theFinalScore.TV
3A State Football Rankings Week 7

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Randall Novak

theFinalScore.TV
3A State Football Rankings
By Steven Dion

The question we are asked each week is simply, who can defeat Bellevue? Bellevue continues to be the team everyone is looking to beat. We have broken down the top 10 Washington State 3A Classification Teams for you.

1) Bellevue 6-0, 4-0 League
It is no surprise to see the Wolverines perched at the number one spot in the rankings. Goncharoff continues to put an elite high school football team under the Friday night lights every week.

2) Eastside Catholic 6-1, 4-0 League
The victory over O’Dea last Friday earns the Crusaders the number two ranking. Thielbahr has the pieces to bring his team to the state championship game for the third straight year.

3) O’Dea 6-1, 3-1 League
The Fighting Irish roster is loaded, so the loss to Eastside Catholic will certainly not slow down Kohler’s march back to the Tacoma Dome.

4) Lincoln 7-0, 5-0 League
The Abes are averaging 56 points per game including a 91 point effort. Jon Kitna’s team may not have had any true tests yet, but they will get a chance to go toe-to-toe with the state’s best.

5) Marysville-Pilchuck 6-1, 4-0 League
Losing to O’Dea without your star running back doesn’t mean much when you take down a top 10 team in 4A (Lake Stevens) and beat everyone else by at least 27 points.

6) Peninsula 6-1, 5-0 League
After a thrilling victory over Auburn-Mountainview last week, the Seahawks have vaulted up to six on the rankings. The decisive win over Lakes was nice, and the lone loss is a 30-29 grinder to Gig Harbor.

7) Auburn-Mountainview 6-1, 4-1 League
Someone had to win the back-and-forth classic between the Lions and Peninsula. The margin was so thin that AMHS sits right under the Hawks in the rankings as they have proven their strength thus far.

8) Meadowdale 6-1, 5-0 League
It is fitting that the dark horse in the rankings are the Mavericks. They are undefeated in competitive league play and the one loss on the record was against Lake Stevens by a touchdown on the road.

9) Kennedy Catholic 7-0, 5-0 League
An undefeated record this late in the season is impressive even considering a strength of schedule that may be lacking. Until they even sniff a loss, the Lancers keep earning top ten consideration.

10) Oak Harbor 5-1, 4-0 League
The Wildcats are yet to face their strongest opponent of the year as Marysville-Pilchuck makes a visit, but they have accomplished enough this year to grab a top ten nod.

Coach Interview with Gig Harbor Head Coach Aaron Chantler

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 Varsity Football Live Interview
Gig Harbor Tides – Head Football Coach
Aaron Chantler

3 Dog Night

Join us as Steve Dion talks with Gig Harbor’s Coach Aaron Chantler about the “weird coincidence” that the top 3 teams in Narrows 4A all play each other in the final 3 weeks of the season.

Why does Coach Chantler feel his Tides can defeat Olympia and Bellarmine Prep for the top spot?

“We put a really big emphasis on creating better men and not just better football players … I think we’ve carried that over to extend to a family atmosphere within our program.”

Gig Harbor’s high scoring offense has averaged 44 points a game and only allowed an average 12 points a game, respectively. Coach Chantler and his staff are impressed with great play from QB Davis Alexander, along with WR’s Santana Johnson, Bobby Blaser, Dylan Lindmark and Noah Samsen.

The Tide’s record has improved from 3-7 just two years ago to 8-3 last year and a 5-1 start this season. Coach Chantler credits the change to his seniors “who are leaving a legacy this year and they want to make sure they build on what last year’s team did.”

To catch the complete radio interview with Gig Harbor Coach Aaron Chantler,
simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

14-WA-FBall-GigHarbor-Chantler,A.-Article

2014 Varsity Football Live
Coach Interview with
Camas Head Coach Jon Eagle

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 Varsity Football Live Interview
Camas Papermakers – Head Football Coach
Jon Eagle

Championship game was great for community and school

Join us as Dick Fain talks with Coach Jon Eagle about his team’s appearance in last year’s 4A state championship game against Chiawana. No matter where you go in Camas, it’s still the topic of conversation.

Coach Eagle’s Papermakers may have lost then, but they came out on top of the game against Chiawana a couple weeks ago.

“It was just another game … it’s the adults in the community and the coaches – it might mean a little more to them … it was a physical game … we managed to come out on top … to get a couple first downs and run the clock out.”

Great defense is always a priority and source of pride for the Papermakers. They have a quarterback who is playing very well right now and some of the kids are getting college looks. Camas may be well-prepared, but Coach Eagle feels “this is the strongest I’ve ever seen the league, top to bottom.”

As for the keys to improving as the season continues, Coach Eagle says, “like most coaches – we’re trying to develop depth, we’re trying to eliminate mistakes and we’re trying fundamentally to get better.”

To catch the complete radio interview with Camas Coach Jon Eagle,
simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

2014 VFL Coach Interview
Eastside Catholic
Head Coach Jeremy Thielbahr

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 Varsity Football Live Interview
Eastside Catholic Crusaders – Head Football Coach
Jeremy Thielbahr

Ahead of Schedule on a Great Journey

Join us as Dick Fain chats with Coach Jeremy Thielbahr about 4th ranked Eastside Catholic’s football program, being in the playoffs 3 years in a row, and in 2 state championship games the last 2 years.

Since Coach Thielbahr and his staff took over in 2011, it seems the road to winning in 3A always goes through Bellevue, so he hopes this is the season his Crusaders can win it all.

“We had to do some things to get our minds and our kids to this level of competitive camaradarie and aggressiveness on the field – and I think we’ve done that.”

How is Coach Thielbahr able to focus on the Metro league instead of the upcoming state championship game ? “We’ve got great talent, smart kids who understand what we’re asking them to do, have faith in their coaches, and believe in what we do.”

With a healthy program of good senior, junior, sophomore and freshman players, they are excited to see where the season will take them and looking forward to being able to win year after year.

To catch the complete radio interview with Eastside Catholic Coach Jeremy Thielbahr,
simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Coach Interview with
Timberline’s Nick Mullen

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 Varsity Football Live Interview
Timberline Blazers – Head Football Coach
Nick Mullen

A Tale of Two Seasons

Join us as Steve Dion talks with Coach Nick Mullen about the games the Blazers have played so far and Timberline’s identity as they change classifications.

Coach Mullen has a winning record in 5 of his first 6 years, but is facing new challenges this season.

“4A is a lot different – we were pretty strong in the 3A Narrows for a long time … I think our kids figured out sometimes a loss teaches you more than a win does.”

Going forward, Coach Mullen observes there is now a much different level of competition, with larger schools having more players.

His coaching philosophy includes very sound words of wisdom for his Blazers team, from “the harder you work, the harder it is to quit” – to knowing “you can only control what you can control.”

To catch the complete radio interview with Timberline Coach Nick Mullen,
simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Coach Interview with Olympia’s Bill Beattie

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 Varsity Football Live Interview
Olympia Bears – Head Football Coach
Bill Beattie

20 Years with the Bears

Join us as Dick Fain talks with Coach Bill Beattie about his 20 years at Olympia High School. He has led the Bears to the playoffs over and over and over, with high hopes to do it again this season.

Coach Beattie’s take on the South Sound football experience is that it’s a unique blend of teams and a wide variety of classifications, with coaches who have been coaching forever.

“We been very fortunate every year … it’s just what we do here, we expect to be in that league championship hunt every year and have a chance to go to the playoffs.”

For this season, Coach Beattie says, “the team has some height, with a good mix of senior starters and the other half underclassmen – always exciting for the year and the future as well.”

This week’s game spotlights their rivalry with Capital, in the 28th annual “Spaghetti Bowl” hosted by the Rotary Club to raise scholarship funds. Up to 8,000 people could be in attendance for this great community event, featuring the UW Marching Band as part of the festivities.

To catch the complete radio interview with Olympia Coach Bill Beattie,
simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Roosevelt Pitches 2nd Half Shutout, Beats Ballard for the Anchor

Posted on September 14, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Sept. 13th	2014	3A Metro	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Roosevelt	7	7	20	7	41
Ballard	14	10	0	0	24

Game Recap below

Roosevelt Pitches 2nd Half Shutout, Beats Ballard for the Anchor
By Colin Caruso

In this great rivalry matchup for the coveted Anchor trophy, the Roosevelt Roughriders faced off against the Ballard Beavers, both a part of the new 3A Metro league. Ballard put together a great first half on the back of two touchdown passes from Jacob Ta’ase. They also added a touchdown run from senior running back Shea Carroll and a 30 yard field goal to end the half.

Roosevelt did what they could to stay within striking distance of the Ballard Beavers. A touchdown run from Max Rose and a touchdown catch by Ryan Gleeson kept them within 10 at the half, 24-10.

The game changed significantly at halftime. With the temperature rising, Roosevelt’s sideline in the shade and Ballard’s in the sun, the Rough Riders were ready to pounce. Three touchdowns from star junior running back Dane Rogerson turned the 10 point deficit to a 10 point lead to start the fourth.

Ballard could not find an answer for the surging Rough Riders. Penalties and turnovers kept them at bay in the second half, in conjunction with momentum and strong defense from Roosevelt. The Rough Riders would add another score in the fourth to put this one well out of reach, with a final of 41-24.

Top Performers:
Roosevelt
Dane Rogerson – 3 Rushing TD

Ballard
Jacob Ta’ase – 2 TD passes

Lancers Pounce on Prep Panthers in Memorial Classic

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Randall Novak

Saturday	Sept. 12th	2014	3A	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Kennedy Catholic	0	6	6	6	18
Seattle Prep	0	3	0	0	3

Game Recap below

Lancers Pounce on Prep Panthers in Memorial Classic

By Steven Dion

The 1st Annual Memorial Football Classic got underway Friday night and continues Saturday as many of the teams reuniting with the Metro League square off against each other and other local teams. The event commenced with Seattle Prep and Kennedy Catholic from the Seamount League. Seattle Prep likes to play ground and pound football with their featured tailback Sam Kopf who is coming off a huge season opener against Cedar Park Christian. The Lancers also present a strong run game, but are on a by-committee basis which was highly successful on this night.

Field position was the main battle in the first half as both team struggled to get deep into enemy territory. JFK got onto the board via a Jr. Ngauamo score. The Lancers kept the Panthers off the scoreboard in the first half and the teams entered the locker rooms 6-0.

Seattle Prep sustained a drive early in the third which resulted in a field goal and cut the deficit in half. However, Kennedy’s commitment to running the football overpowered the blue and white as Nick Galando and Liam Cheskon rushed for touchdowns. Give credit to the Lancer defense who held Prep to three points in the contest. Kennedy takes the victory 18-3.

Top Performers:
Kennedy Catholic
Liam Cheskon – Rushing TD

Mt. Spokane Shuts Out West Valley

Posted on September 9, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Sept. 6th	2014	3A/4A	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
West Valley-Yakima	0	0	0	0	0
Mt. Spokane	10	0	7	7	24

Game Recap below

Mt. Spokane Shuts Out West Valley-Yakima
By Colin Caruso

In a battle of two teams on the east side of the mountains, the Mount Spokane Wildcats faced off against the West Valley-Yakima Rams. On paper this looked like a good matchup; big lines facing off, accomplished skill position players on both sides, but it was nothing of the sort.

Mt. Spokane got off to a quick start, scoring 10 unanswered in the first quarter, and playing stifling defense. Dalton Dixon and Jacob Sander for the Wildcats both recorded over 6 tackles, shutting down the West Valley running game early.

The domination continued into the second half, with Mt. Spokane controlling the line of scrimmage. Despite being a little undersized the Wildcats forced West Valley quarterback Luke Atterberry to rush a number of his throws, holding him to just 71 yards of total passing on the day.

With a strong third and fourth quarter, the Wildcats put together a convincing 24-0 victory. The crowd on both sides expected more from West Valley, but Mt. Spokane did a great job of speeding up the game and making great open field tackles.

Top Performers:
West Valley
Luke Atterberry – 10.5 tackles

Mt. Spokane
Dakota Hipes – 6 carries for 48 yards and a TD, 4 catches for 71 yards and a TD

Prosser Tramples Emerald Ridge

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Randall Novak

Saturday	Sept. 6th	2014	2A/4A	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Prosser	7	28	13	14	62
Emerald Ridge	7	7	6	0	20

Game Recap below

Prosser Tramples Emerald Ridge
By Colin Caruso

When a 2A team matches up with a 4A team, we all assume the 4A team with over 800 more students would have a distinct advantage. Not when you play Prosser, who maintains one of the best football programs in the state. The third matchup in the annual Emerald City Kickoff Classic turned sour quickly for the Emerald Ridge Jaguars, who faced off against the Prosser Mustangs.

Both teams battled well in the first quarter, with a score of 7-7 going into the second. This is when Prosser moved into a second gear.

The Mustangs scored 28 straight points in the second quarter, capitalizing off of turnovers from Emerald Ridge. On the back of Kason Blair and Cardell Jones, the Mustangs continued to build their lead into the third and fourth quarters.

The big difference in this game was the rushing game. Prosser had 39 total carries for 269 yards, while Emerald Ridge had 16 carries for 15 yards. Griffin Meyers, quarterback of the Jaguars had a good day with three touchdown passes, but the Emerald Ridge defense could do nothing to stop the storming Mustangs. Prosser took this one 62-20.

Top Performers:
Prosser
Isaiah Sanders- 13 carries for 101 yards
Cardell Jones- 3 catches for 107 yards and 2 TDs

Emerald Ridge
Griffin Meyers- 12-28 for 186 yards and 3TDs

Darrington defeats Bridgeport

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Randall Novak

Saturday	Sept. 6th	2014	4A	Boys	Football
Memorial Stadium	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bridgeport	0	7	0	0	7
Darrington	0	21	14	0	35

Game Recap below

Darrington Logs Bridgeport
By Colin Caruso

The Emerald City Kickoff Classic always comprises great matchups throughout the state in high school football. The ‘Jamboree’ week kicked off with the Bridgeport Mustangs and the Darrington Loggers, both schools of less than 200 students. Bridgeport had a down year last year, winning only one game, while Darrington put up a solid 7-4 record in 2013.

Both teams battled equally in the first quarter, with the ball hovering around midfield and the score remaining at 0-0. Darrington began to awaken in the second quarter.

Lane Monteith, a 5’9 215 pound senior for the Loggers took over the contest both offensively and defensively. He scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, and led all players in tackles with 6.5 total, 5 solo.

With such small enrollment, neither team had more than 20 players suited, and Darrington finished the game with just 13 players due to injuries throughout the course of the game. Look for the Loggers to continue to play great football on the back of Monteith and their quarterback Trent Green.

Darrington finished off Bridgeport 35-7. It looks like Bridgeport will continue to rebuild this year, but look for a better result overall than last season.

Top Performers:
Bridgeport
Jonathan Oregon, 12 carries for 93 yards

Darrington
Lane Monteith, 9 carries for 52 yards, 2TDs, 6.5 tackles

2014 KONA Radio Football
Broadcast Schedule

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 KONA Football Broadcast Schedule

Week 1
Friday, September 5- Chiawana vs. Camas, 7:30pm
Pre-game airs at 7:15pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 2
Friday, September 12- Mead vs. Southridge, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 3
Friday, September 19- Richland vs. Chiawana, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 4
Thursday, September 25- Chiawana vs. Southridge, 7pm
Click to Listen Live
Friday, September 26- Hanford vs. Richland, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 5
Friday, October 3- Pasco vs. Kennewick, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 6
Thursday, October 9- Pasco vs. Kamiakin, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 7
Friday, October 17- Kamiakin vs. Southridge, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 8
Thursday, October 23- Pasco vs. Southridge, 7pm
Click to Listen Live
Friday, October 24- Richland vs. Kamiakin, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 9
Friday, October 31- Hanford vs. Kennewick, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 10
Friday, November 7- MCC/GSL Cross-Over, TBD
Click to Listen Live

Coverage begins on 610AM KONA 15 minutes prior to kickoff.

2014 KBRC Radio Football
Broadcast Schedule

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 KBRC Football Broadcast Schedule

Week 1
Friday, September 5- Nooksack Valley vs. Anacortes, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 2
Friday, September 12- Cedarcrest vs. Burlington-Edison, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 3
Friday, September 19- Lake Stevens vs. Mount Vernon, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 4
Friday, September 26- Squalicum vs. Sedro-Woolley, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 5
Friday, October 3- Ferndale vs. Anacortes, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 6
Friday, October 10- La Conner vs. Concrete, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 7
Friday, October 17- Jackson vs. Mount Vernon, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 8
Friday, October 24- Anacortes vs. Burlington-Edison, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 9
Friday, October 31- Sedro-Woolley vs. Ferndale, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Coverage begins on KBRC Radio 15 minutes prior to kickoff.

2014 KAPS Radio Football
Broadcast Schedule

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 KAPS Football Broadcast Schedule

Week 1
Friday, September 5- Burlington-Edison vs. Mount Vernon, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 2
Friday, September 12- Mount Vernon vs. Sedro-Woolley, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 3
Friday, September 19- Sedro-Woolley vs. Burlington-Edison, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 4
Friday, September 26- Burlington-Edison vs. Ferndale, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 5
Friday, October 3- Mount Vernon vs. Snohomish, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 6
Friday, October 10- Lynden vs. Burlington-Edison, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 7
Friday, October 17- Anacortes vs. Sedro-Woolley, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 8
Friday, October 24- Lynden vs. Sedro-Woolley, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Week 9
Friday, October 31- Monroe vs. Mount Vernon, 7pm
Click to Listen Live

Coverage begins on KAPS Radio 15 minutes prior to kickoff.

2013- Coach Interview with Tumwater’s Sid Otton

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Julie Fairchild

2013 Varsity Football Live Interview
Tumwater Thunderbirds – Head Football Coach
Sid Otton

Winningest Coach in State History

Join us as Dick Fain talks with legendary Coach Sid Otton about his winning streak – possibly leading to number 350 this week. The Tumwater T-Birds have 5 State Championships under Coach Otton’s reign, and are currently ranked #2 after starting the season 3-0.

In his 40th season, Coach Otton believes a positive approach, commitment and dedication are keys to a successful season.

“We’re off to a strong start … they’re gaining confidence … but our approach is to never look at the rankings … we’re just looking at the next game.”

As for the keys to preparing for another State Championship run, Coach Otton hopes the team will “stay healthy, stay focused on the next snap, respect their opponent, and try to get better and better and better.”

To catch the complete radio interview with Coach Otton,
simply click on the play button below.

2013- Coach Interview with
Bothell Cougar’s Tom Bainter

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Julie Fairchild

2013 Varsity Football Live Interview
Bothell Cougars – Head Football Coach
Tom Bainter

14 Years of Consistent Success

We had the opportunity to catch up with Bothell Coach Tom Bainter as his 9-2 team faces Bellarmine Prep in the State Tourney tomorrow – for the 3rd time since 2010.

During Coach Bainter’s 14 years at Bothell, his Cougars have always had a lot of success playing in KingCo and State tournaments. When asked what makes them so consistently good, Coach Bainter said:

“It starts with the kids and we have great kids here in the Bothell area, who work hard and put in the time year-round … and I have had a wonderful staff, so that continuity surely helps.”

The Cougars faced some tough, high calibre teams at the start of the season, and have gone on to putting up unbelievable totals, scoring 42 or more points in 7 games. Coach Bainter credited kick-off returns, special teams, and many players for those incredible numbers. “The great thing about this team is we play one day at a time, we’ll go out on the field and our captains will say ‘we’ve got to get better today’ … it’s a whole team effort and I love the way our kids play together.”

To catch the complete radio interview with Coach Bainter,
simply click on the play button below.

2013- Coach Interview with
Bishop Blanchet’s Aaron Maul

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Randall Novak

2014 Varsity Football Live Interview
Bishop Blanchet Braves – Head Football Coach
Aaron Maul

Winning Tradition is back at Bishop Blanchet

It’s been a long time since Bishop Blanchet won the Metro League Championship in 1985 – and even longer since they won the State Championship in 1974, but Aaron Maul and his coaching staff are making amazing strides toward winning those honors once again.

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Coach Maul for some insight on his Bishop Blanchet Braves, who are currently ranked 9th in the State. Dick Fain chats with him about the remarkable progress the team has made over the past four seasons.

Coach Maul attributes much of their success to great preparation, and the trust and familiarity developed by strong leadership from seniors on the team. He feels they have become more confident and have learned to believe in what they are trying to accomplish on a Friday night.

“I’m very passionate about defense … and playing physical is something we pride ourselves on.”

Coach Maul challenges his players to compete to their greatest ability and give their greatest effort to each other, “It’s not about the guy that’s across from you, it’s about the guy that’s next to you.”

To catch the complete radio interview with Coach Maul,
simply click on the play button below.

Rainier Beach Wins State, Clinches Berth to NY for National Title

Posted on March 11, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	March 8th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	11	15	7	12	45
Rainier Beach	11	10	14	12	47

Rainier Beach Wins State, Clinches Berth to NY for National Title
By Colin Caruso

-In this their fourth meeting on the season, the undefeated Rainier Beach Vikings squared off with the Eastside Catholic Crusaders for the 3A boys state title. Only one of the three previous games was close, the Metro final which resulted in a 68-65 Beach win.

Eastside started the game on a 7-0 run, with four points coming from junior Matisse Thybulle. His length gave the Vikings issues all evening. Beach needed an answer and it came in the form of David Crisp, who scored the Vikings first eight points. Unfortunately for the Vikings, Crisp picked up his third foul in the first quarter and was forced to sit the remainder of the half. The teams were tied at 11 going into the second.

With Crisp on the bench for the Vikings, the Crusaders gathered the momentum in the second quarter. Mandrell Worthy led all scorers in the first half with 14 points, and the Crusaders took a 26-21 lead into halftime.

Rainier Beach was out of the locker room five minutes before the Crusaders, sitting on the bench and patiently waiting to start their halftime shooting. Whatever coach Bethea mentioned to them in their brief halftime session worked; they started the half on a 10-3 run. Eastside struggled offensively in the third, resorting to one on one offense, not running sets, and not battling for offensive rebounds. The Vikings took a two point lead into
the fourth.

The two point lead turned into a four point deficit for the Vikings in less than two minutes in the beginning of the final quarter. A quick 6-0 run put the Crusaders on top and brought their crowd back in the game. But Shaqquan Aaron wouldn’t let the Vikings go quietly. He scored six straight to put the Vikings back up by two. A Mandrell Worthy jumper for the Crusaders tied the game at 43 with less than two minutes remaining. Djuan Piper for the Vikings converted a minute later on a dribble drive, answered by Thybulle with his own dribble drive with 40 seconds remaining. Piper answered the call again for the Vikings, hitting a mid-range jumper with 5.1 seconds on the clock.

After the made basket, the Crusaders inbounded from their own baseline. Worthy was stripped of the ball and the Vikings picked it up as the clock struck 0:00, winning their third state title in a row. Rainier Beach will take a couple of weeks off then travel to New York to play for the national title. Good luck to the Vikings!

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy – 21 points, 5 rebounds
Ian Christie – 1 point, 17 rebounds

Rainier Beach
Shaqquan Aaron – 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
Elijah Foster – 6 points, 12 rebounds

Gonzaga Prep Comes Back from 12 down to Win State Title

Posted on March 10, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	March 8th	2014	4A	Girls	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Gonzaga Prep	17	10	15	11	53
Mount Rainier	16	18	13	4	51

Gonzaga Prep Comes Back from 12 down to Win State Title
By Colin Caruso

The Tacoma Dome was rocking for the 4A girls state final between the one loss Gonzaga Prep Bullpups and the Mount Rainier Rams. Mount Rainier is led by Brittany McPhee, a former Gatorade state player of the year and one of the states finest players.

The first half showed a lot of McPhee, who worked hard to get her shots and scored a half high 17 points. Hannah Caudill for the Bullpups led her team with 11 points in the first, and kept them within striking distance for the second half. Mount Rainier took a seven point lead, 34-27 into the locker room.

McPhee kept up her scoring in the third quarter. She added nine more in the frame and Mount Rainier began to pull away from the Bullpups, ahead by ten points with three minutes remaining. But Gonzaga Prep put together a much needed 6-0 run to cut the lead back down to four. The Rams led by five, 47-42 going into the fourth.

Early in the fourth belonged to the Bullpups. Otiona Gildon converted on back to back pick and roll layups, trimming the lead to just one with four minutes remaining. With two minutes of no scoring, Gildon converted on two more layups, going on a personal 8-0 run and putting the Bullpups up by three with under a minute to play.

Kaiti Freeberg finally ended the Rams drought, converting on a layup with 17.5 seconds on the clock. Still trailing by one, the Rams were forced to foul to put the Bullpups on the line. Unfortunately they only committed three team fouls and there was less than one minute remaining. So when they finally got to a bonus situation, there were just three seconds on the clock. Caudill converted on one of two from the line for the Pups and Mount Rainier was unable to get a good shot off before the buzzer. Congratulations to the Bullpups in a 53-51 win!

Top Performers:
Gonzaga Prep
Otiona Gildon – 18 points, 15 rebounds
Laura Stockton – 11 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks

Mount Rainier
Brittany McPhee – 28 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 steals

Undefeated Richland Advances to 4A State Final

Posted on March 8, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	March 8th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Todd Beamer	12	8	21	20	61
Richland	14	19	22	20	75

Undefeated Richland Advances to 4A State Final
By Colin Caruso

In the nightcap 4A boys game, the undefeated Richland Bombers faced off against the 22-4 Todd Beamer Titans. Outside of Nathan Streufert for the Bombers at 6’7”, Beamer had a complete size advantage in this matchup. This did not bother the Bombers, as they put together a nice 10-2 run in the first and took a 14-12 lead into the second.

Beamer struggled offensively throughout the second; their one on one mentality resulted in a lot of misses and no second chance opportunities. On the other side of the floor, Richland found no problems putting the ball through the hoop. Bomber Steven Beo had a great first half with 11 points, and Richland went into the locker room feeling good with a 13 point lead.

Beo took over to start the third quarter. He hit three straight three pointers for the Bombers, pushing their lead to 19. But Beamer would not let the game get out of hand. They continued to battle and clawed their way back to a ten point deficit on threes from Quadir Williams and Bogdon Bliznyuk. Fouls began to plague both teams late in the quarter, as Raybonne Freeman for the Titans and Nathan Streufert for the Bombers both gathered their fourth. Richland extended their lead to 14 going into the fourth.

The 14 point lead ballooned to as many as 20 for the Bombers, who were not bothered at all by the Beamer press. Beamer could not get back into this one; too many miscues on offense and phenomenal shooting from the Bombers. Richland took this one with ease, 75-61, and will face the Garfield Bulldogs for the 4A state final.

Top Performers:
Todd Beamer
Charles Frazier – 13 points, 8 rebounds

Richland
Steven Beo – 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Jacob DeVries – 18 points, 8 rebounds
Nathan Streufert – 8 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists

Garfield Sneaks Past Issaquah to Face Bombers in State Final

Posted on March 8, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	March 8th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Garfield	17	17	13	14	61
Issaquah	13	21	16	9	59

Garfield Sneaks Past Issaquah to Face Bombers in State Final
By Colin Caruso

In their fourth matchup on the year, the one loss Garfield Bulldogs faced off against the 19-6 Issaquah Eagles for a trip to the 4A state final. Garfield’s only loss came to these Eagles in the latter half of the regular season by just two points, a loss Garfield avenged in the KingCo championship game with an 18 point win.

The pace of this game was frantic at the beginning, resulting in one key player on each team getting two early fouls. Senior Jake Henke for the Eagles and senior Brayon Blake for the Bulldogs both sat the remainder of the first quarter and well into the second with their foul trouble. Garfield’s leading scorer Tramaine Isabell led all first quarter scorers with eight, and the Bulldogs took a four point lead into the second.
Issaquah took the momentum back in the second quarter behind 11 points from senior Brian Watson. He led the 21 point rally for the Eagles, who tied the game going into half at 34.

Foul trouble again became a factor in the third quarter, with both Blake and Torrence Baker for Garfield picking up their fourth fouls. Issaquah capitalized on the line and took a three point lead into the fourth.

The fourth quarter remained nail-biting close. Garfield shot well from the free-throw line all night, 23-27 overall, and they were able to tie the contest with just over two minutes to play. Zachariah Shepherd hit a three for the Dogs to put them up three, but fouled on the next defensive possession, fouling him out of the game. Ty Gibson hit two free-throws for the Eagles on the other end, but Isabell converted on a great dribble drive to regain the lead by three. Addison McIrvin was fouled on the next Issaquah possession and hit one of two at the line. He was fouled again on a Garfield miss and made both to tie the game at 59 with one minute to go. A kick ball gave the Bulldogs more time on the shot clock, and Henke fouled Jashaun Agosto for the Bulldogs on a three pointer with 20 seconds remaining, Henke’s fifth foul. Agosto hit two of three to go up 61-59. After a timeout, Eagle Brian Watson attempted a fade away from the baseline that missed, and the Bulldogs hung on to advance to the 4A state final. What a game!

Top Performers:
Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 19 points, 5 rebounds
Brayon Blake – 11 points, 6 rebounds

Issaquah
Ty Gibson – 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Brian Watson – 17 points, 4 rebounds

DeVries Threes Highlight Explosive Bomber Win in Quarterfinals

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	March 6th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Richland	10	26	21	21	78
Wenatchee	10	12	7	20	49

DeVries Threes Highlight Explosive Bomber Win in Quarterfinals
By Steven Dion

Day one of the Hardwood Classic concluded with a 4A matchup between two schools east of the mountains: Wenatchee and Richland. The Bombers of the Tri-Cities carried a perfect 23-0 record into this ballgame averaging nearly 90 points per contest. They also made an appearance to state last season with much of the same returning cast. Wenatchee with its 16-7 record relied on a hot streak down the postseason road to find itself in “The Woodshed” in 2014 including a one-point victory over defending state champions Curtis in regionals. The well-represented fan sections of each side were eager to finally watch some basketball after long drives from the other side of the state.

In the opening minute, Richland senior Jacob DeVries scored five points after a three, steal, then put-back. Wenatchee head coach Ron Stone quickly called a timeout to calm his team down. Stone clearly understood the fast pace the Bombers like to play, and his strategy after the timeout paid off in the short term. The Panthers slowed the tempo of the game down and matched RHS bucket for bucket. After one frame, the contest was tied at ten apiece. The second quarter is when the game was blown apart like something seen in Hanford near Richland.

The Bombers went on an offensive surge as they notched 26 points in eight minutes, the highest scoring quarter of all eight boys games played at the Tacoma Dome on Thursday. DeVries supplied a huge dose of these points as his 33 in the game was the highest for a single player all day. The impressive part of the senior’s performance was the remarkable efficiency of 65% from the field and 71% from downtown! The Bombers built a 14 point margin at the half and did not look back.

When play resumed, the Bombers churned out another high-octane quarter and separating themselves 14 more points in the process. Credit Chase Resch of Wenatchee for staying tough down the stretch as he got a few tough shots to go. Also, Panther senior Dillon Sugg was able to register a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. But this game was all Richland as they had ten different scorers combining for their 78 points. If Richland can keep the hot shooting going, the rest of 4A will have their hands full handing the Bombers their first loss of the season.

Top Performers:
Richland
Jacob DeVries-33 points (13/20 FG’s, 5/7 3-pt FG’s), 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists

Wenatchee
Dillon Sugg-12 points, 10 rebounds

Garfield Dominates one-loss Kentridge

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	March 6th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Kentridge	10	2	10	19	41
Garfield	17	17	15	14	63

Garfield Dominates one-loss Kentridge
By Colin Caruso

In another rough quarterfinal matchup, the one loss Garfield Bulldogs faced off against the one loss Kentridge Chargers for a berth to the 4A state semifinal. Both teams’ losses came late in the year to teams still playing, with Garfield’s loss coming to Issaquah and Kentridge’s loss coming to Todd Beamer.

Garfield jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in this one, but Kentridge leading scorer Jawan Stepney would not let Garfield make it a blowout. Stepney answered with back to back threes for the Chargers, which kept them in the contest, as the Bulldogs kept their foot to the pedal. Garfield led 17-10 after one quarter.

Kentridge needed to answer to start the second, and it simply did not happen. Garfield held the Chargers to two points in the second quarter, while putting up 17 on their own. Turnovers were the story; 12 total for the Chargers leading to 14 Garfield points off. Kentridge could not get good shots up and Garfield continued their tenacious defensive pressure. Garfield took a commanding 34-12 lead into the half.

The second half looked a lot like the first half in this game, with Garfield controlling the scoring and the pace. Kentridge closed the gap significantly late in the fourth to lose by 22. Their largest deficit was 28 points early in the fourth. Garfield will advance to the 4A state semifinal.

Top Performers:
Kentridge
Jawan Stepney – 13 points, 3 rebounds

Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals

Mount Rainier Takes down Inglemoor, Advances to State Semis

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	March 6th	2014	4A	Girls	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Inglemoor	11	17	7	22	57
Mount Rainier	20	17	15	12	64

Mount Rainier Takes down Inglemoor, Advances to State Semis
By Colin Caruso

In an unfortunate matchup in the round of eight between two of the state’s best 4A girls programs, the McPhee led Mount Rainier Rams took on the Inglemoor Vikings. The Rams are 24-3 on the year, with big wins over two final eight teams, Kentwood and Skyview. Inglemoor is led by post Deja Strother, and they are 21-3 on the season.

Mount Rainier exploded offensively in the first half. They played quicker and with more poise than their competition, and led by as many as 12 points. The McPhee twins combined for 18 points in the first half, but the team was led by Aqeelah Williams’ 11. Strother and Mackenzie Gardner kept the Vikings in the contest with 12 points each, but only two other players for the Vikings scored in the first half. Mount Rainier led 46-33 at the break.

Mount Rainier continued to play fundamentally sound basketball in the third, pushing their lead to as many as 19. It seemed as if the Rams got their hands on every entry pass to Strother, gathering the loose balls and getting out in transition. After three, Mount Rainier led 52-35.
Inglemoor needed a big run to get back into this game, down 17 entering in the fourth. They picked up their defense and the shots began to fall for the Vikings, who started the quarter on a 13-7 run. But it was too little too late. The Vikings won the quarter 22-12, but lost by seven, 64-57. The win for the Rams avenged an earlier season loss to the Vikings, a game Inglemoor won by 15.

Top Performers:
Inglemoor
Deja Strother – 25 points (11-15 FG), 18 rebounds (9 offensive), 2 blocks
Mackenzie Gardner – 14 points, 4 assists

Mount Rainier
Brittany McPhee – 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Jordan McPhee – 12 points, 4 steals

Bellevue Cruises over One Loss Stanwood

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	March 6th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Stanwood	15	7	13	8	43
Bellevue	18	15	13	15	61

Bellevue Cruises over One Loss Stanwood
By Colin Caruso

3A state basketball heated up in the quarterfinal matchup between the Bellevue Wolverines and the one loss Stanwood Spartans. Bellevue, regarded as one of the top teams in the state, came into this contest at 20-4, with big wins over O’Dea and Lincoln down the stretch. Stanwood experienced their only loss of the season just two weeks ago against Shorecrest, but took down Foss in the round of 16 to advance to the dome.

Stanwood jumped out to a frantic pace and an 11-2 first quarter lead. The early lead did not phase the Wolverines, who remained calm and capitalized off Stanwood turnovers. The Wolverines closed the first quarter on a 16-4 run to take an 18-15 lead into the second.
The Wolverines scored the first 10 points to extend their 16-4 run to end the first to a 26-4 run spanning both quarters. Lakeside transfer Zack Moore heated up for the Wolverines in the second quarter, scoring 10 of his team’s 15 points. Bellevue led by as many as 14 in the second and took a 33-22 lead into the third quarter.

Stanwood finally stayed even with the Wolverines in the third, with both teams playing scrappier basketball than the first half. The Wolverines capitalized on easy baskets, setting good back screens leaving their teammates wide open under the hoop. The Bellevue lead excelled to fifteen early in the fourth, and they stalled every Stanwood run by great offensive execution. Bellevue controlled throughout, and will advance to the state 3A semifinal on Friday.

Top Performers:
Stanwood
Drew Stang – 13 points, 4 rebounds

Bellevue
Sharif Khan – 14 points, 3 steals, 3 assists
Kyle Foreman – 9 points, 4 assists, 2 steals

Eastside Catholic Handles University, Advances to Face Wilson in Semifinal

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	March 6th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	15	14	11	13	53
University	11	7	14	7	39

Eastside Catholic Handles University, Advances to Face Wilson in Semifinal
By Colin Caruso

In the second game in Tacoma on Thursday, the University Titans battled the Eastside Catholic Crusaders to face off against the Wilson Rams in the Washington state 3A boys semifinal. University, with a tough regular season this year, won their last six to advance to Tacoma. Eastside Catholic took a different route, widely regarded as one of the top teams in the state, had only two losses on the season outside of their matchups against Rainier Beach, and came in at 21-5.

The discrepancies in records portrayed an imbalance on the floor early in this quarterfinal matchup. A much bigger Eastside Catholic team continued to pound on the interior, shooting layup after layup against an undersized University team. Eastside is typically not an interior scoring team; a good chunk of their points this season are on three pointers and they only attempted five threes in the first half. The Crusaders led 29-18 at the break.

University made a strong push to start the second half. Winning the third quarter 14-11 put them in striking distance going into the fourth. But Eastside was too strong defensively throughout, outscoring the Titans 19-1 on points off turnovers, the difference in the ballgame. Eastside cruised to a 53-39 win.

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy – 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Matisse Thybulle – 12 points, 4 steals, 2 blocks

University
Ben Kuiper – 10 points, 9 rebounds
Robert Little – 11 points

Thayer Leads Stanwood Over Foss in Regional Matchup

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Sturday	March 1st	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Kent Meridian High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Stanwood	15	14	21	23	73
Foss	10	15	16	14	55

Thayer Leads Stanwood Over Foss in Regional Matchup
By Steven Dion

Entering the month of March, Stanwood has twenty-two wins thus far. Their lone blemish on the season was the most recent game played, a District championship thriller against Shorecrest. With a trip to state at stake on Saturday against a sneaky Foss squad out of a tough Narrows league, the pressure was clearly on the Spartans in their storybook season. Their enormous fan base traveled for this game creating a sea of red in the bleachers. Regardless, the Falcons who are no stranger to postseason basketball were eager to earn their state berth to play in the Dome in their home city of Tacoma.

It was evident Stanwood spent some time in the film room preparing for Foss, especially their star guard and Seattle University commit Armond Davis. To counter the Foss scoring machine, the Spartans put their leader Josh Thayer as the defensive assignment to Davis. Armond took advantage of his half a foot of height advantage by draining several fadeaways, but credit Thayer to making the 6’5 slasher work for every point. The first half featured matching scores for both sides. The exceptional rebounding of Skout Roberson gave Stanwood a huge boost offensively throughout the contest. At the half, SHS led the Falcons by a score of 29-25.

It took less than one minute into the third quarter for Foss to tie up the ballgame at 29 apiece and push reset on the game. This is when the Spartan big man Drew Stang stepped up. His emphatic blocks on the defensive end led to his four buckets in the third frame. A pair of Thayer three-balls helped give the Spartans a five point advantage into the final frame. For Foss to win this ball game, either Davis would have to continue his precision shooting, or the Falcons would need contributions from more than the five starters whom comprised all of the Foss scoring thus far. Stanwood did not allow either as Stang and Brady Garcea aided in a 23 point fourth quarter to propel Sparty to a 73-55 win. Stanwood advances to the state tournament in 2014 after falling one game short of doing so in ’13.

Top Performers:
Stanwood
Josh Thayer – 19 points, exceptional defense effort
Skout Roberson – 21 points

Foss
Armond Davis, Sam Dabalos-McMahon, Olashawan Miller (all double digit scorers-20, 13, 10 respectively)

Hockinson Soars Over Foster, Advances to State

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Sturday	March 1st	2014	2A	Boys	Basketball
Kent Meridian High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Hockinson	10	18	15	21	64
Foster	9	11	17	16	53

Hockinson Soars Over Foster, Advances to State
By Steven Dion

Kent-Meridian High School played host to regional Saturday for four win-or-go-home games to move on to championship weekend. The first contest of the day featured Hockinson from the Greater St. Helens league and Foster from the Seamount. With a trip to the Yakima Valley SunDome on the line, this interleague matchup was bound to supply plenty of excitement for the Hawk blue and Bulldog purple in the grandstands.

The first half got off to a high energy start as the tempo was fast and the scoring opportunities were plentiful. The amount of offensive rebounds each team recorded early on was noteworthy and led to chaos under the rim as each squad battled for boards. Hockinson established their precision shooting in the first sixteen minutes highlighted by a trio of three-pointers by Alan Haagen. Foster countered with effective perimeter shooting of their own by Cory Covarrubia, Patrick Straight, and Ben Mitchell. The matchup of forwards Austin Steimle of HHS and Ronnie Roberson of FHS was fun to watch as the bigs were very physical down low. The Hawks were able to build an eight point lead after one half of play at 28-20.

After the break, Foster understood they would need to find a leader that could step up and get the Bulldogs back into the game. Mitchell answered the call. The senior distributed the ball to teammates nicely and attacked the rim aggressively. Hockinson did not back down though as Jack Klodt made an acrobatic And-1 en route to a ten point third quarter. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Hawks held onto a six point lead and put on the finishing touches. Converting on several foul shots down the stretch, HHS was able to win convincingly by the final score of 64-53 largely due the high scoring volume of Klodt and Haagen with 24 and 22 points respectively. Congrats to the Hawks as they punch their ticket to the big dance.

Top Performers:
Hockinson
Jack Klodt – 24 points, 15/15 FT’s
Alan Haagen – 22 points, 13/14 FT’s

Foster
Cory Covarrubia- 12 points, 4-3pt. FG’s

Tulalip Earns Ticket to State with Win Over Wilbur-Creston

Posted on March 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	February 28th	2014	1B	Boys	Basketball
Everett Community College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Tulalip Heritage	22	20	16	23	81
Wilbur-Creston	15	14	23	12	64

Tulalip Earns Ticket to State with Win Over Wilbur-Creston
By Steven Dion

Win or go home. This is the nature of the regional round leading up to the state tournament next week. The fate of Tulalip Heritage’s and Wilbur-Creston’s seasons would be decided on Friday night at Everett Community College. The winner of this game would receive their ticket to the state tournament at Spokane Arena next week and be three wins away from a championship. The loser would end their season in the sweet sixteen round.

Tulalip wasted no time getting their momentum rolling as they started the game on an 11-0 run. The Hawks shot the ball extremely well out of the gate, especially from downtown. Four players scored in double figures for Tulalip which presented matchup problems for Wilbur-Creston throughout the game. The Wildcats were able to rally midway through the second quarter from a double-digit deficit by feeding Colton Magers. The junior forced his way through the Hawks defense to put up shots in the paint en route to 19 points. However, THHS closed the quarter strong and took a 42-29 lead into the locker room.

When the third quarter began, Tulalip continued to be the aggressor in this contest as their precision passing in transition led to a number of buckets at the rim. The Wildcats were tentative in their shot selection, which prevented them from grabbing a lead in this game. Bradley Fryberg started to loosen up in this game for Tulalip in the second half as his gritty defense highlighted by eight steals deflated the WC attack. Fryberg was slinging the rock to teammates like a quarterback down the stretch, many of which were no-look passes. The junior’s command of the court helped Tulalip’s leading scorers in Ayrik Miranda and Keanu Hamilton pick up an 81-64 win and a trip to state.

Top Performers:
Tulalip Heritage
Keanu Hamilton-19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists

Wilbur-Creston
Colton Magers-19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks

Ghebremichael Shines As Scots Take Down Undefeated Stanwood

Posted on March 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	February 22nd	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Jackson High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Shorecrest	13	9	19	22	63
Stanwood	15	10	16	17	58

Ghebremichael Shines As Scots Take Down Undefeated Stanwood
By Steven Dion

It is rare to be undefeated in late February as the state finals are right around the corner. For the Stanwood Spartans, part of a blemish-free record is the target on their backs every game and the pressure-cooker to keep the streak alive. With berths to the regional round already secured, the Scots from Shorecrest Senior High School were able to play with a “nothing-to-lose, everything-to-gain” mentality and challenge for a district title. The player responsible for deciding this game in the waning minutes would be completely unexpected.

When the teams took the floor, the similarities between the two squads were strikingly apparent. Both featured small guard corps as each team had three starters under 6’. The favorite Spartans jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead in the first quarter. Scots’ coach Brian Fischer called a timeout to rally the troops and calm his team down. They responded nicely by quickly closing the gap back up. The clash of centers Masamba Njadoe of ‘Crest and aptly named Drew Stans of Stanwood was intriguing as both players were the prominent forces down low. The Spartans took a 25-22 lead into the locker room as the final few minutes of the half turned into a track meet as the court opened up and the teams ran up and down it.

The third quarter started with a rainstorm in the form of Brady Garcia three pointers. This allowed Shorecrest to grab an early lead in the second half. The momentum carried to the defensive side for the Scots as well through a handful of highlight blocks by Njadoe. However, Stanwood’s leading scorer Josh Thayer started heating up and his fifteen points in the final sixteen minutes helped his team pick up a lead of six with only three points remaining. Enter Daniel Ghebremichael. A non-starter from the Shorecrest lineup finished this game in a fashion that it will be night he will never forget. After the timeout, he grabbed a steal, took it to the rim for a bucket and the foul. With a minute remaining and a tied ballgame, Ghebremichael spotted up for a contested three that went through the net flawlessly. Stanwood’s desperation shot to tie it up clanged off side-rim and was rebounded by Gheb who was promptly fouled. The Scot from the bench scored 13 points in the game, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter. The District 1 title goes to Shorecrest with a shocking 63-58 victory.

Top Performers:
Shorecrest
Daniel Ghebremichael-13 points off bench (11 in 4th quarter including game winning 3-pointer)
Masamba Njadoe-10 points, huge defensive impact

Stanwood
Josh Thayer-20 points (3/3 FT’s)