Mountlake Terrace Grabs Final Playoff Spot Against Marysville-Pilchuck

Posted on March 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	February 22nd	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Jackson High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Mountlake Terrace	18	16	15	21	70
Marysville-Pilchuck	16	14	16	7	53

Mountlake Terrace Grabs Final Playoff Spot Against Marysville-Pilchuck
By Steven Dion

Jackson High School served as host for two playoff games for District 1 from the Wesco League. The first was the 3A contest between Mountlake Terrace and Marysville-Pilchuck. In a seemingly wide-open classification moving forward in the state tournament, the winner of this game has a fair shot of continuing their run in the next round. With a nice crowd on hand, everyone in the building was in for an exciting game.

Mountlake Terrace established their variety of scoring options early as six Hawk players scored in the first quarter alone. This was largely due to MP’s inability to contain the interior. Terrace had an advantage from the three to five positions on the floor as their trio of forward/post combos at 6’6 or bigger were matched with Pilchuck’s smaller centers at around 6’4. The Tomahawks were able to get a boost from nice shooting from their guards Bryce Juneau and Josh Bevan. The pair combined for 19 of Pilchuck’s thirty first-half points. With a four point lead after the first half, Mountlake Terrace’s ability to feed a seemingly unblocked Greg Bowman would set the tone for the rest of the game.

When play continued, the Hawks continued their trend of cashing in on offensive rebounds. Crashing the boards in the attacking zone provided many of Terrace’s buckets. Marysville-Pilchuck got their shooting rolling as Michael Painter and Juneau produced the majority of their team’s scoring. Bryce Juneau at 5’10 and only a sophomore showed senior-like poise in this game as he led his team with 20 points. Carrying only a three point lead into the final quarter, Mountlake Terrace opened the fourth with a 14-0 run to essentially dash any hopes of MPHS rallying back. Loren Lacasse played a large role in that impressive run down the stretch. At the end of regulation, Terrace walked away with a 70-53 victory.

Top Performers:
Mountlake Terrace
Four players in double figures-Greg Bowman (23), Loren Lacasse (20), Yoel Tekle (12), Gabe Altenberger (10)

Marysville-Pilchuck
Bryce Juneau-19 points

Edmonds-Woodway Clinches Last Regional Berth with Win Over Snohomish

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	Feb 20th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Mountlake-Terrace High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Edmonds-Woodway	13	22	17	14	66
Snohomish	12	10	15	20	57

Edmonds-Woodway Clinches Last Regional Berth with Win Over Snohomish
By Steven Dion

There was one ticket to the sweet sixteen, the regional tournament. There were two teams: Edmonds-Woodway and Snohomish. The coveted spot would be awarded Thursday night at Mountlake Terrace High School. One of these two 4A Wesco squads would get the opportunity to host the third seed from KingCo on Saturday to finalize seeding for the next round. With the season on the line, the crowd at the MTHS gym was in for an exciting battle.

The first half featured back-and-forth scoring, including some nice dishes by Trey Holland of the Warriors. The freshman guard of EWHS was able to get penetration into the paint and find open shooters on the perimeter. Snohomish countered with efficient jump-shooting by the likes of Collin Kane and Josh Baird. The Warriors were able to create some separation midway through the second quarter with some triples by Jordan Rice. After sixteen minutes of play, Edmonds-Woodway picked up a double digit lead at 35-22.

When play resumed, Snohomish showed urgency to climb back into the contest early in the second half. Unfortunately, the Panthers suffered a tough wrist injury to Collin Kane in which he was unable to return from. E-W responded to the delay of play by continuing their sprint to the finish line. A dunk by Travis Bakken and sharp shooting by Jason Smarr continued the Warrior assault. The long, contested shots thwarted Snohomish’s attempt to climb back into the game, despite Andrew Ivelia and Kane’s continued scoring. When the buzzer sounded, Edmonds-Woodway won their ticket to regionals in convincing fashion by the score of 66-57.

Top Performers:
Edmonds-Woodway
Travis Bakken-19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks
Jason Smarr-21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Snohomish
Collin Kane-19 points

Blaine Cruises Past Eatonville in District Matchup

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	Feb 20th	2014	1A	Girls	Basketball
Lynnwood High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Blaine	14	18	19	9	60
Eatonville	7	8	12	17	44

Blaine Cruises Past Eatonville in District Matchup
By Steven Dion

Game two of three in the slate of girls Tri-District matchups on Thursday night at Lynnwood High School was a meeting between the Cruisers of Eatonville and a clever name for the school that essentially sits between the United States and Canada, the Blaine Borderites. These schools are separated by a few hundred miles so it would be interesting how unfamiliar opponents from different districts would match up with one another.

The Borderites caught EHS on their heels early as a handful of opening possessions led to easy buckets in the Cruiser zone. This forced an early timeout called by Davina Serdahl to wake up her team. When play resumed, Blaine kept their foot on the pedal as Eatonville was trailing 14-3 to start the game. Alexis McElwain and Taylor D’Vovec eached scored a dozen in the first half which outscored the entire EHS scoring output by nine points. Cruiser senior Lauren Pate countered with aggressive play by scoring all but two of Eatonville’s second quarter points. At halftime, Blaine grabbed a commanding lead at 29-15.

Down by double digits with sixteen minutes of play remaining, the Cruisers needed to go on a big run to climb back into the contest. Kaelyn Voss answered the call to an extent by commanding the EHS attack. She was able to notch seventeen of her team’s 29 second half points, including three from downtown. However, McElwain and Mandy Hayes kept their scoring output rolling down the stretch to preserve the Blaine lead. The Borderites’ ability to collapse into the interior when Eatonville attacked the rim prevented and disrupted many scoring opportunities. Credit the Cruisers for hanging tough despite giving up a big lead early and Blaine for not wavering after grabbing the initial momentum. When the buzzer sounded, Blaine earned a 60-44 victory.

Top Performers:
Blaine
Alexis McElwain-24 points

Eatonville
Kaelyn Voss-22 points

Bremerton Sneaks Past Clover Park in District Quarterfinals

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Wednesday	Feb 19th	2014	2A	Boys	Basketball
Foss High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bremerton	14	14	10	17	55
Clover Park	13	10	11	19	53

Bremerton Sneaks Past Clover Park in District Quarterfinals
By Steven Dion

Game two on Wednesday night in Dalesky & Black Gymnasium at Foss High School featured the second seed in Bremerton against Clover Park at number seven. The winner would take on Fife who won the game played prior to this one. Additionally, the loser would face Olympic in the consolation bracket. The ability of the Knights to limit the scoring Warrior senior and recently named 2A player of the year Philip Winston would play a big role in the result of this contest.

This game was exciting from the start as both teams were able to get multiple looks in the offensive zone. There were a handful of possessions where a flurry of putbacks were thrown at the rim by the attacking team. CPHS senior Anthony White was a monster on the boards and was there to pick up some rebounds on misses from his shooters. Surprisingly, Winston had trouble finding his shot early in this ball game and it would continue throughout. Bremerton guard Tarez Tyree Mason had an impressive second quarter, scoring ten points in the eight minutes, primarily through steals on defense and picking apart the suspect interior defense of the Warriors. At the half, Bremerton led 28-23.

Upon resuming this game, both teams had a tough time finding their groove. Clover Park made several errors on both sides of the ball. Fortunately for them, the Knights failed to capitalize on many of those occasions. BHS’ leading scorer through the season Deonte Dixon showed his athletic ability as a lob near the rim was caught in the air with his back to the hoop and slammed to the rim. A highlight dunk was ruined by a slight miss getting it through the hoop. Dixon still scored a game-high 20 points. CPHS climbed back in the game late with some threes by Trey Martin and Martino Smith. The Knights missed free throws down the stretch and gave Winston a chance to tie it up in the final seconds. His drive to the hoop resulted in a tough up-and-under that caught a lot of rim, but did not fall. Bremerton escaped by a deuce by the score of 55-53.

Top Performers:
Bremerton
Deonte Dixon-20 points

Clover Park
Philip Winston-17 points

Fife Prevails Over Olympic in the Battle of Trojans

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Wednesday	Feb 19th	2014	2A	Boys	Basketball
Foss High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Fife	10	6	9	12	37
Olympic	7	14	8	7	36

Fife Prevails Over Olympic in the Battle of Trojans
By Steven Dion

In the quarterfinals of the District 3 2A Basketball Tournament, the third seed in Fife met sixth seed Olympic at Foss High School on Wednesday night. OHS defeated Steilacoom in the first round on Monday by the score of 54-42. Fife received a first round bye for being a top four finisher in league. The winner of this matchup would face the winner of Clover Park/Bremerton on Friday whereas the loser would take on team that failed to pick up the win on the aforementioned game.

FHS guard Austin Wood helped his team pick up some early momentum as he drew some charges under the rim to force turnovers. Olympic responded nicely by picking up their defensive intensity. The up-tempo offense Fife built early on was replaced with perimeter shots that were not falling regularly. A 10-2 run by OHS including 6 by sophomore post Jumier Johnson helped the Trojans from Silverdale take a 21-16 lead into the locker room.

When play resumed, impact bench player from Fife Jephthah Donker excited the crowd with highlight blocks and a bucket with foul on the offensive end. Olympic’s Makaleb McInnis despite only scoring 5 points had big contributions with aggressive play. The fourth quarter was a chess match with alternating possessions emptying the shot clock and back-and-forth trading of buckets. With thirty seconds left and a tie ballgame, Alex Lemoncelli intercepted an Olympic pass and took the ball to the hoop. The shot did not fall, but the senior drew a foul. He drained the second shot and that was the difference in the game as Fife won 37-36.

Top Performers:
Fife
Alex Lemoncelli-11 points including game winning steal and FT
Austin Woods-10 points

Olympic
Jumier Johnson-12 points (6/10 FG’s)

O’Dea Cruises to Huge Win Over Islanders

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Feb 18th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
O'Dea	16	19	20	22	77
Mercer Island	9	3	9	11	32

O’Dea Cruises to Huge Win Over Islanders
By Steven Dion

When you are one of the best teams in the state and seemingly every shot falls, it’s a recipe for disaster to virtually any opponent. The Islanders of Mercer Island were the unfortunate victim to a complete game by the Irish on both ends of the floor. The stifling defense the Irish is capable of throwing at opponents was clicking on all cylinders which translated to smooth offensive sets. Mercer Island earned a first round bye in the SeaKing tourney after solid play in KingCo regular season. O’Dea defeated Nathan hale by a dozen on Saturday. The winner of this contest would take on the winner of Bainbridge versus Rainier Beach.

The first four minutes of the game were the most evenly matched as O’Dea took a few minutes to get rolling. The Islander guards did a nice job keeping the three-point threat Quin Barnard unable to take attempts from the perimeter. Unfortunately, Mercer was unable to capitalize on the slow O’Dea start by only scoring 9 points in the first frame. The second quarter is where the Irish grabbed this game by the horns. Jacob Lampkin was a force in the low block throwing that lanky 6’9 frame around. The senior even drained a triple in that second quarter as part of a strong eight points in eight minutes. Turnovers were plentiful as the Islanders were unable to get any open looks and for that matter shot attempts as the Islanders only scored 3 points in the second quarter! One takeaway in the O’Dea zone led to a Jamie Orme dunk on the other end. At the half, OHS led by 23 points at 35-12.

Not much changed in the second half as O’Dea continued to dominate in all phases of the game. This fighting Irish squad is talented, but even the biggest fan of the red and yellow would admit they will have a tough time replicating this performance time after time. There was a point in the fourth quarter where a handful of O’Dea possession resulted in three after three. It was curious that Al Hairston did not pull out his starters late in the fourth quarter even with a forty point lead and a running clock. A highlight for the Islanders in the second half was Kaleb Warner going coast-to-coast and finishing with a two-handed slam. But a complete game by the Irish earned them a 77-32 win. Up next, Rainier Beach. They’ll need this performance and maybe more to take down the Vikings.

Top Performers:
O’Dea
Jamie Orme, Tyler Kidd, Quin Barnard, David Woodard, Jacob Lampkin (All in double figures)

Mercer Island
Andrew Pickles-9 points (played strong defense against relentless O’Dea attack)

Mercer Island Hangs on Despite Late West Seattle Surge

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Feb 18th	2014	3A	Girls	Basketball
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Mercer Island	11	15	13	13	52
West Seattle	11	8	11	19	49

Mercer Island Hangs on Despite Late West Seattle Surge
By Steven Dion

In the second round of the District 2 3A SeaKing Girls Basketball tournament, Mercer Island was set to face West Seattle. The Islanders received a first-round bye while West Seattle snuck past Eastside Catholic in a loser-out opener by the score of 34-33. The Wildcats have been a tough matchup throughout the season and will continue to do so in upcoming season as the starting lineup consists of three sophomores and two juniors. There is not a single senior on the roster. Mercer Island plays tough perimeter defense and boasts plenty of scoring options. Winner of this game was set to face the winner of Cleveland/Liberty.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair as neither team was able to build much separation to the opposition. Islander junior guard Jamie Mounger put together a strong first half by knocking down five field goals for ten points, some of which heavily contested. West Seattle countered with their 6’5 sophomore Lydia Giomi. The post was a tough matchup for MIHS on both sides of the floor as Giomi rebounded well and was able to create space and open looks under the hoop. Mercer Island showed tremendous anticipation of WSHS screens which resulted in a number of turnovers going the other way. A scoring spree midway through the second frame gave the Wildcats some breathing room and a seven point lead at the break.

The struggle for both teams to knock down perimeter shots continued in the second half. As a result, this game took place almost exclusively in the paint. The matchup down low between Giomi and Islander forward/center Anna Luce was very physical as they jockeyed for possession aggressively under the bucket. The Islanders were able to carry a double digit lead until midway through the fourth. West Seattle went on a run that brought the Wildcats within two points and a trip to the foul stripe. The shooter missed, but WS recovered and had a flurry of game-tying shots fired at the hoop in the final seconds. The could not connect and eventually fouled an Islander. After making one of two, the Cats fired one last desperation three-ball, but fell short. The Islanders were victorious by a slim margin at 52-49.

Top Performers:
Mercer Island
Jess Blakeslee-18 points (6/7 FT’s)
Jamie Mounger-14 points (5 first-half field goals)

West Seattle
Lydia Giomi-20 points (4/4 FT’s)

Emerald Ridge Extends Season With Victory Over Tahoma

Posted on February 21, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Feb 15th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Mount Tahoma High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Emerald Ridge	7	19	24	15	65
Tahoma	6	13	13	15	47

Emerald Ridge Extends Season With Victory Over Tahoma
By Steven Dion

Game two of the slate of District 3/4 matchups at Mount Tahoma High School on Saturday featured another consolation game with loser-out stakes attached to it and winner advances. The teams set to play were the Emerald Ridge Jaguars from South Hill and Tahoma Bears. This battle between SPSL South and North was prime for exciting play from both sides. Both teams suffered close losses in the first round of districts. Emerald Ridge fell to Stadium by one point on short rest whereas Tahoma was defeated by five points against the defending state champs in Curtis.

Tahoma picked up an early lead in the game by way of a 6-0 run in the opening minutes. Emerald Ridge had open looks, but nothing was falling until their first points of the game came with 2:51 left in the first frame on free throws. Jaguar senior post Goa Mal was a key bench player as his length in the paint created solid interior pressure. ER finally got rolling and rattled off seven straight to take the lead. They would not look back the rest of the way. Jaguar guard Marcus Harris was not afraid to let it fly in this game and despite spotty shooting at times, the senior made enough to keep warranting opportunities. Tahoma’s leading scorer Coleman Wooten was held to five points in the first half who averages nearly 26 a ballgame. At the break, the Jags led 26-19.

Much like Mal’s impact noted earlier, more of Emerald Ridge’s several role players were highlighted in the second half. Guillermo Alcaraz knocked down some back-breaking And-1s that extended the ER lead in the third. The final minute in the quarter was the Raeshon Scales Show as the sophomore buried 3 triples including one at the buzzer in front of his own bench where he was promptly mobbed afterwards. Leading 50-32 in the final quarter, the Jags were in the driver’s seat. Tahoma was resilient and earned 10 trips to the free throw line in the final eight minutes, making 8. However, Harris’ 31 points and solid contributions up and down the roster sealed a respectable victory for the Jaguars, who live to see another day in districts.

Top Performers:
Emerald Ridge
Marcus Harris-31 points (10/14 FT’s including making both after getting poked in the eye)

Tahoma
Coleman Wooten-20 points (7/11 FT’s)

Battle Ground Keeps Season Alive with Win Over Tides

Posted on February 21, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Feb 15th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Mount Tahoma High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Battle Ground	14	12	19	20	65
Gig Harbor	14	12	13	22	61

Battle Ground Keeps Season Alive with Win Over Tides
By Steven Dion

In the consolation bracket of the District 3/4 tournament, the Battle Ground Tigers were set to take on the Tides of Gig Harbor. BGHS fell to Federal Way in the opening round on Thursday by the score of 82-58. GHHS was defeated by Beamer 67-54 in the opening round as well. In this loser-out contest, the possibility of finishing up to sixth place in the district tourney was still up for grabs by these unfamiliar opponents.

The bulk of early shots by the Tigers were launched by Devin Johnson and Jamie Ford. The forward/guard duo was an integral factor in the outcome of the game and provided solid offensive output despite some difficulty finding consistent rhythm. After the teams were knotted at 14 apiece following the first quarter break, the court began to open up. Each squad was flying up and down the court, but it took until the final minutes before the half to reach the twenties when a string of shots fell for both sides. After sixteen minutes of play tied at 26 apiece, the contest was right as it started. Battle Ground’s strong perimeter defense covered their offensive struggles as the Tigers were 8 of 26 field goals.

The intensity naturally grew in the second half as the reality that one team’s season would be coming to an end clearly resonated on the court. The first offensive possession for Gig Harbor was an And-1 by Casey Gearhart off an offensive board. The junior played big for the Tides on both ends of the floor including a team-high 16 points. But Johnson from the Tigers gave GHHS trouble on the low block throughout as the strong 6’6” junior plays a traditional “back-to-the-hoop” post game. Trailing by nearly double digits down the stretch, Gig Harbor needed buckets. Chris Drake, Chad Glover, and Sam Lovrak rose to the challenge. The Tide trio buried six from downtown in the final minutes to keep the game within reach. However, the Tigers were automatic from the free-throw line as they kept the Tides from stealing the game late. Battle Ground’s 21 of 29 from the charity stripe was the difference in the game and they move on in the tournament. The Tides season is over. Final score 65 to 61.

Top Performers:
Battle Ground
Jamie Ford, Nate Moring, Damien Ford, Devin Johnson (all scored in double figures)

Gig Harbor
Casey Gearhart-16 points, memorable block on defense

Seattle Prep Sails Past Bainbridge for Fifth Seed

Posted on February 21, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	Feb 13th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Seattle Prep	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bainbridge	7	9	11	15	42
Seattle Prep	15	7	10	25	57

Seattle Prep Sails Past Bainbridge for Fifth Seed
By Steven Dion

Thursday night marks day three of the Metro League tournament and the battle for the five seed pitted the Prep Panthers and Bainbridge Spartans. Both teams have already punched their ticket to districts but the result of this contest determined the matchups in the SeaKing tourney. The winner would face the 7th seed from Metro in West Seattle and the team with the loss would meet third seed from KingCo in Mount Si. The Panthers have beaten the Spartans in their lone matchup on January 17th, would the visitors from the island return the favor?

The game got off to a slow start as the first points of the game were not scored for the first 2:10 of the game. Prep sharpshooter Jack Stewart was unable to connect on his early attempts from the perimeter, something uncharacteristic for the junior guard. However, the Spartans had scoring issues in the first quarter too as the first bucket came at 4:11 left in the frame. Give Prep’s defense credit as BHS scored only seven points in the first quarter. Coach Kelly’s defensive gameplan continued to succeed as the Panthers established good position to disrupt shots and forces offensive charges. Sophomore Eric Van Hare was a spark off the bench as he drew back to back charges before the half. The low scoring nature of this game would take a 22-16 Prep lead into the break.

The second half would continue the exciting matchup of bigs in SPHS forward Sean Gummersall and Spartan center Oskar Dieterich. They scored some of their team’s most crucial buckets as the posts registered eight and seven points respectively. Seattle Prep’s dynamic guard Aaron Nettles played with his high intensity style on both ends of the floor as one of his highlights was an and-one after knocking down a circus shot in traffic. The freshman scored a game-high 14 points. Bainbridge guard Blake Swanson knocked down shots late, but the damage was done and the game was too far out for the Spartans to recover. The relentless Seattle Prep defense was the x-factor of this contest as BHS was only able to score 42 in a playoff game. The Panthers were able to pick up a 57-42 win in front of their home crowd.

Top Performers:
Bainbridge
Trent Schulte – 9 points (3 3-pt FG’s, all in fourth quarter)

Seattle Prep
Aaron Nettles – 14 points (2/3 FT’s, 2 3-pt FG’s)

Kentwood Girls Conquer the Viks in Third Place SPSL Showdown

Posted on February 21, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Feb 11th	2014	4A	Girls	Basketball
ShoWare Center	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Kentwood	17	13	10	17	57
Puyallup	8	16	8	14	46

Kentwood Girls Conquer the Viks in Third Place SPSL Showdown
By Steven Dion

The first of four matchups at the ShoWare Center on Tuesday night was the battle for third place in the SPSL between Kentwood and Puyallup. The Conks are led by University of Hawaii commit Sarah Toeaina, a 12-letter varsity earner. Puyallup features a dynamic guard/post duo of Braylie Jeffers and Addie Picha. This north versus south battle would provide an admirable third place finish in a competitive South Puget Sound League.

Kentwood took an early grip of this contest by grabbing a double digit lead in the first half. The physicality of this game was prominent as there were Vikings and Conquerors strewn along the hardwood fighting for loose balls. The Lady Viks were able to pull themselves out of a big deficit before the conclusion of the first half, primarily through a pair of triples by Jeffers and Sarah Steimle. The Conks took a 30-24 lead into the locker room.

As if the intensity in the first half was not enough for those in the grandstands, the second half jumped up another notch in the final sixteen minutes. Coach Ainslie put Christina Holland on the floor in the third quarter for PHS and picked up a noticeable return in energy and momentum for the Viks. The Conks countered with strong play by Alycea DeLong, a primarily contributor of offensive rebounds and second chances at the offensive end of the floor. Puyallup clawed back in the contest and were within one to two possessions during the fourth quarter, but the intentional foul game started. Toeaina demonstrated the senior leadership by knocking downs shots from the charity stripe and effectively sealed the deal for the Conquerors. Final score: Kentwood 57 Puyallup 46.

Top Performers:
Kentwood
Sarah Toeaina – 16 points (10/14 FT’s)

Puyallup
Addie Picha – 14 points

O’Dea’s Huge Second Quarter Downs Quakers

Posted on February 18, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	Feb 13th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
O'Dea High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Franklin	16	6	9	10	41
O'Dea	15	32	16	14	77

O’Dea’s Huge Second Quarter Downs Quakers
By Colin Caruso

With Metro’s third seed going to the winner and fourth seed going to the loser, O’Dea and Franklin battled on Thursday for the higher seed going into the SeaKing District Tournament. With not a lot of difference between the two seeds going forward, Franklin sat their second leading scorer Eugene Artison, which proved to dismantle the Quakers in the second through fourth quarters.

With Keith Smith already sidelined with a partially torn meniscus for the Quakers, Franklin looked to other players for the scoring void left by their two top scorers out. They found it in the first quarter, distributing the ball well and taking a 16-15 lead into the second. And then everything went sour.

On the back of Quin Barnard, a 5’11 sophomore guard for the Fighting Irish of O’Dea, the Irish outscored the struggling Quakers by 26 points in the second quarter. The Quaker offense did not look anything like it did in the first quarter. Turnover after turnover plagued Franklin, leading to easy finishes at the basket for the Irish and an onslaught of three pointers, led by Barnard.

With a heft 47-22 lead going into halftime, O’Dea was comfortable heading into the third and final quarters. With the scoring void for Franklin, they were not able to put together any big run that even made this game close. O’Dea controlled the rest of the contest, and prevailed with a staggering 77-41 win.

Top Performer:
O’Dea
Quin Barnard – 21 points

Woodinville Soars Over Eastlake in 81 Point Effort

Posted on February 9, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 31st	2014	4A	Girls	Basketball
Eastlake High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Woodinville	15	18	17	31	81
Eastlake	12	12	13	32	69

Woodinville Soars Over Eastlake in 81 Point Effort
By Steven Dion

Two of the top 4A girls teams in #8 Eastlake (10-2 league, 14-3 overall) and Woodinville (9-3, 11-6) met up Friday night for a pivotal battle in the KingCo Crest division. The Lady Wolves are led by post Marijke Vanderschaaf and her 14.3 points per game and superior rebounding ability. Woodinville boasts a lineup full of scoring options including Emily Spencer, Mackenzie Campbell, and Gabby Phillips. The importance of this league matchup was reflected in the attendance as there was a strong turnout for the clash of first and third place in the standings.

The first half opened at an up-tempo pace as both teams were aggressive on getting to the bucket. Vanderschaaf quickly established her rebounding presence as the 6’3 post plucked the ball from air time and time again. Woodinville grabbed a 15-12 lead in the first quarter highlighted by a steal at midcourt by Sabin Keo and a nice dish to Campbell for the score. The Wolves used their length advantage early in the second frame by feeding Ellie Woerner and Vanderschaaf in the paint for high percentage shots. EHS was in the bonus early which yielded several trips to the charity stripe. However, Woodinville’s will to control the pace of the game was felt as the quarter progressed. Falcon senior Erin Hamilton knocked down some tough shots in the lane. Additionally, the defensive awareness of WHS was demonstrated several times as the Falcons took a handful of charges to gain possession. At the half, the home team led 33-24.

Eastlake’s deficit continued to grow into the second half as a 5-0 run to start the third forced the Wolves to call a timeout and regroup down 38-24. Woodinville was simply clicking on this night as four players scored in double figures and their ability to score down low and from three point range kept EHS on the ropes all night. The Wolves were resilient though and made a strong effort to climb back in the game. The Woodinville lead was cut to single digits at the 2:30 mark in the fourth as EHS opted to foul throughout the quarter to protect the clock. Vanderschaaf made 5 buckets in the final eight minutes, but Woodinville refused to let their led dip below seven points. The Falcons cruised to a solid victory in which they scored 81 points over the first place team in KingCo in front of their home crowd. The Wolves notched 69 points in the contest. Do not be surprised if these two teams meet up again this season.

Top Performers:
Woodinville
Emily Spencer 19 points, Mackenzie Campbell 18 points

Eastlake
Marijke Vanderschaaf 23 points, Ellie Woerner 19 points

Garfield Hangs on at Home Against Roosevelt

Posted on January 31, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 24th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Garfield High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Roosevelt	14	11	17	18	60
Garfield	19	16	19	8	62

Garfield Hangs on at Home Against Roosevelt
By Colin Caruso

The undefeated Garfield Bulldogs (16-0) have had little competition this season. With just one game of their first 15 decided by single digits, the Bulldogs have strolled down the stretch of the majority of their contests, with the game comfortably in their hands. Cameron Haslam and the Roosevelt Roughriders vowed to not make that the case on Friday night.

Garfield previously beat the Roughriders at Roosevelt by 21, a game that was decided early in the contest. Garfield jumped out to an early lead in this one too, 8-0 run to begin, allowing everyone to think this would be another Bulldog walkover. Roosevelt clung on to the first quarter after the Bulldog immediate surge, and held right around a ten point deficit throughout the first three quarters. Throughout these quarters, junior guard Cameron Haslam led his Roughriders offensively, scoring 24 points going into the fourth.

The Bulldogs won each of the first three quarters and held a 12 point lead entering the fourth. The Roughriders knew that this was their opportunity, their chance to make a dent in the perfect Bulldog record. Their interior defense strengthened, pushing the Bulldogs off the offensive glass and grabbing a few offensive rebounds of their own. The Roughrider offense also began to open up, working to capture baskets closer to the hoop and getting to the line and taking advantage of those chances.

The Roughriders found themselves clawing back, down two points with just 2.5 seconds on the clock. Haslam scored another 8 points in the fourth, putting his game high total at 32, but he did not receive the ball in the waning seconds. Instead it went to another Roughrider, who unfortunately traveled on the play and was unable to put up a final shot. Led by Tramaine Isabell with 23 points, the Bulldogs were able to sneak away with just a two point win.

Top Performers:
Roosevelt
Cameron Haslam – 32 points

Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 23 points

Bothell Grinds Out Overtime Victory at Garfield

Posted on January 31, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Wednesday	Jan 29th	2014	4A	Girls	Basketball
Garfield High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final
Bothell	12	8	14	11	8	53
Garfield	6	16	13	10	6	51

Bothell Grinds Out Overtime Victory at Garfield
By Steven Dion

With postseason hoops around the corner, teams are jockeying for position to make the big dance in their respective leagues. A pair of KingCo squads on the outside looking in were matched up on Wednesday night in Bothell (5-6 league, 11-6 overall) and host Garfield (3-8, 6-10). Those in attendance for tonight’s game would have thought this was a playoff game as it took more than the usual thirty-two minutes to declare a winner.

The Bulldogs scored the first two buckets of the contest, but would quickly concede the next ten points to the Cougars. BHS found early success by feeding Taya Cordsdale on long passes down the court after sneaking behind the Garfield defense. The six point lead Bothell picked up in the first quarter was erased quickly in the second frame as Garfield’s scrappy defense forced several Coug turnovers. Similarly, the Bulldogs shored up their early offensive struggles by using up more shot clock and finding high percentage shots. Garfield had six scorers in the second quarter and as a result, took a 22-20 lead into the break.

The offense-oriented tone of this game continued into the second half as both squads took advantage of their opposition’s inability to stop the attack. Garfield built a slight lead early in the third from turning rebounds on the defensive end to outlet passes in transition and easy buckets. Bothell was able to close climb back in by closing the third strong largely due to three more field goals by Cordsdale. Taya continued here strong play in the final frame by plucking offensive rebounds and muscling through defenders for put-backs. The Cougs regained the lead for the first time since early in the second quarter with six minutes remaining. With thirty-five seconds remaining in regulation, Bothell grabbed a three point lead after a pair of made free throws. Garfield sophomore Krysma Patu knocked down the tying three-pointer merely seconds later. A missed shot at the buzzer by Bothell would force this contest to be settled beyond the regular four quarters. The Bulldogs picked up the first four points of OT and were seemingly one more basket away from sealing the victory. The reliable Hanna Tyndall responded by knotting the ball game back at 49 apiece. With under a minute remaining, Cordsdale fouled out. A pair of free throws courtesy of Tyndall once again gave BHS the lead. Garfield was unable to find an open look on the final possession and the win was awarded to the road Cougs by the final score of 53-51.

Top Performers:
Bothell
Taya Cordsdale – 15 points

Garfield
Juanita Agosto – 25 points

O’Dea Avenges Early Season Defeat to Prep with Victory Over Panthers at Home

Posted on January 28, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Jan 21st	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
O'Dea High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT1	OT2	Final
Seattle Prep	15	16	16	9	2	2	60
O'Dea	10	12	15	19	2	6	64

O’Dea Avenges Early Season Defeat to Prep with Victory Over Panthers at Home
By Steven Dion

The rivalry between Seattle Prep and O’Dea travels back through many generations. These Metro League schools are on the same street, but seemingly worlds apart. Basketball games between Prep and the Fighting Irish are always exciting and competitive; Tuesday night was no exception. Eight extra minutes of basketball were required to determine a victor between two of Seattle’s premier hoops programs.

The host Irish squad seemed tentative from the get-go as senior point guard Tyler Kidd displayed frustration in the lethargic O’Dea offense. Coach Kelly’s Panthers were able to force their opponent to take ill-advised FG attempts in the first half. Prep sharpshooter Jack Stewart found a groove from distance as the junior nailed three from downtown in the first half. The Irish dug themselves into a nine point deficit at the half largely due to a balanced offensive attack. The combo of Quin Barnard and Jacob Lampkin accounted for 17 of the Irish’s 22 points in the first sixteen minutes. The home team would need more contributors down the stretch to avoid a season sweep from their league foe.

O’Dea chose to adjust to a smaller lineup in the third as they loaded the floor with guards. The speed of the game increased noticeably and the floor opened up for scoring attempts in transition. Seattle Prep remained composed as Stewart buried another pair from the perimeter en route to a game-high 20 points. With a ten point lead heading into the final frame, the Panthers were eight minutes away from securing an impressive road victory. Enter Jamie Orme. The 6’6” senior guard/forward combo for the Irish demanded the ball to get his team back into the game. Orme was a perfect six for six from the free throw line down the stretch and disrupted a number of Prep shots in the final quarter. Tied at 56 apiece, each team had a final possession to win the game in the final thirty seconds, but both came up empty handed. We were headed to overtime. A defensive minded overtime period only led to one bucket for each squad in four minutes. We headed into double overtime, and Kidd rose to the occasion. O’Dea’s quarterback on the court buried a contested turnaround jumper and slipped a perfect pass to Orme in the low post for two daggers. Prep’s desperation shots did not fall and the Irish locked up a 64-60 victory in double overtime.

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
Jack Stewart – 20 points (6 3PT FG’s)

O’Dea
Jamie Orme-O’Dea-14 points (8/8 FTs, 10 pts in 4th qtr+ OTs)

Jefferson (OR) Barely Hangs on to Defeat Beamer

Posted on January 23, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Monday	Jan 20th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Garfield High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Jefferson (OR)	24	24	5	14	67
Todd Beamer	11	11	21	17	60

Jefferson (OR) Barely Hangs on to Defeat Beamer
By Colin Caruso

In the final game of the Unity in the Community Showcase, the Todd Beamer Titans hosted the Jefferson Democrats from Oregon. Unfortunately for Root Sports they did not televise this game, as this was by far the most entertaining matchup. Jefferson has one loss on the year, to the mighty Rainier Beach Vikings. Beamer also had one loss entering this contest, to the Lincoln Abes.

Jefferson began this contest unconsciously hot from long range. Back to back 24 point quarters with a total of eight three pointers made put the Beamer Titans in a big hole. Also, Beamer couldn’t get past the two towers for the Democrats, both standing over 6’9″ and turning away most shots at the rim. Jefferson led convincingly 48-22 at the half.

The Beamer staff decided that after the first half it was time to put into effect the terrorizing Beamer full court press. Todd Beamer is an interesting team in that they have five or six players who all hover around the 6’4″ and 6’5″ range who all move well. Their diamond press proved extremely challenging for the Democrats, who only put up 5 points in the third quarter.

By pressing with your best players, you also risk the occurrences of random fouls far away from the basket. This began to hurt the Titans, as their leading scorer in the contest and captain Trey Burch-Manning fouled out. This put a cap to the fantastic comeback for Todd Beamer, who once came as close as four points late in the fourth quarter. But Jefferson held on while only scoring 19 points in the second half to a 67-60 win.

Top Performer:
Jefferson
Silas Melson – 25 points

Garfield’s Zone Propels Win Over Franklin

Posted on January 23, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Monday	Jan 20th	2014	3A-4A	Boys	Basketball
Garfield High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Franklin	24	13	8	12	57
Garfield	14	20	15	21	73

Garfield’s Zone Propels Win Over Franklin
By Colin Caruso

In the most anticipated game of the day on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, the rivals Garfield Bulldogs and Franklin Quakers squared off. With the likes of Mark Few, Lorenzo Romar, Cam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas in the building, everyone knew that this game would bring a lot of energy. With Garfield now in 4A the rivalry has relatively calmed down, but next year they will be back in 3A and one of the states best matchups will now be a league game.

The undefeated Bulldogs anticipated a good matchup against the 10-3 Quakers, but they did not expect the offensive explosion that resulted in the first quarter. Franklin blew up for 24 points in the first frame, led by Keith Smith’s 11. Garfield could not match the intensity or the size of the Quakers in the first frame. Smith also picked up two fouls in the first frame, and a third early in the second quarter. He was forced to sit the rest of the half, with Franklin going into the break up 37-34.

Garfield’s zone defense and Smith’s foul trouble really turned the tide in this game. Garfield sat back in a 2-3 zone and Franklin was forced to take outside shots. The shots did not fall, and Garfield was able to get out in transition on the long rebounds. Smith also picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, opening the door for Tramaine Isabell’s quarter high nine points for the Bulldogs, giving them the lead, 52-45.

The Quaker coaches had to gamble and put Smith in to start the fourth quarter, with their hopes gradually fading against a quicker but smaller Bulldog opponent. Smith fouled out with just over 5 minutes remaining in the contest, without scoring in the second half. This effectively ended the contest, with Garfield winning the fourth quarter 21-12 and ultimately the contest 73-57.

Top Performer:
Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 28 points

Ballard Grinds Out One Point Victory over Bothell

Posted on January 20, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Jan 14th	2014	4A	Boys	Basketball
Ballard High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bothell	10	20	16	14	60
Ballard	19	10	18	14	61

See game recap below

Ballard Grinds Out One Point Victory over Bothell
By Steven Dion

Tuesday night’s slate of league matchups included a clash of familiar foes in KingCo 4A opponents Bothell and host Ballard. The Cougars (7-5, 3-4 league) have stumbled through the first few weeks of league play after winning the Bothell Christmas Classic. The Beavers (7-5, 4-4 league) are looking to keep pace with Garfield and Issaquah in the competitive Crown division. A much-needed win was up for grabs Tuesday night.

The home team got off to a hot start as Ballard registered 19 points in the first frame. The Beavs were aggressive on the boards and came up with the majority of 50/50 balls. The Cougars often ease into a scoring rhythm so the nine point deficit after quarter one did not discourage Bothell. The Cougars moved the ball much better in the second frame resulting in higher percentage shots. Bothell was a perfect eight for eight from the charity stripe in the second quarter and quietly grabbed the lead. At the halftime buzzer, Ballard senior Morris Fortmann buried a half-court heave. The home team trailed by a single point at the break,30-29.

The second half fed off the energy created in the first sixteen minutes as the lead seemingly changed after each bucket. Bothell senior and University of Minnesota commit Josh Martin scored a game-high 20 points in the contest, but ran into foul trouble in the third and eventually registered the fifth and final penalty midway through the fourth. The final sequence of plays had everyone in the Ballard gymnasium on the edge of their seats. Trailing by four with less than ten seconds remaining, Cougar guard Hunter Dean dished it to Peyton Cordova-Smith in the corner who drained a three-ball after a fortuitous shooter’s roll. On the ensuing inbound, Ballard received a five count and turned the ball back over. Dean caught the inbound and fired a jumper from the wing; a foul was called. However, the official ruled a non-shooting foul. When the ball was inbounded again, Dean slipped on a puddle of sweat and received a travelling call. The Beavers were able to inbound the ball and run out the clock even though it appeared Bothell intentionally fouled the ball-carrier before the buzzer sounded. After the dust settled, the home team escaped with a 61-60 victory.

Top Performer:
Bothell
Josh Martin – 20 points

Rainier Beach Hits Triple Digit Scoring Twice in One Week in Win Over Crusaders

Posted on January 14, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 10th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Rainier Beach High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	12	14	29	15	70
Rainier Beach	21	23	22	34	100

See game recap below

Rainier Beach Hits Triple Digit Scoring Twice in One Week in Win Over Crusaders
By Steven Dion

It is no surprise that top ten nationally ranked Rainier Beach enters every game they play as heavy favorites, even against top teams the state of Washington has to offer. Eastside Catholic ventured into Crawford Court Friday night as one of the best squads statewide, but staring down the South Seattle juggernaut as an underdog.

The Vikings were able to get their offense going quickly as senior captains D’Juan Piper and Shaqquan Aaron combined for 15 of Beach’s 21 points of the quarter. Eastside Catholic’s size disadvantage forced them to take shots from the perimeter, which were feast or famine throughout the contest. The home team got a nice lift from the bench as junior guard Shadeed Shabazz scored eight in the second frame, resulting from penetration into the paint and finishing at the cup. The Viks led 44-26 at the break.

Eastside Catholic entered the second half in high gear as they were able to score more in the third quarter than they did all first half, 29 points in all. The Crusaders received a huge confidence boost when the three pointers began to fall through. Rainier Beach’s eagerness to run up and down the floor opened up the court to fastbreaks for ECHS from errant Viks passing. A tomahawk dunk by Mandrell Worthy fired up the Eastside bench and student section alike. Shaqquan Aaron had the type of dunk seen on Sportscenter’s Top 10 in the third quarter, but a technical foul was called after the play. This led to a series of technical fouls from physical play for both teams. This slowed down the game greatly. Aaron’s relentlessness on the offensive end yielded him a total of sixteen trips to the free-throw line, most in the fourth quarter. A 34 point surge by Beach spurned the mini comebacks the Crusaders threatened with. RBHS capped off the contest by tipping in a missed free throw with seconds remaining for the 99th and 100th point. When the horn sounded, Beach remains undefeated by the final score of 100-70.

Top Performer:
Rainier Beach
Shaqquan Aaron – 24 points

Rainier Beach puts up 115

Posted on January 10, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Jan 7th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Rainier Beach High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Nathan Hale	18	14	20	18	70
Rainier Beach	33	25	39	18	115

See game recap below

Rainier Beach puts up 115
By Colin Caruso

The defending state champion Rainier Beach Vikings have already had a phenomenal season, and we aren’t even to February. The 10-0 Vikings have already beaten teams from all over the country, the likes of Bishop Gorman in Nevada and Whitney Young in Illinois. They faced up against a 3A metro team on Tuesday night looking to build upon their close seven point win in Bainbridge just four days prior.

Nathan Hale, instead of attempting to slow the contest down, did what they could to keep up pace with the amazingly athletic Vikings. The Raiders from Hale continuously put up shots early in the shot clock, giving Beach the ability to get up and down the floor with simplicity and grace. Rainier Beach flirted with the full court press in the first half, and went into the locker room with a commanding 58-32 lead.

The third quarter proved to be a three point entourage from the Vikings. Seven threes on the quarter, three from transfer David Crisp, pushed the Vikings to an outpouring of 39 points in the eight minute quarter. That is averaging almost five points per minute, or right around a point every 12 seconds. Hale guard Steven Shpreyregin did what he could to keep up with the Vikings, scoring 23 on his own. But his talents were trumped by this heavy favorite to win the state title. Beach took the home contest 115-70.

Top Performer:
Rainier Beach
Shaqquan Aaron – 27 points
David Crisp – 23 points

Hale Prevails in Three Point Shootout With Ingraham

Posted on January 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 3rd	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Ingraham High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Nathan Hale	13	9	17	25	64
Ingraham	20	7	6	17	50

See game recap below

Hale Prevails in Three Point Shootout With Ingraham
By Steven Dion

The first Friday of 2014 delivered several quality hoops matchups; one of which a showdown between Nathan Hale and host Ingraham. Both teams are jockeying for position in the highly competitive Metro League. Marques Chinn’s Ram squad is undersized, but fortunately makes up for it with an active guard duo of Jovan Owens and D’Olajuwon Swanks. The Raiders also boast a strong pair of guards in Tim Iwuhoa and Gadisa Margarsa that have size and athleticism.

Ingraham shot out of the gates with a 10-0 run sparked by Owens’ perimeter shooting. Hale cut into the deficit with a pair of triples by Steven Shpreyregin, but Owens struck back in a big way by draining a half-court shot at the buzzer to close out the first quarter with a 20-13 lead. The second quarter was a coach’s nightmare for both sides as poor shot selection and unnecessary fouls plagued both sides. The Raiders cut into the Ram lead marginally in the second quarter by edging the home team out 9-7 in the second frame. At the half, Ingraham led 27-22.

Nathan Hale certainly received a stern halftime talk by coach Chris Weakley for a relatively sloppy first half because the Raiders put together an impressive second sixteen minutes. Ingraham’s inability to score in the paint from their forwards extended a scoring drought into the third frame as the Rams only netted six points. NHHS started knocking down jumpers in transition through superior ball distribution by Tim Iwuhoa. The fourth quarter featured a shooting spree from Hale guards Shpreyregin and Nate Hartman as both seniors drained two from downtown. Ingraham could not recover from the deficit despite a late surge by Raymond Horne who scored twelve of his eighteen in the final quarter. Final score: Nathan Hale 64 Ingraham 50.

Top Performer:
Nathan Hale
Steven Shpreyregin – 23 points (7/10 FT’s, 4 3 pt. FG’s)

Enumclaw Narrowly Slips Past Resilient Cascade Christian

Posted on January 3, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	Dec 26th	2013	3A-1A	Boys	Basketball
Kennedy High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Enumclaw	15	11	12	14	52
Cascade Christian	8	11	11	14	44

See game recap below

Enumclaw Narrowly Slips Past Resilient Cascade Christian
By Steven Dion

The Sterling Athletics Christmas Classic started with an interesting matchup between a large public school and a small Christian school. Coach Kellen Hall’s Enumclaw squad entered this contest with a significant size advantage in addition to experience as the Hornets six seniors outnumber Cascade Christian’s one. However, the Cougars from the Puyallup Valley led by Jerry Williams were prepared to go toe-to-toe with their SPSL opponent.

Enumclaw established their dominance quickly as the opening tip resulted in an outlet pass and a score in mere seconds. Hornet forward Zac Webb outscored the entire Cougar roster in the first quarter as he notched 10 of his 20 points in the opening frame. The Cougs seemed to take a collective deep breath going into the second quarter because the tides began to change. Jordan Tveter continued to have the hot hand as three more jumpers fell for the junior. The vastly undersized CCHS squad surprisingly started to win the rebounding battle. After an identical second quarter output, the Hornets led 26-19 at the break.

Cascade Christian returned to the floor with the “bend-don’t-break” mentality which kept Enumclaw within reach. The Cougars accepted the underdog role with open arms by out-hustling the Hornets and forcing them to cough up the ball. EHS countered with aggressive play, but translated to numerous player-control fouls. Despite Enumclaw’s scoring woes, they held an eight point lead into the fourth quarter. CCHS started to shoot threes; this is when the hoop grew to the size of a swimming pool for the Cougars. After the first two dropped, people entered the Kennedy gym as if by magnetic force because Enumclaw’s lead was shrinking. Another pair of threes fell through and the Cascade Christian sideline erupted as they trailed by a single point. This is when Enumclaw seniors Drake Rademacher and Bryce Peterson said enough is enough. The Hornet duo demanded the ball and forced their way to the bucket and drew fouls. The Hornets were able to weather the storm and escape with a 52-44 win.

Top Performer:
Enumclaw
Zac Webb – 20 pts (4/5 FT’s)

Seattle Academy Spoils Host Lancers Christmas Party

Posted on January 3, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	Dec 26th	2013	3A-1A	Boys	Basketball
Kennedy High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Seattle Academy	11	17	18	19	65
Kennedy Catholic	5	19	11	10	45

See game recap below

Seattle Academy Spoils Host Lancers Christmas Party
By Steven Dion

The nightcap of the first round of the Sterling Athletics Christmas Classic featured the Cardinals of Seattle Academy and host Kennedy Catholic. Despite their 1A classification, the SA Cardinals carry a much deeper roster as their team of fifteen outnumbers their 3A counterpart by five players. Additionally, the Cardinals are composed of entirely upperclassmen with the exception of sophomore guard Ian McManus. Conversely, Kennedy’s Spencer Weisberg is the lone senior on the young Lancers squad from the Seamount League. Would Kennedy be able to feed off their home crowd en route to the second round of the Christmas Classic?

The first four minutes of the contest were sloppy from an offensive standpoint as Kennedy was stuck at three points for extended time. Seattle Academy was slow out of the gates too as their star trio of Daniel Davydov, Ben Gerke, and Jeremiah Hobbs combined for seven points in the first eight minutes. After trailing 11-5 in the first quarter, Kennedy’s offense woke up. The Lancers netted seven field goals and earned some trips to the charity stripe where they knocked down four of five. Seattle Academy upped their efficiency in the second frame too as their seventeen points protected their lead heading into halftime. Seattle Academy’s ability to keep all four Lancer posts scoreless in the first half earned them a 28-24 lead into the break.

After knocking down only one three-ball in the first half, Seattle Academy found their touch from the perimeter in the third quarter. Gerke and Davydov both drained two from downtown in a back-breaking third frame for the Lancers. The Cardinals were able to increase their point total in each successive quarter whereas Kennedy experience a significant dropoff after their strong second frame. Leading by eleven going into the final eight minutes, the Cardinals were able to allot minutes to their bench and put the game into cruise control down the stretch. Burying nine of eleven free throws in the fourth put a stamp on the contest as the senior Daniel Davydov continued his consistent scoring with seven of his game-high twenty two coming in the final quarter. When the dust settled, Seattle Academy rolled to a 65-45 win.

Top Performer:
Seattle Academy
Daniel Davydov – 22 points (8/10 FT’s)

Meadowdale Lady Mavs Ride over Roosevelt in Rebel Challenge

Posted on January 3, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec 28th	2013	3A-4A	Girls	Basketball
Juanita High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Meadowdale	11	8	15	18	52
Roosevelt	8	15	13	9	44

See game recap below

Meadowdale Lady Mavs Ride over Roosevelt in Rebel Challenge
By Steven Dion

The fifth of eight games on Saturday’s slate of the Rebel Challenge on the main court presented a clash of two 4A squads in Roosevelt and Meadowdale. The Lady Roughriders and Mavericks offer a similar skill set in prominent guard play and effective jump shooting. This game was up for grabs throughout and the team that was able to convert in critical possessions down the stretch earned the victory.

Meadowdale established their commitment to challenge Roosevelt early as they created ample scoring opportunities. However, eleven trips to the free throw line in addition to a shooting spree only resulted in eleven points for the Mavs. Roosevelt did not find their groove early, but eight points was enough to keep them within one possession heading into the second quarter. The scoring dropped off in the second quarter for Marcus Merrifield’s Mavericks as only one of nine free throws fell through. Conversely, Roosevelt dropped a pair of three balls en route to a fifteen point second frame. At the half, the Roughriders grabbed a 23-19 lead.

Meadowdale entered the second half rejuvenated and prepared to shore up efficiency issues experienced in the first half. The Mavericks drained three triples in a fifteen point third quarter where two of three free throws were good. Roosevelt stayed consistent in the third by notching thirteen points and taking a lead into the final period. This is where the Riders offense fell off in a big way. Their guard trio in Izzy Mason, Serena Toney, and Hannah Swanson account for all of Roosevelt’s nine points in the quarter. Meadowdale saved their best for last as six Mavs scored in the final eight minutes. Ciarra Hart knocked down her third three and Kearstin Franco netted seven in the quarter. MHS’s game-high eighteen point fourth quarter stole the lead and ultimately the win. Final score: Meadowdale, Roosevelt 45.

Top Performer:
Meadowdale
Ciarra Hart – 15 points (3-3 3-point FG’s, 4/10 FT’s)

Auburn-Mountainview Unwraps Late Christmas Present with Win Over Lindbergh

Posted on January 3, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	Dec 26th	2013	3A-2A	Boys	Basketball
Kennedy High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Auburn Mountainview	16	15	22	18	71
Lindbergh	15	18	19	15	67

See game recap below

Auburn-Mountainview Unwraps Late Christmas Present with Win Over Lindbergh
By Steven Dion

Game two of the opening round in the Christmas Classic featured Lindbergh from the Seamount League and Auburn-Mountainview of the South Puget Sound League. This matchup pitted a guard-heavy Lindbergh squad against an Auburn-Mountainview team with a prominent post presence. The team that adjusted to their dissimilar counterpart would prevail in the contest.

The contest opened with both teams trading buckets. A-M Lions’ guard Ryan Lacey buried a pair of triples in the first frame as part of his 15 total points in the game. Lindbergh’s Vincent Carter played like the NBA legend that bears the same name by scoring from the field, perimeter, and free throw stripe. The Eagle guard scored a team-high 20 in the contest. The rebounding battle was won by the Lions in the first half. However, Lindbergh took a 33-31 lead into the locker room.

Most of the third quarter was spent at the free throw line as twenty attempts were taken in the frame. Lindbergh was unable to get their star guard Marcel Hale rolling in the second half, but credit the Auburn-Mountainview defense for limiting Hale’s output. Lions senior Wyatt Walstad netted six of his game-high 21 points in the third. His effort on the defensive end of the floor paid off on the stat sheet in this contest. However, Lindbergh hung tough and only trailed by one point going into the final frame. Buckets were traded in the fourth, but AMHS’s ability to snag some late rebounds primarily through Tristan Miguel’s 6’9” frame put the Lions in position to protect their small lead. A late full-court press by the Eagles resulted in an outlet pass to Victor Daggs Jr. to put the game away. Auburn-Mountainview picked up the 71-67 win.

Top Performer:
Auburn Mountainview
Wyatt Walstad – 21 points (9/12 FT’s)

Lynden Christian and Cedar Park Christian Come Down to the Wire

Posted on December 28, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec 21st	2013	1A	Boys	Basketball
ShoWare Center	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Lynden Christian	12	12	16	19	59
Cedar Park Christian	7	19	13	15	54

See game recap below

Lynden Christian and Cedar Park Christian Come Down to the Wire
By Steven Dion

The 2PM game of Saturday’s ShoWare Shootout featured a pair of 1A schools: Lynden Christian from the Northwest League and Cedar Park Christian from the Nisqually League. Cedar Park dressed a handful of players that did not enter the game. Only seven Eagles players logged minutes in the contest, so CPC starters were relied on for long minutes in this game. The Lyncs had the luxury of a much deeper bench and a more prominent post presence in Logan Carlson. However, none of these factors would prevent this contest from being decided in the final minute.

Lynden Christian took control of the game early by building a double digit lead early into the second quarter. They were able to take advantage of second chances by turning them into points. This hustle yielded thirteen more shot attempts throughout the contest. Cedar Park responded to the early deficit by closing the second half strong. The Eagles buried six triples in the half. Shockingly, Cedar Park had a high shooting percentage from the perimeter than the field. By halftime, the Eagles not only erased the deficit, but took the lead 26-24.

The third quarter remained close as a handful of the ten lead changes took place in the frame. Only four Eagles players scored in the game, so the pressure was on Trey Drechsel and the other limited scoring options to match the Lyncs output. Cedar Park either led or trailed by one possession in the final minutes and put themselves in a good position to win by shooting lights out from the free throw line and maintaining efficient three-point shooting. However, late turnovers led to Lynden Christian points and opened the window for the Lyncs to finally put the game away. At the final buzzer, Lynden Christian was victorious 59-54.

Top Performers:
Cedar Park Christian
Trey Drechsel – 25 points (7/15 FG’s, 6/6 FT’s), 15 rebounds

Stanwood Proves too much for Jefferson

Posted on December 27, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec 21st	2013	3A-4A	Boys	Basketball
ShoWare Center	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Stanwood	13	16	19	11	59
Jefferson	6	16	11	12	46

See game recap below

Stanwood Proves too much for Jefferson
By Colin Caruso

In the fourth game on the day at the ShoWare Center in Kent, in a non-league matchup, the Jefferson Raiders took on the Stanwood Spartans for bragging rights. Jefferson had a tough time finding the hoop in the first quarter, falling behind 13-7 after one. They were down as many as nine in the first half twice, but continued to battle back on spread out scoring from their starters. The Raiders cut the lead to just six at the half, despite shooting below 50% from the line and allowing two more made three pointers.

The Spartans came out of the locker room early, getting a few shots up prior to starting the second half. Jefferson came out after the halftime horn blew, giving them no shots and no touches on the ball during the half. This seemed to favor Stanwood, as they put together another strong quarter, exploiting the Jefferson 2-3 zone and converting on easy layups. Stanwood led 48-34 going into the fourth.

With a comfortable lead entering the fourth, the Spartans were able to slow the game down for the final eight minutes. Four Spartans scored in double figures, led by Josh Thayer with 17 and Drew Stang with 15. Only one Raider ended up in double figures, Xavier Scott, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Stanwood took the non-league contest 59-46.

Top Performers:
Stanwood
Skout Roberson – 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Josh Thayer – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals

Jefferson
Xavier Scott – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Cordae Mcafee – 8 points, 8 rebounds

Timberwolves Claw Their Way to Victory in Win Over Auburn-Mountainview

Posted on December 23, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec 21st	2013	4A	Girls	Basketball
ShoWare Center	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Jackson	13	14	12	20	59
Auburn Mountainview	16	8	18	11	53

See game recap below

Timberwolves Claw Their Way to Victory in Win Over Auburn-Mountainview
By Steven Dion

In the opening round of the ShoWare Shootout, Wesco met SPSL in a matchup between Jackson and Auburn-Mountainview. The Timberwolves’ dynamic guard combo of Faithaleen Lopez-Flores and Sierra Anderson accounted for the bulk of Jackson scoring. In addition to their 17 and 25 points respectively, they logged all thirty-two minutes of play. AMHS grabbed a first quarter lead, but an eight point second quarter found them trailing 24-27 at the half.

The Lions dominated several key statistical categories that are general indicators of victory including second-chance points and bench scoring, but low field-goal percentage on the game (30%) plagued Auburn-Mountaiview’s ability to sustain scoring momentum. With the game in the balance, Jackson’s reliable senior Anderson stepped up and knocked down clutch buckets and converted at the charity stripe with a perfect eight for eight. For this Timberwolves squad to be a front-runner in the 4A Wesco league, they will need to incorporate more scoring options, especially their forwards. Auburn-Mountain is almost entirely composed of seniors, so it is imperative for the Lions to play with urgency to make a run come February.

Top Performers:
Jackson
Sierra Anderson – 25 points (8/14 FGs, 8/8 FT’s), 4 assists, 3 steals

Garfield Wins the Presidential Matchup over Roosevelt

Posted on December 22, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Dec 20th	2013	4A	Boys	Basketball
Roosevelt High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Garfield	14	21	26	16	77
Roosevelt	18	5	10	23	56

See game recap below

Garfield Wins the Presidential Matchup over Roosevelt
By Colin Caruso

In a primetime Friday night matchup, the Roosevelt Roughriders hosted the favored Garfield Bulldogs in a regular season league game. The Bulldogs came into this contest as one of the favorites to lift the trophy for 4A hoops in the 2013-14 season. Coach Haskins for the Bulldogs knew the strength of his team and elected to start four non-starters, including one freshman and two sophomores. This allowed the Roughriders to win the first quarter 18-14.

Once Haskins brought all his typical starters in, the tide began to turn for the Riders. A smothering defensive press by the Bulldogs led to a 21-5 quarter, fueled mostly by seniors Torrence Baker and Lakeside senior transfer Tramaine Isabell. Garfield led 35-23 at the half.

With Garfield’s press in full effect in the second quarter and the typical starters still in, the Bulldogs were able to control the third quarter of play as well, dominating the glass and getting easy transition baskets.

The final quarter favored the Roughriders, as Garfield brought in their younger players to get some quality league minutes. Roosevelt won the final quarter 23-16, but this game was won by Garfield in the second and third quarters. Garfield won the contest 77-56.

Top Performers:
Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 22 points

Roosevelt
Cam Haslam – 29 points