54, Cascade Christian 51

Top Performers:
Washington
Dante Willis- 12 points
Cascade Christian
Tyler Fox- 15 points

West Seattle Depth Too Much for Jefferson

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West Seattle Depth Too Much for Jefferson
By Steve Dion

Friday- December 23rd 2015 Boys 4A/3A SPSL/Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Thomas Jefferson 13 9 6 7 35
West Seattle 21 15 21 12 69


West Seattle junior Yusuf Mohamed

A light slate of games on Wednesday night before Christmas Eve included an interleague clash between Thomas Jefferson from the South Puget Sound League and host West Seattle of the Metro League. The game started with an energetic, up-tempo pace as both teams established a run-and-gun scoring approach. West Seattle gained some separation when they started to heat up from the perimeter. Tyler Lenzie drained three buckets from downtown in the first half including one at the buzzer heading into the break giving the Cats a 14 point margin after two quarters. The Raiders needed a second half rally and to close quarters strong to climb back into the game; would the home team falter?

The first few minutes of the third frame were pivotal in determining the outcome of the game as Jefferson had quality chances around the basket, but couldn’t convert. Meanwhile, the Wildcats strung together a series of successful possessions that pushed the lead out of reach of the opposition. Nate Pryor recorded 10 points in the third quarter alone as part of a game-high 15 points. Coach Fazio began to incorporate his entire roster into the game and West Seattle ended with 10 scorers in the ball game. Jefferson was gassed down the stretch and could not muster a comeback. The Raiders were led by Darius Anderson’s nine points in the game and a breakaway dunk by Tarence Taylor.

The Final Score
West Seattle 69, Thomas Jefferson 35

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 15 points

Thomas Jefferson
Darius Anderson- 9 points

Peninsula Soars in Heavyweight Bout with Wilson

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Peninsula Soars in Heavyweight Bout with Wilson
By Steve Dion

Saturday- December 19th 2015 Boys 3A SPSL/Narrows
Showare Center 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Wilson 9 14 19 19 61
Peninsula 16 12 10 25 63


Peninsula senior JaQuori McLaughlin

The primetime matchup of the 2015 Showare Shootout featured a heavyweight bout between Peninsula and Wilson. The guard matchup of Seahawk JaQuori McLaughlin and Ram David Jenkins Jr. presented itself early as the two led their teams in scoring with 21 and 28 apiece. Austin Kingman allowed the Seahawks to go into halftime with momentum as the senior forward rushed down the floor in the final moments of the second quarter to finish at the cup at the buzzer. PHS ran into the locker room energized and with a five point lead in hand. Could Wilson strike back in the second half?

The intensity heated up as the second half progressed. Jimmy Ritchie and Kingman made big contributions for the Seahawks recording 13 points apiece. Additonally, McLaughlin showed his exceptional scoring ability knocking down several acrobatic shots. Wilson countered with Emmitt Matthews Jr. who finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Jenkins helped the Rams tie the game up a 37 apiece midway through the third. Moments later, Wilson was leading and did so until 3 minutes left in the fourth when Peninsula roared back. A 25 point fourth quarter gave the Seahawks a late lead which put Wilson in desperation mode in the waning moments. Jenkins and Matthews made clutch shots to keep Wilson alive, but cold-blooded free throws by Ritchie held off a Ram miracle. Peninsula escaped with a narrow win against a top Narrows opponent.

The Final Score
Peninsula 63, Wilson 61

Top Performers:
Peninsula
JaQuori McLaughlin- 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Wilson
David Jenkins Jr.- 28 points

Puyallup Uses Depth to Tame Tornados

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Puyallup Uses Depth to Tame Tornados
By Steve Dion

Saturday- December 19th 2015 Boys 4A SPSL/Narrows
Showare Center 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Yelm 5 8 15 26 54
Puyallup 21 19 17 20 77


Puyallup sophomore Landen Neff

All eleven Puyallup Vikings scored in their Showare Shootout victory over Yelm. Deven Neff led the Viks with 15 points in addition to 5 rebounds. By the time Yelm scored their first points in the contest with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter, they were facing a 16 point deficit. The Tornados had difficulty contending with the full court press of the opposition and ended up turning the ball over 20 times in the ball game. Leading 40-13 at halftime, could the Viks retain their big lead?

Christian Davis took the lead for Yelm in the second half as the senior guard scored the bulk of his 30 points in the final two quarters including 17/22 from the free throw line. He also recorded 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 4 blocks. However, this wasn’t enough to cut into Puyallup’s advantage as Jacob Holcomb and Tony Gutierrez joined Neff as double digit scorers. A 21-3 Viking run and decisive rebounding advantage allowed the SPSL representative to go wire-to-wire in this game and get back into the win column after a close loss to Curtis earlier in the week.

The Final Score
Puyallup 77, Yelm 54

Top Performers:
Puyallup
Deven Neff- 15 points, 5 rebounds

Yelm
Christian Davis- 30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks