King’s Captures 1A District Title Over Seattle Academy

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King’s Captures 1A District Title Over Seattle Academy

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


King’s Sophomore Corey Kispert

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

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

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

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

The Final Score: King’s 48 Seattle Academy 31

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

Seattle Academy
Ben Gerke-13 points

Henn’s Explosive Second Half Propels Bellevue Past Crusaders

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Henn’s Explosive Second Half Propels Bellevue Past Crusaders
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- February 17 2015 Boys 3A SeaKing
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bellevue 12 15 21 21 69
Eastside Catholic 12 10 9 16 47


Bellevue Senior Kyle Foreman

The 3A District 2 tournament is underway and the second round was played on Tuesday night including a pair of contests at Bellevue College. The nightcap featured the 3A runner-up in the state championship tournament Eastside Catholic and a surging Bellevue squad who enjoyed a sense of home-court advantage due to close proximity. The winner would advance to the quarterfinals where they would take on Garfield who won the early game over Franklin. Conversely, the losing squad would move to the other side of the bracket where they would have a chance to finish up to fifth place in the highly competitive SeaKing district.

A buzzing gym with packed sidelines may have taken a toll on the nerves of both teams in the opening minutes, but it did not take long for each side to find a rhythm. An emphatic dunk by Gunther Klimes gave Bellevue a burst. EC responded moments later when Matisse Thybulle elevated for a one-handed tip jam that brought many people to their feet.

Tied at dozen apiece heading into the second quarter, the ability for one team to create some separation was available. The Wolverines seized the opportunity by stringing together an 11-0 run that ate up nearly five minutes. Sharif Khan scored five in the frame and Javon Jefferson provided a lift off the bench by knocking down two buckets in the quarter. Max Hudgins finally got the Cru off the scheid at the 3:30 mark when the senior knocked down a three-pointer. This allowed ECHS to close the quarter strong by outscoring the Wolverines 8-4 in the final minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to five points at 27-22.

Bellevue’s versatile post Mikey Henn had a quiet three points in the first half, but that quickly changed in the second. A few early buckets including a monstrous two-handed slam earned the junior more time with the ball in his hands as the half progressed. Senior guard Kyle Foreman distributed the ball nicely to Henn in addition to knocking down shots of his own. He buried a pair from downtown en route to 15 points and ten by Henn helped Bellevue blow the doors off the game in the pivotal third quarter. The final frame was on cruise control for Chris O’ Connors Wolverines as they chewed up clock and used precision passing to neutralize the Crusaders press. Henn netted eight more points to pad his game-high 21 point total. The BHS bench was emptied to protect the starters down the stretch and the clock wound down quickly as Bellevue ran away with a 22 point win.

The Final Score: Bellevue 69 Eastside Catholic 47

Top Performers:
Bellevue
Mikey Henn-21 points

Eastside Catholic
Max Hudgins-14 points

Bellevue Girls Advance in SeaKing District Tourney Over Lakeside

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

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


Bellevue Senior Dejah Rogers

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

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

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

The Final Score: Bellevue 62 Lakeside 43

Top Performers:
Bellevue
Mandy Steward-18 points

Lakeside
Kimijah King-16 points

Rainier Beach Holds Metro League Champion Title for Another Year

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Rainier Beach Holds Metro League Champion Title for Another Year
By Steven Dion

Friday- February 13 2015 Boys 3A Metro
Seattle Pacific University 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Rainier Beach 17 25 19 23 84
Garfield 18 12 18 33 81


Rainier Beach Senior Ivy Smith

In a packed Brougham Pavilion at Seattle Pacific University, the Metro League title was up for grabs between 3-time defending 3A champs Rainier Beach and reigning 4A winner Garfield. There were former star alumni in the audience including Brandon Roy and current Philadelphia 76er Tony Wroten to see Washington’s top talent square off for a league title. Garfield took the regular season matchup by a score of 84-67 so The Beach Boys were eager to avenge the defeat in the Metro Championship. Regardless of the result, these familiar foes are likely to see one another again this season.

Super sophomore Jaylen Nowell started the game on a 6-0 run to give the Bulldogs an early spark. Garfield’s early advantage was compounded by the Vikings’ inability to find an offensive rhythm. However, as Beach seemingly always does, they closed the quarter strong by when Ivy Smith buried two threes in the corner.
The second frame proved to be a pivotal stretch for RBHS as a Dejounte Murray dunk propelled the Viks to a 25-12 run. When Garfield’s Alphonso Anderson picked up his second foul and was forced to sit on the bench, RB capitalized and the complexity of the game changed. The Bulldogs lost their effortless flow and resorted to operating in the half-court with a visible lack of confidence. Mike Bethea’s Vikings grabbed a double-digit lead with 1:30 remaining in the first half and led by a dozen at halftime.

Rainier Beach’s leading scorer in the contest Shadeed Shabazz started to pour it on during the third quarter. The senior guard was able to get tough shots in the paint to fall and demonstrated his defensive prowess by turning the Bulldogs over. Leading by 13 with eight minutes to play, could Rainier Beach hold on?

Jaylen Nowell re-emerged in the as his 11 point fourth-quarter propelled Garfield to a 9-0 run late to bring the contest to 77-73 with 2:48 remaining and a RB timeout to talk things over. In the ensuing possession, Murray was able to knock down a contested jumper with an expiring shot-clock. Garfield was able to respond and keep the margin close. In the final 20 seconds, Ivy Smith was at the line with a 83-81 lead and two shots to seal the contest. The senior made the front end of the one-and-one. Shot two rimmed out and Garfield had a chance to put the game into overtime. Jaylen Nowell fired a good look from downtown and it rimmed out to the hands of Austin Anderson. The ball was fed to Nowell for a second chance, but Shabazz jumped the passing lane and created a pile-up as the fight for the ball erased the last seconds on the clock. Rainier Beach holds on to capture another Metro League championship.

The Final Score: Rainier Beach 84 Garfield 81

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Shadeed Shabazz-25 points

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell-33 points

The #1 Bulldogs Handle Seattle Prep, Advance to Metro Final

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The #1 Bulldogs Handle Seattle Prep, Advance to Metro Final
By Colin Caruso

Wednesday February 11 2015 Boys 3A Metro
Ingraham High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Seattle Prep 14 11 15 9 49
Garfield 20 14 16 14 64

Seattle Prep knew they were in for a tough matchup when facing the #1 3A ranked team in the state, the 4A defending champion Garfield Bulldogs. Garfield came out swinging early in the first frame of this contest, putting up a cool 20 on the Panthers, who had no match for the speed and quickness of the Bulldogs. But Prep would not go down without a fight, scoring 14 points on the back of Collin Welp’s 7 to trail by just six going into the second.

The first five minutes of the second quarter all belonged to Seattle Prep. The Panthers zone defense was stifling to the quicker but smaller Bulldogs. Prep cut the Bulldog lead to just one, 26-25 with three minutes to play in the half. But the Bulldogs responded, as they normally do, with a commanding 8-0 run to end the first half with a nine point lead.

Garfield extended their lead again in the third quarter, with sophomores Jashaun Agosto and Jaylen Nowell leading the charge. Prep continued to hang around, but the Bulldogs were in control.

The fourth quarter came down to the final three minutes, with the Bulldogs clinging to a six point lead. Prep could really never get over that barrier, as Agosto forced two late turnovers that sealed the contest for the Bulldogs, 64-49. What a great game!

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
J’Raan Brooks – 12 points
Jack Stewart and Collin Welp – 11 points

Garfield
Jaylen Nowell – 22 points
Jashaun Agosto – 21 points
Alphonso Anderson – 16 points

Rainier Beach Advances to Metro Final

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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

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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

King’s Caps off Perfect League Record Against Archbishop Murphy

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King’s Caps off Perfect League Record Against Archbishop Murphy
By Steven Dion

Friday- February 6 2015 Boys 2A/1A Cascade
King's High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
King's 14 13 14 15 56
Archbishop Murphy 10 18 4 12 44


King’s Sophomore Corey Kispert

The end of the regular season has arrived and the top dogs of the Cascade League in King’s and Archbishop Murphy would see the rivalry renewed on senior night for the Knights. A packed Mike Martin gymnasium was excited to see undefeated King’s take on second place Archbishop Murphy who was hungry to avenge a 65-40 loss earlier in the season. Would Rick Skeen and Co. finish conference play blemish-free or would the Wildcats play spoiler in the league finale?

Archbishop took a quick 7-0 lead to start the contest which got the home team off balance. Coach Skeen switched up his normal starting lineup for senior night and it appeared the chemistry early on was affected. The Knights proceeded to roll out a 14-2 run and capture a lead by the end of the first frame. Corey Kispert drained one of his four three-pointers en route to a game-high 27 points. The dynamic sophomore would go on to show his all-around versatility as a top player in the state. The Wildcats responded in the second quarter by increasing the intensity on both ends of the floor. D’Andre Bryant knocked down some tough shots and the Cats rebounded well as a team. At halftime, the home squad led by a single point at 28-27.

With anticipation for an exciting second half, the seesaw ride continued for the majority of the third quarter. Points were at a premium and with a chance to take control of the contest, King’s stood up. Their length advantage paid dividends as tenacious defenders like Noah Bundrant forced turnovers that led to buckets at the other end. Kispert scored nine in the frame including a pair of triples which proved to be daggers. AMHS could not climb back the double digit lead built in the fourth quarter despite efforts by Abraham Lucas and Anfernee Gurley. The Knights finish Cascade play undefeated and poised to make a run at the 1A state title.

The Final Score: King’s 56 Archbishop Murphy 44

Top Performers:
King’s
Corey Kispert-27 points

Archbishop Murphy
Abraham Lucas-9 points

Monster Second Quarter Propels Roosevelt Over Lakeside

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Monster Second Quarter Propels Roosevelt Over Lakeside
By Steven Dion

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


Roosevelt Senior Lewis Gregerson-Spencer

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

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

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

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

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

The Final Score: Roosevelt 70 Lakeside 61

Top Performers:
Roosevelt
Cam Haslam-26 points

Lakeside
Isiah Brown-30 points

Worthy, Thybulle Register 15 Apiece as Crusaders Defeat Prep

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Worthy, Thybulle Register 15 Apiece as Crusaders Defeat Prep
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- January 27 2015 Boys 3A Metro-Mountain
Seattle Prep High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Eastside Catholic 20 10 11 19 60
Seattle Prep 11 10 17 12 50


Eastside Catholic Mandrell Worthy

Any given Tuesday in the Metro League will deliver exciting basketball and showcase some of the top talent in the state of Washington. This particular night featured a clash of top ten squads as Seattle Prep would host the 2013 3A runner-up Eastside Catholic. The Mountain division leader heading into the contest was the Panthers, but a win for the Coach Liley’s Cru would yield identical league records with a tie breaker to Eastside Catholic.

The visitors jumped out to a nice start by converting several offensive possessions into easy buckets through well executed sets. ECHS made use of the shot clock to earn good looks at the cup from crisp ball movement. University of Washington commit Matisse Thybulle netted seven of his fifteen points in the first quarter to help his team pick up an early 20-11 lead. However, the senior forward found himself in foul trouble and Seattle Prep responded with a boost in tempo. Sophomore guard Aaron Nettles dazzled the crowd with crafty passes to teammates and smooth ball handling to get penetration in the paint to open up offensive options. Each time the Panthers picked up momentum, Eastside was able to knock down a rally killer to protect their nine point lead heading into the locker room.

When play resumed, Mike Kelly drew up a new defensive scheme for Prep by plugging Jordan Kitchen into EC’s backcourt. His long 6’8” frame created havoc for the Crusader offense and caused turnovers which sparked a Panther run to tighten up the contest. A 9-2 scoring spree to begin the third quarter caused Eastside Catholic to call a timeout as their lead shrunk to a deuce. J’Raan Brooks established his post presence by finishing tough shots near the cup and registering 8 of his 14 points in the third quarter. Nettles also drained a big three-pointer to help the blue and white climb back into the game heading into the final frame.

Eastside regained their composure in the fourth quarter and knocked down big shots to put pressure on Prep as the clock winded down. The free-throw contest in the final minute put EC to the test as SP tried to extend the contest. They passed with flying colors draining 11 of 13 from the charity stripe. Mandrell Worthy buried the final dagger on a cross-up jumper to give his team a lead they would not sacrifice. With the win, the new leader in the Metro-Mountain division hails from the Sammamish plateau.

The Final Score: Eastside Catholic 60 Seattle Prep 50

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy (4/5 FTs) & Matisse Thybulle (2/2 FTs)-15 points

Seattle Prep
Aaron Nettles-17 points (8/10 FTs)

McLaughlin Notches 31 in Peninsula Victory Versus Auburn

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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

Hudgins’ 19 Propels Crusaders Past Braves

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Hudgins’ 19 Propels Crusaders Past Braves
By Steven Dion

Tuesday- January 20 2015 Boys 3A Metro
Bishop Blanchet High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Eastside Catholic 15 17 19 9 60
Bishop Blanchet 4 17 11 14 46


Eastside Catholic Senior Max Hudgins

The 3A runner-up a season ago made a visit to Bishop Blanchet High School on Tuesday night to take on the Braves for some Metro League action. Coach Liley’s Crusaders squad is on track to make a run at the state title again this season as their athleticism, leadership, and chemistry are in the upper ranks of Washington state hoops. However, Blanchet is headed in the upward direction as a program and on pace to record a higher win total than the previous year for the fourth consecutive season under Coach Bilanko. This matchup is one of the biggest tests the Braves would face.

There was a slow pace when the game started as both teams had difficulty finding a rhythm. Eastside eventually broke the spell by increasing the intensity on the defensive end and it translated to points on the other side of the floor. One of the defensive turnovers resulted in a high-flying, two-handed slam by Matisse Thybulle. By the end of the first frame, the Crusaders jumped out to a 15-4 lead. Blanchet regrouped in the second quarter when Sam Cunliffe and Derrik Dean were able to get shots to fall. The pair scored 12 and 7 respectively before the break and brought the game back to single digits within the quarter. The lead could have been cut even further, but an efficient first half by Mandrell Worthy who registered 9 of his 16 total points on 4 of 5 shooting brought the lead back to 11 when the buzzer sounded. At intermission, Eastside Catholic led 32-21.

The visitor’s lead continued to grow in the second half through contributions of Max Hudgins who led all scorers with 19 points. ECHS went 6/6 from the charity stripe in the third quarter and 10/12 overall which proved to be an important piece of their success. Cunliffe made a strong effort to get the Braves back on track, but the opposing defense made it difficult for him to get into a groove. A pair of pull-up 3’s by the Crusaders helped build a 19 point lead going into the final frame. With the game essentially put away, both teams emptied their benches to give reserves minutes. Ryan Harmon found himself with the rock and nothing but daylight ahead so he finished with a two-handed slam to end the game on a good note for the home team. Eastside Catholic proved their prestige by walking away with a double-digit victory against an ever-improving Blanchet team.

The Final Score: Eastside Catholic 60 Bishop Blanchet 46

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Max Hudgins-19 points (6/13 FGs, 4/11 3pt FGs, 3/4 FTs)

Bishop Blanchet
Sam Cunliffe-18 points

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

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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

Garfield Remains Unbeaten, Tops Lakeside

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Garfield Remains Unbeaten, Tops Lakeside
By Colin Caruso

Friday- January 9 2015 Boys 3A Metro
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Lakeside 23 12 18 14 67
Garfield 15 17 23 28 83

With Lorenzo Romar in the house, watching two of Seattle’s and Washington State’s finest, the Garfield Bulldogs overcame an early deficit but pulled away late to claim their 12th win of the year.

Lakeside started this game on fire, Isiah Brown had 8 points in the first quarter and Daejon Davis had 9, propelling the Lions to a 23-15 lead after one. In speaking with a Lakeside coach after the game, this was one of their best quarters of basketball all year long.

But the scoring slowed down in the second for the Lions, and the Bulldogs began to heat up. A 35-33 halftime lead for Lakeside meant that they needed to come out with a third quarter like their first quarter to keep the momentum.

Garfield began their 3/4 court triangle trap to begin the second half. This caused fits for the Lions, who’s turnovers led to easy leak out baskets for Jashaun Agosto and Jaylen Nowell. Garfield took their first lead with 4:09 remaining in the third, and did not look back from there.

The points came easily to the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter, 28 in total in just 8 minutes. Alphonso Anderson proved his worth scoring 6 in the last frame, as the Bulldogs rolled to remain undefeated on the year.

The Final Score: Garfield 83, Lakeside 67

Top Performers:
Lakeside
Isiah Brown and Isaiah de la Fuente – 17 points

Garfield
Alphonso Anderson – 18 points
Jashaun Agosto – 21 points

Lynnwood Claims Royal Win in Battle of Unbeaten Teams

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Lynnwood Claims Royal Win in Battle of Unbeaten Teams
By Steven Dion

Wednesday- January 14 2015 Girls 3A Wesco-South
Lynnwood High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Lynnwood 14 12 15 17 58
Glacier Peak 12 11 7 3 33


Lynnwood Junior Jordyn Edwards

At this point in the high school basketball season, those with a perfect record intact are generally the teams that are likely to have a playoff run in the near horizon. It is rare to find such in the same league, but Wednesday night featured a 3A Wesco showdown between host Lynnwood and Glacier Peak. The gym was packed to see which team would emerge as the leader of the Wesco South division.

The tenacity of Coach Edwards’ Royals was displayed early as they started the contest on a 6-0 run in the first 1:57 which prompted a Grizzlies timeout to hopefully quell the early momentum. This proved to be an effective tactic by GP because they strung together a 12-5 run until the final seconds of the first frame when Jordyn Edwards buried one from downtown. In the second quarter, the Grizzlies took advantage of hustle plays including offensive rebounds capitalized by Kayla Watkins who led GPHS with 9 points. The interior defense of Glacier Peak forced the Royals into taking tough shots. At the end of a physical first half, Lynnwood was up 26-23.

When play resumed, the home team quickly separated themselves by building a lead they would not allow to be erased. Junior captain Mikayla Pivec scored on back-to-back possessions which capped off an 8-2 run to start the third. She finished with 15 points in the game. Without skipping a beat, they scored twice more unanswered. Their pace was overwhelming as defensive stops led to quick outlets and easy buckets. The balance of Lynnwood was evident as Pivec, Edwards, and Kelsey Rogers all scored in double figures and each scored in all four quarters. Leading by eleven heading into the fourth quarter, LHS was able to maintain a sizable lead and wrap up an impressive victory over a team they could see again in the playoffs.

The Final Score: Lynnwood 58 Glacier Peak 33

Top Performers:
Lynnwood
Jordyn Edwards-17 points

Glacier Peak
Kayla Watkins-9 points

Kentlake Soars Past TJ in SPSL Battle

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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

Crafty Assist by Jashaun Agosto to Alphonso Anderson (WATCH)

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Skyline Swoops Big Win in Eagle Nest

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Skyline Shocks Issaquah in KingCo Rival Clash
By Steven Dion

Friday- January 9 2015 Girls 4A KingCo
Issaquah High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Skyline 16 16 10 21 63
Issaquah 9 12 9 15 45


Skyline Junior Cassidy Daugherty

Game one of a varsity doubleheader on Friday night at Issaquah High School featured the host Eagles and the Skyline Lady Spartans. Both teams are jockeying for position in the 4A standings as league play heats up. The victor would take a big step in keeping pace with the KingCo leaders so the table was set for an exciting matchup of plateau rivals.

The home squad was able to score eight unanswered points to start the contest and gain early momentum. Coach Fithian was able to rally the troops and respond in a big way. Junior Cassidy Daugherty highlighted a Spartan run by knocking down a pair of triples. At the 2:30 mark in the first frame, Eagle coach Nicole Reid called a timeout to stop the Skyline attack. However, the green and white were on a 16-1 run by the end of the quarter. A strong defensive effort by SHS was led by Jade Loville and Maddie Adamson to help add onto their lead. Issaquah forward Ellen MacNary scored five second-quarter points to keep her team within striking distance. Despite her attempt at sparking a rally, Issy faced a double-digit deficit at the break trailing 32-21.

When play resumed, Skyline continued aggressive play by attacking the bucket and earning trips to the free throw line. Their 21/27 (78%) shooting from the charity stripe was a difference maker in the game as Issaquah was unable to get on extended scoring runs. The game was lengthened from the many starts and stops. Lady Spartan captain Taylor McKerlich scored 9 points in the second half en route to her 11 total points and Daugherty led all scorers with 20. Eagle freshman Mariah Van Halm had some nice takes to the cup as she led her team in scoring with 11 points. She helped IHS cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth, but the clock favored Skyline at this point and they were able to run away with the victory as the game came to a conclusion.

The Final Score: Skyline 63 Issaquah 45

Top Performers:
Skyline
Cassidy Daugherty-20 points (9/10 FTs)

Issaquah
Mariah Van Halm-11 points (5/7 FTs)

Skyline Shocks Issaquah in KingCo Rival Clash

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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

Kennedy Grabs Top Spot in Seamount with Victory Over Hazen

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Kennedy Grabs Top Spot in Seamount with Victory Over Hazen
By Steven Dion

Wednesday- January 7 2015 Boys 3A Seamount
Kennedy Catholic High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kennedy Catholic 12 14 20 18 64
Hazen 15 12 13 16 56


Kennedy Catholic Senior AJ McGrew

There is no mistaking a rivalry game when you see one, especially when the teams are undefeated in league play. This was the case Wednesday night as Kennedy would host Hazen which would determine a new leader in the Seamount standings. Neither squad was too keen to find themselves in the second spot.

Hazen kicked off the contest draining shots from the perimeter giving them a quick 9-3 lead which prompted a Lancer timeout by Don Hoffman. His team responded by distributing the ball to several KC playmakers including AJ McGrew, James Jolly, and Emilio Mancol. Hazen wing Jalen Green was forced to leave the game in the first quarter after landing awkwardly. The Highlanders’ reliance from downtown started to allow Kennedy to rally when the shots were not falling as often later in the first half. Meanwhile, the Lancers capitalized on numerous second chances on the offensive end to close out the half trailing by a single point at 27-26. The way that each possession appeared to result in a lead change was a good sign the crowd was in for an exciting finish.

The pace of the game jumped up a few notches to start the third quarter especially in the physicality between the two teams. Hazen captain Connor O’Hearn was in the mix of possession battles but kept a calm demeanor on the floor. Kennedy was fueled by the skirmishes and strung together a big run through the majority of the third quarter. A key play in the game was a monster block by HHS wing Dominic Green that bounced to McGrew who made a putback and one. Green responded with a three-pointer at the third quarter buzzer, but the damage was done. Kennedy led by a half dozen heading into the fourth.

Michael Sasonoff and James Jolly helped grow the lead to double-digits in the final quarter and were able to clamp down on defense. Their ability to limit Hazen scorers other than Green to 10 points in the second half was a difference maker in the contest. Even with a late run by Hazen, Kennedy had enough to secure a big home win to take first place in the league.

The Final Score: Kennedy Catholic 64 Hazen 56

Top Performers:
Kennedy Catholic
Michael Sasonoff-14 points/AJ McGrew-13 points

Hazen
Dominic Green-23 points

Chief Sealth Falls to Garfield, But Saves Best for Last

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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

Inglemoor Prevails in Nailbiter Over Blanchet

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Inglemoor Prevails in Nailbiter Over Blanchet
By Steven Dion

Monday- January 5 2015 Girls 4A/3A Non-League
Inglemoor High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Inglemoor 13 16 14 9 52
Bishop Blanchet 17 6 14 13 50


Inglemoor Senior Jordana Price

Monday night at Inglemoor High School provided a sneak peek of the kind of basketball seen at the Tacoma Dome in March as the host Vikings battled against the 2013 3A runner up Bishop Blanchet. Unfortunately, these top girls squads in the state will not have a chance to meet in the Hardwood Classic.

Blanchet was able to grab an early lead as three Braves players knocked down 3 pointers in the first quarter. It appeared that this was an integral part of Coach Willison’s game plan due to the Vikings size advantage in the paint. Deja Stother accounted for 6 of the Vikings 13 first quarter points on high ball screens allowing her to attack the rim. However, Strother picked up her second foul late in the first forcing coach John Augustavo to place the senior center on the bench. Jordana Price was able to pick up the slack by burying a pair from downtown for 6 of her 14 big points in the game. The Braves offense stalled in the second frame and in doing so allowed Inglemoor to take the lead. Jadyn Bush fought through some pain from a collision under the hoop in the first quarter which limited her to 4 first half points, but the sophomore leader had a big second half in store as BB trailed by six at the break.

The pace of the game picked up early in the third quarter as both team were getting offensive production up and down the roster. Braves guard Taylor Chambers dished out some great passes to driving teammates and notched some points in the process. Strother picked up some assists in the form of full court heaves to Kennedy Nicholas and Amanda Luckett. Ella DiPietro helped Blanchet cut the lead to one point with 4 minutes remaining. Then, Bush converted on an and-one to give the Braves the lead. However, Jordana Price came up clutch with a three-ball with 38 seconds remaining. This would prove to be the winning score as Inglemoor held onto the slim lead they regained. An exciting finish between the best the state of Washington has to offer!

The Final Score: Inglemoor 52 Bishop Blanchet 50

Top Performers:
Inglemoor
Deja Strother-17 points/Jordana Price-14 points (4 3-pt FGs)

Bishop Blanchet
Jadyn Bush-15 points (5/6 FTs)

Meadowdale’s Reid Wilson
takes it to the rim…(Video)

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Monroe Overpowers Bear Creek in Opening Round of Holiday Tourney

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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)
 

Meadowdale Rolls Past Interlake in Tournament Opener

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Meadowdale Rolls Past Interlake in Tournament Opener
By Steven Dion

Monday- December 29 2014 Boys 3A Non-League
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Meadowdale 16 14 11 14 55
Interlake 5 10 9 13 37


Meadowdale Junior Nathan Heilpap

The third of four games slated for round one of the boys tourney at Bellevue College featured a 3A clash between KingCo and Wesco as Interlake would take on Meadowdale. During the shootaround, it was difficult to tell which team was which as both team donned their powder blue warmups. On the line in this contest would be a round two battle on Tuesday night with the winner of the Renton/Inglemoor game which followed this game. The stage was set for the Saints and Mavericks to determine which team would advance in the winner’s bracket.

The Mavs raced out of the gates on a 7-0 run during the first 3:50 of the game. Many of their early field goals stemmed from turnovers on the defensive end leading to transition buckets on offense. Reid Wilson and Charlie White accounted for 14 of Meadowdale’s 30 first half points. Interlake’s difficulty finding a groove was exacerbated by unusually unfortunate bounces around the rim. The Saints found themselves down by double digits after one quarter despite getting good looks at the basket. Meadowdale took advantage of slow zone rotations from IHS by allowing Aidan O’Neill and Nathan Heilpap dial a pair from downtown. Interlake’s Justin Jordan provided a spark off the bench by knocking down a few jumpers of his own in the second quarter. The first half ended with a Landon Hopkins three at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 30-15 leading heading into the locker room.

With a sense of urgency by Darren Bowden’s Saints, the pace of the game picked up in the third frame, but MHS was prepared to defend their lead. Interlake chipped away at the deficit slowly, but the Mavs closed the quarter strong to set up the final eight minutes. Kyle Grund played a major role in putting the game on ice as the 6’6 senior scored 6 of his 8 points down the stretch. Interlake’s Ayden Allen put together a strong second half en route to a game high 13 points, but Meadowdale advances to the second round after an 18 point win.

The Final Score: Meadowdale 55 Interlake 37

Top Performers:
Meadowdale
Charlie White and Reid Wilson-12 points

Interlake
Ayden Allen-13 points