Bellevue Gets Back to Winning with Islander Shutout

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Steven Dion

Friday	Sept. 18	2015	3A	Boys	Football
Mercer Island High School	Final
Bellevue	56
Mercer Island	0

Bellevue Gets Back to Winning with Islander Shutout
By Steve Dion

It’s rare that Bellevue heads into any game with a two game losing streak. Friday night was one of those exceptions as the Wolverines were looking to get back into the win column as the 2014 state championship game and ’15 season opener with Bishop Gorman from Nevada were primed to be put in the rear view mirror. The challenger to this proposition would be rival Mercer Island who found themselves tied 21 apiece when they played at Bellevue last year before eventually losing.

The game started in familiar Wolverine fashion as a quick forced 3 and out on defense was followed by a 55 yard receiving touchdown by Tyson Penn on their first play from scrimmage. This was followed by another forced punt and 35 yard dart thrown by Justus Rodgers to Isaiah Gilchrist up the middle on 4th and six to put BHS up by 14 early. The onslaught had begun. The inability for the Islanders to gain an upper hand on the field position battle left them susceptible to allowing more scoring by the hungry Wolverines. After touchdown runs by Ercle Terrell and Christoph Hirota, Bellevue led 28-0 at the half.

More of the same continued in the final two frames as Justus Rogers scored on a QB keeper adding to the lead and further sealing the fate of the contest. The Islanders fought hard and the Mercer Island faithful showed up loud and proud, but they were unable to find the scoreboard.

The Final Score: Bellevue 56 Mercer Island 0.

Federal Way Wins Mismatch 4A Boys State Title

Posted on March 10, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Federal Way Wins Mismatch 4A Boys State Title
By Colin Caruso

Saturday March 7	2015	Boys	4A	State Final
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Davis	16	5	11	14	46
Federal Way	20	12	15	18	65

Federal Way Eagles

Let’s get something straight to start this game. This game was the 4A state final. These two teams met on December 6th and Federal Way beat Davis 88-43. I will write that twice for emphasis. 88-43. At Davis High School. A win for Davis would be the biggest, and I mean biggest, in high school basketball history.

Don’t worry, it didn’t happen.

Davis was outmatched at every position on the floor. Not only outmatched but also significantly outsized. But the Pirates hung tough in the first quarter, only trailing by four after one.

Federal Way was able to extend their lead on the back of poor shooting and questionable execution on offense from the Pirates. They resorted to far too many jump shots and did not run any sets in the half court. There were too many possessions of either one or no passes and then a ridiculous shot. Federal Way led 32-21 at the half.

Federal Way kicked off the second half with an 11-2 run to extend their lead to 20, the largest of the game. That lead would be cut to 15 to end the quarter, 47-32.

Davis would come as close as 12 in the fourth quarter. Hats off to them, this was much more of a contest than their 45 point loss to the Eagles in December. Balanced scoring from the Eagles allowed them to finish off a 65-46 victory.

Top Performer:
Federal Way
Jalen McDaniels – 16 points 8 rebounds

Pivec Leads Lynnwood to State Title Over Defending Champs

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Steven Dion

Pivec Leads Lynnwood to State Title Over Defending Champs
By Steven Dion

Saturday- March 7	2015	Girls	3A	State
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Lynnwood	13	12	12	17	54
Cleveland	15	14	4	9	42

Lynnwood Royals

Championship Saturday at the Tacoma Dome tipped off with a matinee of the 3A girls title game with 2-time defending champs Cleveland and newcomer to the classification recently from 4A in the Lynnwood Royals. It was a remarkable accomplishment that Coach Redd led the Eagles to the final in her first year with the program and major turnover of the roster. Similarly, Coach Edwards has put together a powerhouse that appears to have the pieces to return to the TDome for years to come. The Eagles knocked off familiar foe Bishop Blanchet to earn a spot in the championship game while the Royals took down Bellevue in the semis. In a clash of old guard against the new kid on the block, which squad would raise the hardware?

Lynnwood’s versatile wing Mikayla Pivec kick-started her monster game early by scoring the first dozen points for the Royals which included crafty turnaround jumpers in the paint. Her rebounding prowess was also shown in the opening quarter as the path to a double-double was paved early. The Eagles countered with Aqeelah Williams who continued to heat up as the first half moved along. Pace of play increased in the second quarter and Cleveland benefitted as Jayde Christopher controlled the game speed nicely. Back to back triples by the Giavanni Flowers and Williams pushed the Eagles lead to 27-19 at 2:45 which prompted a Royals timeout. LHS used the remaining minutes of the first half to cut the deficit in half and return to the locker room with a 29-25 score in favor of Cleveland.

When play restarted, Lynnwood used a 6-0 run in under three minutes to make another lead change of the contest in which there were four. This proved to be a turning point in the game because Cleveland went on a major scoring drought which lasted the entirety of the second half. Shots rimmed out and with each miss seemed to dash the confidence of the Eagles. A field goal percentage of 16% in the final sixteen minutes of the game put CHS’ fate in the balance. Lynnwood’s 12-4 scoring edge in the third quarter put them in a good position to secure the victory.

Jordyn Edwards and Kelsey Rogers maintained the Lynnwood momentum by using their defensive pressure to set up offensive production. The pair combined for six defensive rebounds, five steals, and four blocks to keep the high-flying Eagles at bay. Leading 44-36 with a shade under four minutes to go, Cleveland needed a spark.

Myla Hightower answered the call by willing her team to rally and extend the contest. The bulk of her nine points were scored late to cut the margin to a two possession game. A few more defensive stops could make things interesting. However, Pivec eliminated any chance of a comeback by converting on back to back possessions with tip-ins under the cup. These baskets quelled any chance of Lynnwood relinquishing their lead and helped the Royals run the clock down. Before the clock hit triple-zeros, Coach Edwards checked Monty Cooper in who sprained her ankle the day before. The senior limped onto the court and found a spot twelve feet from the basket. In the waning seconds, she received the rock and took the hoisted the final shot of the game. Swish! Lynnwood storms the floor as one of their leaders ends her high school basketball career in a perfect way. The Royals are the new 3A champions.

The Final Score: Lynnwood 54 Cleveland 42

Top Performers:
Lynnwood
Mikayla Pivec-31 points, 17 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists

Cleveland
Aqeelah Williams-14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals

Federal Way Claws Their Way to a State Final

Posted on March 7, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Federal Way Claws their way to a State Final
By Colin Caruso

Friday February 7th	2015	Boys	4A	State
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Federal Way	26	14	11	10	61
Union	7	20	19	12	58

Federal Way Eagles

In a much deserving matchup of two of the top teams in the state, the Union Titans faced off against the Federal Way Eagles, with an opportunity to face Davis in the 4A state finals. Davis would be a favorable matchup for the Eagles, who doubled up the Pirates early in the year, 88-43.

This game got out of control early. The athleticism of the Eagles was far too much for a one loss Union team to handle. Before anyone in the Tacoma Dome knew what was going on, Federal Way was off to a 23-6 lead and closed the first at 26-7.

Union finally woke up in the second quarter. Coach Conley emphasized defense and taking care of the basketball and that focus brought Union within 12. Unfortunately, they still could not stop Viont’e Daniels. He was in complete control of the first half and at one point had as many points (18) as Union had as a team. The Eagles led by 13, 40-27 at the half.

If you are down 13 at the half and are completely outmatched in both the half court and transition, it pays dividends to come out in the second half with more intensity than your opposition. That is what the Titans did, going on an 8-2 run to start the third, cutting the Eagle lead to just seven. Their momentum continued in the third quarter, and for some reason, Federal Way took their foot off the gas pedal and began to coast offensively. It was a close game going into the fourth, with the Federal Way lead down to just five points.

An immediate three to start the fourth from Micah Paulson of the Titans pulled Union within two points. Two free-throws by Paulson with 6 minutes remaining tied the game, the first tie since the game began. After a few back and forth possessions, Riley Hawken found himself at the line with 2:18 left, shooting two and down two. He made one, and the Eagles led 59-58. Ferron Flavors hit one free-throw for the Eagles to push the lead up to two, 60-58. A beautiful block by Jalen McDaniels gave Federal Way the ball back, but a steal by Hawken put the ball back in the Titans hands with 44 seconds remaining.

Without knowing the time remaining on the shot clock, Union turned the ball over and immediately fouled Christian Jones. Jones missed the front end, but the Eagles pulled an offensive rebound and got the ball to their star, Viont’e Daniels. He also missed the front end, giving Union a chance at the win with a rebound. Paulson got it for the Titans, pulled up for a transition three with 10 seconds remaining and missed everything, rebounded by the Eagles. Jones made one of two, giving the Titans yet another opportunity to tie, but this time Cameron Cranston’s three missed just left, and the Eagles pulled the hang on victory 61-58.

Top Performers:
Federal Way
Viont’e Daniels – 27 points

Union
Micah Paulson – 18 points 5 assists
Riley Hawken – 14 points 11 rebounds

Cleveland Returns to Title Game for Third Consecutive Season

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Steven Dion

Cleveland Returns to Title Game for Third Consecutive Season
By Steven Dion

Friday- March 6	2015	Girls	3A	State
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Cleveland	13	11	8	23	55
Bishop Blanchet	6	15	15	12	48

Cleveland Sophomore Zakeya Flowers

The first semifinal to determine a championship game berth in the 3A girls classification featured a rematch of last year’s title contest between two-time defending champ Cleveland and the Braves of Bishop Blanchet. The Eagles have put together an impressive run thus far considering the group of seniors that graduated last season and the passing of the head coach torch. Similarly, Coach Willison has done an excellent job of bringing Blanchet back to a deep tourney run with a young squad.

Cleveland jumped out to an early lead as Jayde Christopher and Aqeelah Williams used their backcourt pressure to produce turnovers and points on the other end. They held BBHS to a half dozen first quarter points in the process. As the first half progressed, the tides turned and Jadyn Bush was a main reason for the comeback. The sophomore got tough buckets to fall and was aggressive on the boards. She finished with a team high 19 points and 10 rebounds. At the break, Cleveland led 24-21.

When play resumed, the Braves strung together a roll that last the duration of the third frame. Bella Kemp was a main factor in the momentum swing when she notched 11 points and 9 rebounds. The 36-32 Blanchet lead accounted for the first lead change of the game: would there be another? Joyce Harrell made her post presence felt as the senior heated up in the paint. Just as Harrell was in a groove, she was sidelined for a spell with a knee injury. Upon her return, the Eagles continued a 23-12 run in the fourth quarter that eventually sealed the game. Williams scored 25 in addition to 9 rebounds as Cleveland knocks off a familiar foe once again and is now one game away from a three-peat. Saturday vs. Lynnwood at 3pm!

The Final Score: Cleveland 55 Bishop Blanchet 48

Top Performers:
Cleveland
Aqeelah Williams-25 points (10/21 FGs, 5/9 3-pt FG’s), 9 rebounds

Bishop Blanchet
Jadyn Bush-19 points (8/14 FGs), 10 rebounds

The Pirates Amass a Huge Comeback, Top Woodinville

Posted on March 7, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

The Pirates Amass a Huge Comeback, Top Woodinville
By Colin Caruso

Friday February 7th	2015	Boys	4A	State
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Woodinville	16	8	16	12	52
Davis	13	6	19	25	63

Davis Pirates

In this matchup of two great teams, the Woodinville Mustangs matched up against a Davis Pirate team, fortunate to ride their momentum that far into the tournament. Squeaking by Gig Harbor and fortunately not having to play Wenatchee, they found themselves in the 4A state semifinal with a legitimate shot at the finals. Their lack of size played a factor early, as Woodinville controlled the glass and paint for the majority of the first half.

Both of these teams struggled offensively in the second quarter. Davis, with senior star Max Jones in foul trouble, were able to score just six points in the frame. Fortunately, their defense stayed tough, and they held the Mustangs to eight.

Pick it up in the third quarter, Max Jones commits his fourth foul and Woodinville gets a leakout basket to go up 11, momentum 100% in favor of the Mustangs. But The Pirates pulled off six straight points to cut the lead to 5, and Woodinville cooled off from the field dramatically. Davis committed 7 fouls in 4.5 minutes, somehow putting the Mustangs in the bonus early in the third. Woodinville failed to attack the basket and continue to win the game from the line, giving Davis a chance to gain the lead going into the 4th. But an ill-advised early shot in the shot clock leads to a transition bucket for the Mustangs. The Pirates trailed by just 2 entering the fourth.

Davis continued their momentum into the fourth, scoring the first eight points in the quarter to take a six point lead. Woodinville was stride for stride with the Pirates until Micah Johnson, the Woodinville point guard, picked up two fouls in less than 30 seconds to disqualify him from the game. From there, it was all Davis. Max Jones and Nick Navarro carried the way for the Pirates, propelling them to 63-52 win.

Top Performers:
Woodinville
Tony Miller – 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks

Davis
Nick Navarro – 20 points 6 rebounds

Inglemoor Clinches Title Game Berth with Victory Over Moses Lake

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Steven Dion

Inglemoor Clinches Title Game Berth with Victory Over Moses Lake
By Steven Dion

Friday- March 6	2015	Girls	4A	State
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Inglemoor	17	13	9	26	65
Moses Lake	11	13	15	21	60

Inglemoor Vikings

Coach Augustavo’s Vikings have been knocking on the door of a 4A state championship for the past handful of seasons. With one game separating Inglemoor from reaching the title game, the quest for the hardware is within reach. However, Moses Lake is no stranger to the Tacoma Dome and the Chiefs also have their sights set on advancing to the final round of the tourney. They defeated Skyview by double digits to advance to the semis while Inglemoor squashed Bellarmine Prep to advance to the second round. In a classic east versus west showdown, which team would prevail?

IHS senior Alex Hagen helped the Viks jump out to an efficient first half in which they shot 44% from the floor and grabbed a ten point lead early at 15-5. Conversely, the Chiefs were just 8 for 32 from the field in the first two quarters and faced a half dozen point deficit at the break. The size advantage by Inglemoor was evident as the rebounding advantage and points in the paint favored the Vikings. Moses Lake needed huge contributions from their guards throughout the contest. Jamie Loera and McKenna Walker answered the call, but would it be enough to prevail in the second half.

Moses Lake returned from the intermission with the biggest run of the game to tie up the ballgame and give themselves a coin flip in the final frame. Loera and Walker combined for 42 points and 10 boards while the Viks had four scorers in double figures inclduding Hagen with 20. The 17 point rebound difference in the game played a major role in allowing Inglemoor to get additional looks at the offensive end and ultimately stringing together a 26 point fourth quarter to seal the victory and a trip to the state final.

The Final Score: Inglemoor 65 Moses Lake 60

Top Performers:
Inglemoor
Alex Hagen-20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists

Moses Lake
Jessie Loera-25 points, 3 assists, 2 steals

Courageous Effort By Montag Sends Sehome to State

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Steven Dion

Courageous Effort By Montag Sends Sehome to State
By Steven Dion

Friday- February 27	2015	Boys	2A	Regionals
Renton High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Sehome	19	17	13	18	67
Washington	19	13	17	11	60

Sehome Sophomore Marcus Montag

Regionals have arrived and what was once the state tournament round of 16 is now a final week of elimination games to determine the eight that will represent their classification in either the Sundome, Spokane Arena, or Tacoma Dome. In a clash of 2A dark horse competitors from the west side of the state, Sehome would square off against Washington hailing from Tacoma. The site Renton High School provided a geographical advantage to the Patriots, but the Mariners’ faithful were out in full force to cheer on the green and yellow. A game loaded with momentum swings featured one player that willed his team to victory.

A stark size advantage by Sehome presented itself early as 6’7 forward Leighton Kingma lit up the scoreboard in a matter of minutes. A pair of corner threes and multiple high percentage shots down low provided the sophomore with 17 first half points. Patriot senior Chandler Whalen countered with 9 in the first sixteen minutes to keep the margin close. Marcus Montag showed resilience as the Sehome guard received an incidental elbow to the face and minutes later hit the deck hard forcing him to the bench for a short spell. The Mariners took a slim lead to break with a halftime score of 36-32.

Insightful coaching by Karl Cordes changed the complexion of the contest early in the second half when he brought Willie Thomas into the game. The freshman forward made an instant impact as he added a presence in the post and an additional scoring option for the Pats. Sehome guard Tanner Clark also started making his presence felt on both ends as he registered a double-double including a game-high 12 rebounds. A fantastic finish was shaping up as the fourth quarter began tied at 49 apiece.

Thomas continued to carry the offense and knocked down clutch shots and pulled down key rebounds. Tory Causey and Whalen continued to feed the hot hand as the freshman finished with a dozen points and eight boards. With a five point lead and three minutes remained, Washington appeared to in the driver’s seat to a win. Additionally, Kingma and Logan Deboo were in foul trouble sitting on the bench. Marcus Montag stepped up and knocked a contested three to cut the lead to two. A stop and quick basket tied the ball game up with a minute and a half to go. Sehome continued to protect their bucket and Montag was fouled twice in the final ninety seconds. He nailed all four pressure free throws in the bonus to complete a 12-0 run in the final minutes. The Mariners pulled off a major comeback to punch their ticket to the Sundome for the big dance.

The Final Score: Sehome 67 Washington 60

Top Performers:
Sehome
Leighton Kingma-20 points (4/5 3-pt FGs), Marcus Montag-17 points, Tanner Clark-10 points, 12 rebounds

Washington
Chandler Whalen-10 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, Willie Thomas-12 points, 8 rebounds

King’s Captures 1A District Title Over Seattle Academy

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Steven Dion

King’s Captures 1A District Title Over Seattle Academy

Friday- February 20	2015	Boys	1A	District 1/2
Mountlake Terrace High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
King's	15	9	16	8	48
Seattle Academy	2	6	14	9	31

King’s Sophomore Corey Kispert

In the face of adversity, friends and family that come together are able to respond in a positive way. The King’s Knights experienced a frightening moment last week after winning a league title when their team bus flipped and injured a number of players. Thankfully, tragedy was averted as minor injuries were the extent of the crash. With more basketball to be played, the King’s High School community rallied around their team to continue their quest for a state championship. However, there was a challenger from Capitol Hill in the Seattle Academy Cardinals that was hungry for a district title on Friday night at Mountlake Terrace. Both teams already punched their tickets to the big dance, but important seeding implications were at stake.

The enormous King’s crowd with “Saved for a Reason” emblazoned on their tee shirts had plenty to cheer about early when the Knights built a double digit lead before the Cards registered their first points. Calvin Kispert’s 5-0 run to open the ballgame fired up Coach Skeen’s bench. Trailing by a baker’s dozen after one quarter, Seattle Academy needed to find a rhythm to erase the early deficit.

More of the same continued in the second frame as the lead ballooned to nearly twenty points. The Cardinals’ inability to challenge the interior defense of KHS prevented them from finding high-percentage attempts in the paint. The commitment to isolation and jump-shooting was evident by SAS and in the first half, it led to a 16 point deficit heading into the locker room.

Early in the second half, the Cardinals continued to go to the three-point well in the hopes to claw their way back into the game. Eventually, the strategy paid dividends when some shots fell and the lead shrunk back to 11 at 30-19. Up to this point, King’s had left quite a bit on the table as the lead certainly could have been 25 or more without missed opportunities and unnecessary turnovers. This proved not to haunt the Knight’s because they emerged from the called timeout on a 10-2 run. Leading by 18 with one quarter to go, the outcome of the game was sealed. King’s retained their double digit lead in the final frame to earn the victory and hoist the hardware for the District 1/2 1A title.

The Final Score: King’s 48 Seattle Academy 31

Top Performers:
King’s
Calvin Kispert & Noah Bundrant-12 points

Seattle Academy
Ben Gerke-13 points

Bellevue Girls Advance in SeaKing District Tourney Over Lakeside

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Steven Dion

Bellevue Girls Advance in SeaKing District Tourney Over Lakeside
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- February 17	2015	Girls	3A	SeaKing
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bellevue	18	8	24	12	62
Lakeside	8	8	8	19	43

Bellevue Senior Dejah Rogers

Tuesday night at Bellevue College featured four SeaKing matchups including a clash of top girls squads in Bellevue and Lakeside. The Lions picked up a 40-31 victory over Seattle Prep on Saturday to advance to the second round of the winner’s bracket. Leah Krautter’s Wolverines earned a first round bye to place Bellevue directly into this game. Advancing to the next round in the district tourney was on the line for the victor of this contest.

Bellevue jumped out to an early lead as the disruptive perimeter defense forced turnovers and created open looks on the offensive end. Mandy Steward showed her shooting range by knocking down jumpers after intercepting passes on the defensive end of the floor. Kimijah King led the Lions in scoring by strong takes to the cup despite strong defense in the paint. A stark difference in the contest was the sure-handedness of Bellevue. They pulled down rebounds stronger and were able to pluck away loose balls more regularly. After garnering a ten point lead after the first quarter, Bellevue was on its way to a blowout. However, Lakeside finished the second quarter strong and was able to retain a ten point deficit going into halftime.

The Wolverines continued to build their lead early in the third as their variety of scoring options made a presence. Steward tacked on eight, Ann-Marie Jacobs added four points, and five other Bellevue contributed to the huge 24 point third quarter. With eight minutes remaining and a 50-24 lead, the fate of the game was sealed. However, Lakeside continued to battle and the support showed by those on the bench fueled the Lions to a strong final frame. Their tenacity on defense including hitting the deck for loose balls paid dividends on offense. Kelly Keene knocked down a corner three and after Lakeside intercepted the ensuing inbound, found Keene in the same spot for another triple in the matter of seconds. The Lions would outscore BHS in the fourth quarter by a 19-12 margin, but the Wolverines walked away with the win.

The Final Score: Bellevue 62 Lakeside 43

Top Performers:
Bellevue
Mandy Steward-18 points

Lakeside
Kimijah King-16 points

Rainier Beach Advances to Metro Final

Posted on February 12, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Rainier Beach Advances to Metro Final
By Colin Caruso

Wednesday February 11	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Ingraham High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	16	17	14	13	60
Rainier Beach	24	20	18	17	79

With a trip to the coveted Metro final at stake, the Rainier Beach Vikings and Eastside Catholic Crusaders clashed at Ingraham High School in front of a packed house. Rainier Beach was a clear favorite in this game, the three time state champs are always ready for the toughest competition in the state.

Beach demonstrated their #2 in state ranking by putting up 24 points in the first quarter. On the back of unbelievable shooting by Shadeed Shabazz and DeJounte Murray, the Crusaders had no response for the shot making and athleticism displayed by the Vikings.

The second quarter was not much better for Eastside Catholic, who struggled defensively and struggled bringing the ball up the floor. Rainier Beach’s lateral quickness is rivaled by only Garfield’s, and it is difficult for any team to bring the ball up against Ivy Smith. Beach extended their lead in the second and took an 11 point lead into halftime.

Eastside began to come back early in the third, cutting the lead to just six points midway through the frame. But the Vikings always had answers, Shabazz and Murray were seemingly un-guardable throughout the contest.

The game turned into more of a blowout later in the fourth, with the Vikings walking away with a comfortable 79-60 win.

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy – 16 points
Max Hudgins – 15 points
Andrew Padilla – 14 points

Rainier Beach
DeJounte Murray – 27 points
Shadeed Shabazz – 24 points

Rainier Beach Handles Prep on Senior Night

Posted on February 12, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

Rainier Beach Handles Prep on Senior Night
By Colin Caruso

Friday February 6	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Rainier Beach High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Seattle Prep	16	9	11	18	54
Rainier Beach	14	18	20	9	61

In a clash of titans in the metro league, the Seattle Prep Panthers traveled south to take on the Rainier Beach Vikings. Both teams walked into this contest with 16 wins under their belt, clearly putting themselves in the elite conversation for Metro and for state in 3A hoops.

Prep started the game on a great run, capitalizing on the size mismatches they bring to every game. It is tough for a high school team to matchup against three starters that all measure 6’8″, and that is what the state has to be prepared for against the Panthers.

Prep got off to an early lead, stemmed by a 10-0 run and Jack Stewart’s 2 three pointers. But Beach battled back to trail the first quarter by just two, closing the quarter on a 35 foot bank shot by Washington commit DeJounte Murray.

Beach began to put their foot on the gas in the second quarter. Ivy Smith and Shadeed Shabazz forced numerous turnovers in the Panther backcourt, leading to easy layups and dunks. The second and third quarter were a little messy for the Panthers, who only put up 20 points total against Beach’s 38.

But Prep would not stop battling. Beach assumed they had the game in hand with such a comfortable lead in the fourth, but the Panthers scratched and clawed to cut the lead to just 4 with under two minutes to play. The Vikings again stepped up with their tenacious defense, forced two critical turnovers, and sealed the win with a 61-54 final.

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
J’Raan Brooks – 14 points
Jack Stewart – 14 points

Rainier Beach
DeJounte Murray – 16 points
Vincenzo Reiser – 15 points

Monster Second Quarter Propels Roosevelt Over Lakeside

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Steven Dion

Monster Second Quarter Propels Roosevelt Over Lakeside
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- February 3	2015	Boys	3A	Metro
Roosevelt High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Roosevelt	8	23	11	28	70
Lakeside	13	6	10	32	61

Roosevelt Senior Lewis Gregerson-Spencer

The final week of regular season hoops kicked off with a full slate of matchups Tuesday night. A Metro League game with playoff implications attached was the clash between host Roosevelt and Lakeside who are vying for postseason berths. The Lions feature leading Metro scorer in Isiah Brown at 27.6 points per contest where the Riders counter with senior Cam Haslam with a shade under 20 per game. This game carried major weight for deciding the final seeds coming out of the most competitive league in the state.

Lakeside’s tenacious interior defense in the first quarter provided a spark to grab a quick lead. They prevented the Riders from finding a groove on offense early in the game. The gameplan for each team contrasted greatly as the Lions attacked the rim early and Roosevelt ate the bulk of the shot clock by distributing the ball. LHS sophomore Daejon Davis knocked down a difficult lay-up and one at the first quarter buzzer to give his team a 13-8 lead after one frame.

Roosevelt woke up in a big way in the second quarter to the tune of a 16-0 run over the first five minutes. Haslam started heating up by notching 10 of his team-high 26 points in the quarter. The Riders capitalized on Lakeside’s inability to get shots to fall through the cup by setting up good looks to a variety of scorers such as Jakob Bauer and Jonathan Lang. The Lions finally registered their first points of the quarter at 2:06, but were trailing by double digits at that point. At intermission, the home team was buzzin’ as they led by a dozen!

When the second half commenced, Roosevelt kept the pedal down by extending their lead to nearly 20 points and placing the Lions in danger of having the ability to climb back into the game. Isiah Brown reached a point where enough was enough and started to will his team to make a comeback. He used his explosive first step to shed his defender and elevate to the rim. The junior would shoot lights-out from the free throw line in the second half en route to 24 of his game high 30 in the second half. At the end of the third, LHS cut the deficit to 42-29 and their body language displayed they could taste blood in the water.

As the Lions playing eight minutes of frantic catch-up, Roosevelt responded by knocking down timely buckets to quell momentum swings. Lewis Gregerson-Spencer and Carl Salvino made their presence felt by converting on crucial possessions down the stretch. Lakeside’s Davis finished a two-handed slam which sparked a late surge for the visitors including a 5-point boost by Isaiah de la Fuente. At 1:36, the score was 58-51, but the margin of error was razor thin and the Roughriders were able to put the final nail in the coffin. Coach Bart Brandenburg picked up a quality win for the green and yellow.

The Final Score: Roosevelt 70 Lakeside 61

Top Performers:
Roosevelt
Cam Haslam-26 points

Lakeside
Isiah Brown-30 points

McLaughlin Notches 31 in Peninsula Victory Versus Auburn

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Steven Dion

McLaughlin Notches 31 in Peninsula Victory Versus Auburn
By Steven Dion

Friday- January 23	2015	Boys	3A	SPSL
Auburn High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Peninsula	12	18	19	20	69
Auburn	11	17	24	10	62

Peninsula Junior JaQuori McLaughlin

The high school basketball regular season is in the home stretch and the sprint to a league title is winding down. South Puget Sound League’s 3A division features Peninsula at the top with Auburn-Mountainview and Auburn with several other teams in the middle of the pack. The Seahawks would pay a visit to the Trojans on Friday night for an important league matchup.

From the opening tip, this contest was a real slobber-knocker as both teams had difficulty retaining possession and putting together offensive production. Auburn’s tenacious interior defense created several takeaways and kept the Hawks off the scoreboard until the 5:33 mark. Unfortunately, the Trojans did not fully capitalize on their defensive effort as they trailed 4-2 with 3:18 left in the first quarter. University of Washington commit JaQuori McLaughlin recorded his second personal foul early which relegated the Peninsula guard to the bench.

In the second frame, reserve Patreon Lee gave AHS a boost by knocking down some big buckets and firing up his teammates. The ping-pong nature of the game continued and the game was all knotted up at 22 apiece midway through the quarter. In the final possession of the half, Auburn hoisted a desperation shot and was fouled in the process by McLaughlin for his third of the game. The scoreboard read 30-28 in favor of Peninsula halfway through.

The second half began the way the first did for Auburn as their defensive intensity sparked their production. The Trojans grabbed a 39-34 lead midway through the third. Malik Williams ignited the AHS throughout the game as he led his team with 24 points and set the tone on the defensive end. His counterpart McLaughlin was forced into tough shots, but got his fair share to fall toward the end of the third.

Leading by three as the fourth started, Auburn was in prime position to complete the upset. However, Coach Jake Jackson’s Seahawks had another plan. They rolled off a 10-0 run with buckets by Garrett Smith and Austin Kingman. Williams knocked down a pair of threes to get Auburn back on track, but the Hawks kept the pedal down. Leading by a half dozen with two minutes remaining, PHS retained their lead to the end and picked up a tough division victory.

The Final Score: Peninsula 69 Auburn 62

Top Performers:
Peninsula
JaQuori McLaughlin-31 points (11/13 FTs)

Auburn
Malik Williams-24 points

Viont’e Daniels Drops 31 in Federal Way Win Over Kentwood

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Steven Dion

Viont’e Daniels Drops 31 in Federal Way Win Over Kentwood
By Steven Dion

Friday- January 16	2015	Boys	4A	SPSL
Kentwood High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Federal Way	16	16	17	28	77
Kentwood	7	17	20	20	64

Federal Way Senior Viont’e Daniels

Friday night’s slate of high school hoops featured a matchup of division leaders in the South Puget Sound League as the high-fliers of the Northwest in Federal Way would make a visit to powerhouse Kentwood of the Northeast. The anticipation for this game was evident from the packed gym and a tangible buzz in the building felt from the opening tip to the final whistle. This proved to be an interesting matchup as the Eagles’ roster loaded with athletic combo guards would square off with what is essentially Kentwood’s football team on the hardwood.

The first few minutes of the game set the tone when Federal Way rolled out to a 9-0 lead. Kentwood quickly found themselves playing catch-up and would continue to do so for the entirety of the ballgame. Eagle perimeter defense forced several turnovers and prevented entry passes for Conks’ offensive sets. Federal Way junior Ferron Flavors notched 15 of his 20 points in the first two quarters. Malik Sanchez rallied KW by throwing down a pair of highlight dunks in the second quarter. However, Federal Way capitalized on Conqueror mistakes and were able to retain and eight point lead heading into the second half.

The Conks returned to the floor with renewed energy to climb back into the contest. The guard duo of Darius LuBom and Preston White who finished with 16 and 11 points respectively hit the deck for 50/50 balls and the forwards Josiah Bronson and Marcus LuBom were rebounding machines on both ends of the court. KHS rallied several times to tighten up the ballgame, but Federal Way always knocked down a big bucket when needed. Viont’e Daniels drained a triple at 3:28 in the third to keep a double digit lead. The scoreboard read 49-44 heading into the fourth with FW still out front.

By the five minute mark in the final frame, Federal Way put the game on ice. Daniels scored three quick buckets, two of which were and-ones. Then, D’Jimon Jones scored 3 of his 10 points when he was able to get an up and under to fall after being fouled in the process. The 13-5 run to start the final quarter propelled the Eagles to a big league win for Coach Jerome Collins’ blue and white.

The Final Score: Federal Way 77 Kentwood 64

Top Performers:
Federal Way
Viont’e Daniels-31 points (8/12 FTs)

Kentwood
Darius Lubom-16 points

Kentlake Soars Past TJ in SPSL Battle

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Steven Dion

Kentlake Soars Past TJ in SPSL Battle
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- January 13	2015	Boys	4A	SPSL
Thomas Jefferson High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Kentlake	14	12	6	14	46
Thomas Jefferson	6	9	10	16	41

Kentlake Junior Dang Tran

Each of the three divisions in the South Puget Sound League feature a premier 4A team that have created separation between themselves and their opponents. Thomas Jefferson and Kentlake are currently chasing Federal Way and Kentwood respectively, so each contest is critical to keep pace with frontrunners. The Raiders from the Northwest would host the Falcons from the Northeast in this interdivision clash on Tuesday night.

The contest jumped out to a good start for the home squad when an early Raider bucket was followed up with a steal by Xavier Scott-Hollis and an emphatic dunk. However, this early burst was followed up with a scoring drought by TJ where they only scored once more the remainder of the quarter. Kentlake’s Dang Tran kicked off his big night by matching Jefferson’s first quarter scoring total with 6 points. The senior guard would notch a game-high 23 points and was the only player on either team to score in every quarter. Kentlake thrived on back-door cuts and three-quarter press on defense to build a double digit lead by halftime. The Raiders put together a rally midway through the second frame capped by a Preston Peters three-ball, but allowed the Falcons to finish the first half strong. At the break, the scoreboard read 26-15 in favor of the guests.

Thomas Jefferson returned with a renewed sense of urgency to climb back in the game. They did so by starting at the defensive end of the floor limiting KHS to six third-quarter points and forcing several turnovers. Tyson Sonnenfeld provided a boost from the bench by going 4/4 from the free throw line and grabbing some tough rebounds. Trailing by 7 heading into the fourth, did Jefferson have a comeback in store?

To start the final frame, it appeared they were on a crash course to victory as the lead was trimmed to a single point with 3:24 remaining after a Brian Kuria three-pointer. After Coach Drake called a timeout, his Falcons responded with a 6-0 run at the hands of Julion Mackey and Max Valerio. Similarly, Kyle Templeton was able to rally his Raiders to a 5-0 run in response with 28.7 seconds remaining. The Raiders had a chance to tie or take the lead, but they could not get the clinching shot to fall and some Larry Alar free throws helped Kentlake steal a road victory.

The Final Score: Kentlake 46 Thomas Jefferson 41

Top Performers:
Kentlake
Dang Tran-23 points

Thomas Jefferson
Will Osborn, Darius Anderson, Xavier Scott-Hollis-7 points

Skyline Shocks Issaquah in KingCo Rival Clash

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Steven Dion

Skyline Shocks Issaquah in KingCo Rival Clash
By Steven Dion

Friday- January 9	2015	Boys	4A	KingCo
Issaquah High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Skyline	18	15	19	24	76
Issaquah	12	20	25	16	73

Skyline Junior Connor Crisp

Jason Griffith’s Issaquah Eagles have picked up the ’14-’15 season where they left off last year when they made a deep run in the 4A state tournament. The plateau platoon appears to be a prime contender to raise the hardware in December with a player of the year caliber player and a super sophomore. However, as the new year turns, league play begins and each night on the floor is a challenge. The Skyline Spartans would visit the Eagles’ nest to take a crack at their league rival ahead in the standings. Bill McIntrye had the green and white ready to roll this Friday night.

Immediately following the opening tip, Ty Gibson buried a triple from the corner. However, the Spartans responded by matching the early scoring and in doing so, outmatching the home team in the level of intensity on both ends of the floor. A key play early in the contest was a block by Braden Ahlemeyer that sent the energetic Spartan student section into a frenzy. This swat led to a Spartan score on the other end that prompted an Issy timeout to regroup. This proved to be a smart coaching decision because the Eagles started to trim the deficit down and eventually take the lead. When Issaquah took a 27-24 lead at 3:37 in the second quarter, the resolve of Skyline was tested. They passed. At halftime, the Spartans regained the lead at 33-32.

When play resumed, more of the same back-and-forth trend continued as there were countless momentum swings and lead changes. Eagle sophomore Trevon Ary-Turner knocked down back-to-back triples to give the purple and white a 45-39 lead midway through the third. But once again, Skyline kept the game within reach. Down the stretch, Sparty realized they played too well to let this opportunity slip. Ahlemeyer knocked down two buckets in the post in the waning minutes. Additionally, Skyline captain Robert Biegaj pulled down a long rebound that led to a layup with twenty seconds left. Leading by four, the Spartans did not allow the Eagles to send this game into overtime and the major upset was complete.

The Final Score: Skyline 76 Issaquah 73

Top Performers:
Skyline
Robert Biegaj-26 points

Issaquah
Ty Gibson-26 points

Chief Sealth Falls to Garfield, But Saves Best for Last

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Steven Dion

Chief Sealth Falls to Garfield, But Saves Best for Last
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- January 6	2015	Boys	3A	Metro League
Chief Sealth	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Garfield	30	27	24	15	96
Chief Sealth	14	20	7	14	55

Chief Sealth Senior Hafid Yassin

Ed Haskins’ Bulldogs are off to a blistering 2014-2015 campaign as the state champions of 4A last season are poised to make a run at the 3A title this year. They took a short trip southwest on Tuesday night as Chief Sealth hosted the Metro League leader. Seahawk coach Colin Slingsby certainly understood the tough task his team would face, but he nor anyone in the gym expected this contest to finish the way it did!

Garfield started its scoring onslaught early as the pressure applied on defense resulted in routine buckets on the offensive end. Jashaun Agosto displayed his dynamic skill set as the shifty point guard distributed the rock to open teammates and created open looks for himself at the cup. Alphonso Anderson also got in the mix by burying shots from downtown to help the Bulldogs notch 57 first-half points. Sealth senior Ahmed Mohamed kept his team on pace by recording 10 first half points. At the break, Garfield jumped out to a comfortable lead at 57-34.

The triple threat of Agosto, Anderson, and Jaylen Nowell kept the explosive tempo going into the second half by contributing an additional 24 points in the third quarter. The trio combined for 79 points! Garfield’s defense clamped down too by limiting CS to only 7 points in the frame. Effectively, the outcome of the contest was settled before the fourth quarter, but the highlight of the night was yet to come. With a running clock in effect and the final minute coming to a close, Chief Sealth received an inbound on the Garfield baseline. The ball was lobbed above the rim with Hafid Yassin in stride. The 6’5 senior launched his body above a Bulldog defender and threw down a dunk for the ages. He elevated his head above rim level! Moments later, Sealth buried a three-pointer to end the game in the most dramatic way a 41 point loss can happen. The atmosphere in the gym when the game ended was as if the crowd just witnessed an overtime buzzer-beater. Garfield keeps their immaculate record intact, Sealth walks away with a memory of a great moment in program history.

The Final Score: Garfield 96 Chief Sealth 55

Top Performers:
Garfield
Alphonso Anderson-30 points

Chief Sealth
Hafid Yassin-13 points

Monroe Overpowers Bear Creek in Opening Round of Holiday Tourney

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Steven Dion

Monroe Overpowers Bear Creek in Opening Round of Holiday Tourney
By Steven Dion

Monday- December 29	2014	Boys	4A/1A	Non-League
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Monroe	12	21	13	9	55
Bear Creek	14	8	13	4	39

Monroe Freshman Colby Kyle

The 44th Annual Holiday High School Boys Basketball Tournament tipped off on Monday night at Bellevue College as eight teams vie for the title. The second of four games slated would match Monroe of 4A Wesco and 1A Emerald City league squad Bear Creek. The winner would advance to face King’s in the second round whereas the team that fell in this contest would take on Hazen in the consolation bracket.

Monroe wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as the opening tip was advanced up the floor and converted to an easy layup in the opening seconds. The Grizzlies were not fazed by the quick basket as they strung together some offense primarily through Jonny Magee and Jordan Block. The pair accounted for 19 of BC’s 22 first half points. Coach Tyson Horner’s Bearcats grew stronger as the first half rolled along, especially after freshman Colby Kyle threw down a dunk after a steal on the defensive end. This propelled Monroe to taking a 26-19 lead midway through the second quarter prompting Coach Tyler Mendezona to call a Grizzlies timeout after his team’s confidence started to wane. At the break, the Bearcats accumulated a double digit lead as the scoreboard read 33-22.

The third quarter began with a three-point spree as Monroe’s Rhen Shore and BC’s Block heated up from beyond the arc. However, trading buckets did not change the Bearcats lead heading into the final quarter. The Grizzlies needed a major run, but the call was not answered. There was a chance to cut the deficit to single digits midway through the fourth, but BC could not quite muster a late rally as the Bearcats locked up a 16 point victory.

The Final Score: Monroe 55 Bear Creek 39

Top Performers:
Monroe
Rhen Shore-13 points (5/9 FGs, 3 3-pointers)

Bear Creek
Jordan Block-17 points (6/13 FG’s, 5 3-pointers)

Kentwood Exhibits Strength Against Cedarcrest

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Steven Dion

Kentwood Exhibits Strength Against Cedarcrest
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 26	2014	Boys	4A/2A	Non-League
Kennedy Catholic High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Kentwood	25	23	15	13	76
Cedarcrest	8	9	10	12	39

Kentwood Sophomore Rayvaughn Bolton

The opening round of the 2014 Oberto Christmas Classic at Kennedy HS featured 4A power Kentwood against Cedarcrest from the 2A class. A stark contrast between these two teams heading into the contest was team size and how it would affect the outcome of the game as the Conks are built like a football team on the hardwood. The Red Wolves are slighter in stature but have some crafty guards that do not back down. Would Cedarcrest give KW a challenge in the first round of the holiday tourney?

Kentwood challenged CHS from the start as they applied full-court pressure which resulted in backcourt turnovers. The Conks did not take advantage of the defensive effort early as they chose to take 3 point attempts that did not fall early. However, Cedarcrest’s early bit of momentum on offense went ice cold for the majority of the first half. After scoring only 8 first quarter points, the Red Wolves were in trouble. Preston White and Marcus Lubom both notched 10 points for the Conquerors in the first half which was more than CHS’ scoring total through quarters one and two. Nik Rearson tallied 5 for the Red Wolves as he went 5/6 from the line in the first 16 minutes. Mark Prince would hope to rally his Cedarcrest squad at the break to close the gap as the halftime score read 48-17 in favor of Kentwood.

Cedarcrest was able to play a competitive second half as the lead grew by a much smaller margin than it did in the first half. They held the Conks to 15 third quarter points and were able to drain a pair of three-balls from Alex Paulsen and Robert Cha. The fourth quarter featured quality minutes for Kentwood Coach Blake Solomon’s reserves. Jordan Jones knocked down two from downtown in the final frame as Kentwood secured a 76-39 victory. There was exceptional sportsmanship displayed by Kentwood as they overmatched their opponent, but showed respect for Cedarcrest.

The Final Score: Kentwood 76 Cedarcrest 39

Top Performers:
Kentwood
5 players in double figures (Preston White-14, Davonte Sanchez-12, Marcus Lubom-11, Rayvaughn Bolton-11, Malik Sanchez-11)

Davis
Kyle Walsh-7 points (5/6 FT’s)

Rainier Beach Glides Past Lakeside in League Matchup

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Steven Dion

Rainier Beach Glides Past Lakeside in League Matchup
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 19	2014	Boys	3A	Metro
Rainier Beach High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	23	21	26	17	87
Lakeside	18	12	18	20	68

Rainier Beach Junior Keith Smith

Quality basketball is a guarantee on a Friday night inside Crawford Court at Rainier Beach High School. The reigning 3A champs hosted the Lakeside Lions in a Metro League showdown on Friday night as some of the top talent in the state would put their talents on display. Could the Lions pull an upset on the road?

Lakeside’s dynamic guard Isiah Brown established his pivotal role on the team by scoring 13 of his team’s 18 first quarter points. Beach countered with a balanced attack of point guards Shadeed Shabazz and Ivy Smith feeding Dejounte Murray and Keith Smith. The Vikings built a five point lead after one frame, but the slim margin kept the door open for the Lions. With increased intensity on the defensive end for Lakeside, they rebounded the ball well and found points at the other end. Mid-way through the second quarter, Mike Bethea called a full timeout because the scoreboard read 27-26 Rainier Beach. The Viking responded like they are accustomed to by closing out the half on a 17-4 run. Murray and Shabazz were major contributors to the surge of points to extend the halftime score to 44-30.

The Viking lead grew even more after the break as Keith Smith and Dejounte Murray knocked down some transition buckets at the cup. Ivy Smith tacked on seven in the third quarter also. Lion guard Connor Duffy provided a nice spark off the bench knocking down 10 points in the second half. Lakeside slowly cut the Rainier Beach lead and with over 5 minutes remaining, were trailing by single digits. However, RB closed out the second half like they did the first half and kept their undefeated record intact with a 19 point victory.

The Final Score: Rainier Beach 87 Lakeside 68

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Dejounte Murray-29 points

Lakeside
Isiah Brown-35 points

Newport Defends Home Court with Convincing Win Over Redmond

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Steven Dion

Lady Mustangs Prevail in Overtime Clash with Newport
By Steven Dion

Friday- December 12	2014	KingCo 4A
Newport High School	Final
Newport	56
Redmond	38

Newport Senior Jake Higgins

The nightcap of a full slate of basketball at Newport HS on Friday night was the boys varsity matchup of the host Knights and visiting Mustangs of Redmond High School. Newport has been a top half 4A KIngCo squad in recent years while Redmond has struggled to join the upper ranks of the conference. Would they have the horsepower to pick up the road win or would Newport pile on another win in front of the home crowd?

Redmond appeared they were ready to compete as they scored the first six points of the game two of which came from a circus shot by Kevin Carpenter. Unfortunately, the ‘Stangs couldn’t keep the momentum rolling as the Knights went on a 10-0 run in response to the early deficit. The length advantage of Newport forwards started to show its presence as Ryan Kingma and Jake Higgins among others glided to the rim for layup drills. Redmond was on the brink of submitting to a big halftime deficit, but closed the second quarter strong to only trail by 5.

The third quarter is where Newport put this game to rest. They limited the opposition to only 6 points in the frame while building a big lead. The Mustangs competed throughout the second half even as the Newport lead continued to grow. NHS head coach Steve Haizlip allowed many of his reserves to log some minutes down the stretch as his team closed out a 56-38 victory.

Top Performers:
Newport
Jake Higgins-24 points

Redmond
Kevin Carpenter-12 points

Coach Interview with Neah Bay’s Tony McCaulley-State Finals Preview

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Steven Dion

2014 Varsity Football Live Playoff Interview
Neah Bay Red Devils – Head Football Coach
Tony McCaulley

The northwest tip of Washington is home to a 1B football program that seems to find its way to the Tacoma Dome every year in recent memory. Tony McCaulley and Red Devils are back in the championship game and he visits with Steven Dion to talk about how the team has maintained success and the impact Neah Bay High School football has in the community.

“Our whole town will caravan over and turn out the lights…Everybody will be at the Tacoma Dome for the game…”

To repeat as state champs, Coach McCaulley will need to rally his team to defeat Liberty Christian who defeated the Red Devils in dramatic fashion for the 2012 title. He explains how that game will serve as motivation for his upperclassmen when Saturday arrives!

To catch the complete radio interview with Neah Bay Coach Tony McCaulley, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Coach Interview with Sedro-Woolley’s Dave Ward-State Finals Preview

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Steven Dion

2014 Varsity Football Live Playoff Interview
Sedro-Woolley Cubs – Head Football Coach
Dave Ward

In his third year as head coach of the Cubs, Dave Ward has brought a middle-of-the-pack Northwest League team in 2012 to the 2A state championship game in 2014. His team will face familiar opponent Lynden who defeated the Cubs 33-30 earlier this season.

“We gave up six huge plays…That wasn’t typical of our defense…We’re going to bend and not break…”

The entire community of Sedro-Woolley will shut down according to Ward and get down to the Tacoma Dome via buses and trains to see their Cubs compete for a state title. He is confident in the leaders on his roster to take home the hardware from the 2014 Gridiron Classic!

To catch the complete radio interview with Sedro-Woolley Coach Dave Ward, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Coach Interview with Cascade Christian’s Randy Davis-State Finals Preview

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Steven Dion

2014 Varsity Football Live Playoff Interview
Cascade Christian Cougars – Head Football Coach
Randy Davis

Since 2008, Cascade Christian head coach Randy Davis has led the Cougars to the 1A state championship game five time including winning the title in 2010. The senior class remembers how their season ended in the semifinals last year and showed determination to bring the hardware home in 2014.

“They took that to heart last year…They really dedicated themselves…I had 25 to 30 guys in the weight room at 6 o’clock in the morning all winter long…”

Coach Davis understands the Colville Indians present a challenge in the Gridiron Classic, but he explains how his team is prepared to finish the season 13-0. The Cougars have a strong core group with a winning attitude capable of taking the championship trophy to the Puyallup Valley once again!

To catch the complete radio interview with Cascade Christian Coach Randy Davis, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

Sedro-Woolley Dominates 2A State Title Game

Posted on December 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec. 6	2014	2A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Sedro-Woolley	7	7	14	14	42
Okanogan	0	6	7	0	13

Game Recap below

Sedro-Woolley Dominates 2A State Title Game
By Colin Caruso

The Sedro-Woolley Cubs suffered one loss this season on October 24th to the defending state champion Lynden Lions. They met that same Lynden Lions club in the state finals at the Tacoma Dome, and the result was much different.

A second half to remember for the Cubs, who outscored Lynden 28-7 on their way to a 42-13 route over a team that had won four of the last six 2A state titles.

After Lynden scored at the end of the third quarter to close the lead to 28-13, the Cubs sidelined quieted down, knowing that their best season ever was within striking distance. The Lions then forced a turnover on Sedro-Woolley’s next drive, causing more fear in the hearts of the massive Cubs crowd. But Carter Crosby saved the day, literally. He intercepted Sterling Somers, Somers’ third interception thrown, and returned it 21 yards for a Cubs touchdown.

The score propelled the lead to 35-13 early in the fourth, and the entire town of Sedro-Woolley could feel the victory. They would add another score on a Quinn Carpenter run, his second of the game, to amount the blowout win.

The story of the game, however, was the Cubs defense. Allowing just 264 total yards and intercepting Lynden quarterbacks five times, propelled Sedro-Woolley to lifting the state championship trophy.

The FinalScore – Sedro-Woolley 42, Lynden 13.

Top Performers:
Sedro-Woolley
Quinn Carpenter – 17 carries for 88 yards and 2TD
Carter Crosby – 11 carries for 68 yards and 1TD, Interception TD

Lynden
Scooter Hastings – 7 catches for 78 yards, TD pass

Okanogan’s First Half Enough For State Title Victory Over Napavine

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Randall Novak

Friday	Dec. 5	2014	2B Finals	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Napavine	0	0	7	7	14
Okanogan	10	7	0	0	17

Game Recap below

Okanogan’s First Half Enough For State Title Victory Over Napavine
By Steven Dion

The 2014 edition of the Gridiron Classic featured the 2B championship game between Napavine and Okanogan. Northeast Washington’s representative in the Bulldogs shut out defending champions Lind-Ritzville Sprague in the semis 34-0 to earn their title game berth. The Tigers won a close contest over Toledo to get to the big dance. Luck is often an undervalued factor in sports, but the victor of this game can surely credit a few unusual bounces of the pigskin and a bend-don’t-break second half en route to a state championship.

Opening drives for both teams did not yield points as the defensive units for both squads showed early aggression. The Bulldogs were facing a third and long, so Benny Cate threw toward Jimmy Townsend on the right hashmarks. However, there were two Tigers in coverage with one in position to intercept. The ball glanced off the defender’s hands to Townsend who grabbed the still airborne football for a fluky 61 yard score. Before the first frame ended, Arnulfo Tacked on a 27 yard field goal to give Okanogan an early double-digit lead. Despite the deficit, Napavine’s roster has talent which would make a comeback a likely scenario.

Before the first half concluded, Okanogan tested their fortunes on another play that could have gone wrong. Cate threw a dart downfield and his receiver was scampering to the endzone, but before he got there, the ball popped loose. Payton Staggs was able to pounce on the football which was laying in the endzone for any taker. At the half, Eastern Washington was leading its Western counterpart 17-0.

If Napavine were to mount a comeback in the second half, Brady Woodrum would have to continue to receive plenty of touches. Five of his 77 total rushing yards amounted to the Tigers getting on the scoreboard with over eighteen minutes of play remaining. This fired up Napavine and the momentum was shifting. Shortly after the touchdown drive, the Tigers had an opportunity to kick a field goal to cut the lead. No good. The NHS defense held and allowed for another field goal attempt. Missed. Time was running out, but Napavine still had a pulse. Wyatt Stanley connected with Mac Fagerness from 27 yard with 3 minutes remaining for a touchdown. Using timeouts wisely, the Tigers had the ball with a minute left to tie or take the lead. Okanogan was able to force a fumble on the quarterback as he about to throw the ball downfield to a receiver. Despite being shut out in the second half, Okanogan is the 2B champion by the score of 17-14.

The FinalScore – Okanogan 17, Napavine 14.

Top Performers:
Okanogan
Jimmy Townsend- 61 yard TD rec, forced fumble, INT

Napavine
Brady Woodrum- 77 rush yds, TD, 79 pass yds

Napavine Squeaks Past Toledo

Posted on November 29, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Nov. 28	2014	2B	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Toledo	0	7	7	8	22
Napavine	0	14	0	14	28

Napavine Squeaks Past Toledo
By Colin Caruso

Napavine had yet to be tested prior to this contest. Their margin of victory has been off the charts, and they already placed a 36-6 rout on the visiting Toledo Indians. But that didn’t stop the Indians from fighting until literally the very last play.

With just 3 yards (yes 3 yards) of total offense in the first half, the Toledo Indians fought and clawed their way to a 14-7 deficit at half. Their only score, a 76 yard kickoff return for a TD following a Mac Fagerness TD catch brought them even with the high powered Napavine offense. Napavine was able to sneak in another Fagerness catch with just 7 seconds left in the half, taking the 14-7 lead. The stats were unbelievably misbalanced at this time. Total yards were 225-3 in favor of the Tigers.

The second half saw constant action throughout. The heavy underdog Indians stormed back midway through the third with an amazing 56 yard pass and catch from Dalton Yoder to Grant McEwen. They added another score early in the fourth, taking the lead in a game they where they were heavily outgained in yards. Unfortunately the PAT for Toledo was blocked, but they still held a 20-14 lead early in the fourth.

Napavine answered, as a championship caliber team does, with a march and score. Sam Fagerness this time, Mac’s brother, caught a 29 yard pass from Wyatt Stanley, his third on the day. The PAT was up and good, and the Tigers took a 21-20 lead. After a punt, the Tigers got the ball back, marched again, and scored again on another Stanley pass, his fourth of the day!

This final score put the game out of reach for the Indians, who added a safety on the final play to end the contest 28-22. What a game!

The FinalScore – Napavine 28, Toledo 22.

Top Performers:
Toledo
Dalton Yoder – 4-11 for 85 yards and 2 TD
Grant McEwen – 3 catches for 74 yards and 2 TD

Napavine
Wyatt Stanley – 10-21 for 161 yards and 4 TD
Mac Fagerness – 6 catches for 65 yards and 2 TD

theFinalScore.TV
3A State Football Rankings Week 9

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Randall Novak

theFinalScore.TV
3A State Football Rankings
By Steven Dion

Marysville-Pilchuck has been on everybody’s mind. The Tomahawks took on Meadowdale with a packed house looking on, they got the win. We have broken down the top 10 Washington State 3A Classification Teams for you.

1) Bellevue 8-0, 6-0 League
The Wolverines rattle off another undefeated regular season. They have a great chance to raise the hardware in December once again.

2) Eastside Catholic 8-1, 4-0 League
Undefeated against teams from Washington and 1-1 out of state record. This may be Thielbahr’s best chance to capture a state title.

3) O’Dea 8-1, 4-1 League
Monte has rested the best tailback in the state through the latter half of the season. Myles Gaskin and the veteran lineman from the Irish have a playoff run in them.

4) Marysville-Pilchuck 7-1, 4-0 League
The community has rallied around this team in the wake of tragedy and they are responding by playing great football heading into the postseason.

5) Lincoln 9-0, 7-0 League
An undefeated regular season gives the Abes another crack at the best 3A has to offer. Will Kitna be able to make another step and overtake the elite teams in the postseason?

6) Peninsula 8-1, 7-0 League
After losing a one-point game in the season opener against Gig Harbor, the Seahawks have won eight straight en route to a 3A SPSL title run.

7) Auburn-Mountainview 8-1, 6-1 League
The Lions have plenty of talent at the skill positions to make some noise in the playoffs, but a push to the Tacoma Dome will be a tall task for a team with limited postseason experience.

8) Oak Harbor 6-1, 4-0 League
Hats off to the Wildcats for awarding the 3A Wesco League title to Marysville-Pilchuck. That game projected to be great measuring stick for Oak Harbor, but the circumstances rightfully took priority.

9) Kennedy Catholic 7-0, 4-0 League
Spotless record for the Lancers with only 30 points allowed all season. The Seamount did not present any great obstacles, but Bourgette’s boys will not back down from any playoff challengers.

10) Mount Spokane 7-2, 5-1 League
The Wildcats’ two losses were by a total of 10 points by Sandpoint (ID) and Gonzaga Prep. Beating several 4A teams throughout the season earns this Greater Spokane League squad the tenth spot.

On the Bubble
Meadowdale 6-1, 5-0 League
Bishop Blanchet 7-2, 2-2 league
Capital 7-2, 6-1 league

theFinalScore.TV
4A State Football Rankings Week 9

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Randall Novak

theFinalScore.TV
4A State Football Rankings Week 9
By Steven Dion

There has been a little movement this week with teams in the Top 10. Federal Way jumped a couple of spots to number 6. Here is our breakdown of the top teams in the 4A Classification.

1) Camas 9-0, 6-0 League
Coach Eagle has his eyes set on unfinished business from 2013. The Papermakers season will likely wrap up in the woodshed again, but can they raise the hardware?

2) Bothell 9-0, 6-0 League
These Cougars has some serious firepower posting a 422-79 combined scoring tally in the regular season. The blue and white have the pieces to contend.

3) Chiawana 8-1, 7-0 League
Don’t sleep on the reigning champs. This team posted another solid season with the lone loss a non-league clash with fire-breathing Papermakers.

4) Gig Harbor 8-1, 6-0 League
The Tides are playing like tsunamis right now as Coach Chantler’s gradual building of a program has a Narrows 4A title in the bank and a great deal of momentum heading into the playoffs.

5) Union 8-1, 5-1 League
A team that has shown the ability to rise up in nail biters can bode well in November when most games are settled in the waning minutes. The mighty, mighty Titans are not a team to take lightly.

6) Federal Way 7-2, 5-0 League
The Eagles have been dominant since opening the season with a pair of losses. With a healthy linebacker unit and game-breaker Chico McClatcher, the sky is the limit.

7) Kentwood 8-1, 4-0 League
A staunch defense is the cornerstone of Conks football and the regular season did not disappoint as only 78 points have been surrendered in 9 games thus far.

8) Lake Stevens 8-1, 6-0 League
Clawing out a victory over Kamiak may be just what the doctor ordered as the Viks prepare for the postseason. The more reps young Eason gets, the more dangerous Lake Stevens becomes.

9) Gonzaga Prep 8-1, 6-1 League
The parity in the Greater Spokane league has given the Bullpups a well-balanced schedule in which there has not been any push-over weeks. A league championship may not be enough for Prep.

10) Graham-Kapowsin 8-1, 5-1 League
The second of two SPSL Eagles in the top ten rankings finished second to Emerald Ridge in the league standings, but are a top ten talent in the state. Foster Sarell can wreak havoc moving forward.

On the Bubble:
Wenatchee 8-1, 6-0 League
Emerald Ridge 7-2, 6-0 League
Kamiak 7-2, 6-1 League