Huge Third Quarter Propels Rainier Beach over Bellevue

Posted on March 8, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	March 8th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bellevue	11	16	11	23	61
Rainier Beach	9	17	28	19	73

Huge Third Quarter Propels Rainier Beach over Bellevue
By Colin Caruso

The second semifinal matchup for 3A boys saw the undefeated Rainier Beach Vikings against the 3A KingCo champion Bellevue Wolverines. Bellevue faced a tough match in this game; going against the state’s finest.

The first half of this game progressed exactly how Bellevue wanted. They kept the game low scoring by significantly slowing the pace and keeping the Vikings off the offensive glass. Rainier Beach shot 55% from the field in the first half to Bellevue’s 41%, but still the Vikings trailed by one entering the third quarter.

Rainier Beach adopted the full court press to start the second half and it worked to perfection, leading to a quick 8-0 Viking run. Bellevue struggled to keep the slow pace from the first half, as Beach put up two more points in the third quarter that they did in the whole first half. Beach gained the momentum going into the final quarter, holding a 54-38 lead. Four Vikings were in double figures at the end of three, compared to just one Wolverine.

The Beach lead hovered around fifteen points until just over a minute remaining, when Bellevue hit two threes to cut the lead to single digits. But a steal by Djuan Piper and a leak out and one finish put the Vikings back up 12 with 45 seconds to play. Beach won the contest by that 12 point margin, 73-61, to face Eastside Catholic in the state final, which will be their fourth matchup of the year.

Top Performers:
Bellevue
Jack Walton – 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Sharif Khan – 12 points, 3 rebounds

Rainier Beach
Elijah Foster – 18 points, 7 rebounds
David Crisp – 18 points, 4 steals
Djuan Piper – 13 points (6/7 FG), 7 rebounds

Eastside Catholic Holds off Wilson, Advances to 3A State Final

Posted on March 8, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	March 8th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Wilson	9	7	12	24	52
Eastside Catholic	12	7	16	25	60

Eastside Catholic Holds off Wilson, Advances to 3A State Final
By Colin Caruso

When you’ve reached the final four in all state classifications, you know you are watching good basketball, and the first semifinal game of the day did not disappoint. The matchup was a great one, a 23-3 Wilson Rams team against the 21-5 Eastside Catholic Crusaders. Wilson’s losses this year were to Bellevue and twice to Lincoln, while three of Eastside’s losses were at the hands of the #1 in state Rainier Beach Vikings.

One would like to call the first half of this game a defensive battle, but mostly it was an offensive struggle. Both teams were able to work for good looks at the basket, but the shots failed to fall. Also, there were quite a few dropped and tipped passes leading to a good number of 50/50 balls, making this game even scrappier offensively. The teams combined for 13 turnovers and just ten made field goals. The Crusaders took a low scoring 19-16 lead into half.

Second leading scorer Matisse Thybulle for the Crusaders played less than two minutes in the first half because he picked up two fouls, and his reinsertion into the line-up made a huge difference to start the second half. He led the Crusaders to a quick 8-0 run to start the second half, giving the Crusaders their biggest lead of the game at 27-16. But the Rams responded with five unanswered to trim the lead back down to six.
Thybulle picked up his fourth later in the quarter, but the Crusaders extended their lead when he was in, leading 35-28 entering the fourth.

The teams exchanged baskets early in the fourth, with Nathan Christie knocking down a three for the Crusaders to give them a ten point lead with under three minutes to play. Wilson responded with a free-throw from Ivy Smith Jr. and a three from sophomore David Jenkins, cutting the lead to six. Thybulle answered for the Crusaders, converting on back to back layups to bring the lead back up to ten. Wilson couldn’t get within seven points the rest of the way; the Rams converted on a few baskets but their press was broken easily by the athletic Crusaders, leading to easy transition layups. Eastside advances to the state final with a 60-52 victory.

Top Performers:
Wilson
Alphonso Anderson – 15 points, 13 rebounds
David Jenkins – 17 points
Jamal Welch – 11 points, 7 rebounds

Eastside Catholic
Nathan Christie – 23 points, 5 rebounds
Mandrell Worthy – 13 points, 5 assists, 2 steals

Eastside Catholic Handles University, Advances to Face Wilson in Semifinal

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wilson Sneaks Past O’Dea in Round of Eight at State

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Thursday	March 6th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Wilson	17	11	9	23	60
O’Dea	13	12	13	19	57

Wilson Sneaks Past O’Dea in Round of Eight at State
By Colin Caruso

What a way to kick off the state tournament! A team from the heart of Seattle against a team from Tacoma in a 3A boys battle. The Wilson Rams came into this contest with a 22-3 record and a regional win against Kennedy to advance to the final eight. The O’Dea Irish, at 17-10, advanced to Tacoma with a win over Shorecrest.

As a 9am game, both teams brought great intensity to the Dome despite the early start. Wilson held the edge early, taking the first quarter 17-13 and grabbing an 8 point lead early in the contest. But O’Dea answered in the second quarter with a significant 17-11 rebounding edge, to trail by just three entering the half, 28-25. O’Dea’s leading scorer Jacob Lampkin picked up his third personal halfway through the second quarter, forcing him to sit the remainder of the half.

With Lampkin back in for the third quarter, O’Dea began to click offensively. With offensive rebounds leading to easy baskets, the Irish took their first lead since early in the first. The Irish held the slightest of leads going into the final frame, 38-37.

The fourth quarter remained close throughout, with neither team grabbing more than a five point lead. With one minute remaining, O’Dea found themselves down three with a good look from the corner from sharpshooter Quinn Barnard. The shot missed just right and Wilson grabbed the rebound. O’Dea fouled on the next possession and Wilson missed both free-throws, leading to another O’Dea opportunity to cut the lead late. Jamar Kemp capitalized on a layup with under eight seconds to play, but the clock doesn’t stop on a made basket, and Wilson was able to trickle it down to three seconds before inbounding. Ivy Smith Jr for the Rams inbounded and was fouled two seconds later; he made both free-throws to bring the lead back up to three with just 0.8 on the clock. A last second heave from the Irish from well beyond half court missed long, and the Rams survived 60-57.

Top Performers:
Wilson
Alphonso Anderson – 21 points, 9 rebounds
Ivy Smith Jr – 16 points, 8 assists

O’Dea
Jacob Lampkin – 17 points, 13 rebounds
Jamie Orme – 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks

Rainier Beach Escapes the Islanders, Advances to Final Eight

Posted on March 3, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Feb 28th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Bellevue College	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Mercer Island	15	4	20	16	55
Rainier Beach	19	13	15	14	61

Rainier Beach Escapes the Islanders, Advances to Final Eight
By Colin Caruso

When a team plays with passion and intensity on the basketball floor, it captivates your attention and compels you to watch more. When a team has the capability of playing for a national title if they win our state tournament, it compels you to watch them. This was the case in the capstone contest on Friday night at Bellevue College. The first mentioned passionate team, the Mercer Island Islanders (18-7 on the season) battled the undefeated, 25-0 Rainier Beach Vikings.

Throughout this season the Vikings have dominated their opponents, scoring over 100 points nine times on the season. But recently teams have keyed in on their scoring, sat back in zones, played slow basketball, and prayed that the lights out shooting Vikings were somehow cold. Mercer Island took this route, matched the intensity of the Vikings, and made this one a battle until the finish.

A 19-15 first quarter in favor of Rainier Beach can be classified as a Mercer Island win. The Islanders took good shots, played good defense, and senior guard Kaleb Warner scored seven on 3-3 from the field. The second quarter was not as pretty for the underdog Islanders, as a four point effort sent them into the locker room down 13. But Mercer Island did not go away.

A 20-15 third quarter put them in striking distance of the lesser aggressive Vikings. Baskets from Andrew Pickles and Jake Stenberg kept the dream alive for the Islanders, who never stopped fighting for the entire 32 minutes.

The fourth quarter again belonged to the Islanders, who trimmed the mighty Viking lead to just two points with two minutes to play on back to back three pointers by Warner. But the next two possessions resulted in turnovers, and the Vikings scored three points in their next two possessions, pushing this one ever so slightly out of reach.

A phenomenal effort by one of the state’s finest in Mercer Island, but conquering the mighty is such a difficult task. Beach moves on to Tacoma, with action beginning on Thursday, March 6th.

Top Performers:
Mercer Island
Kaleb Warner – 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Andrew Pickles – 12 points, 7 rebounds

Rainier Beach
Djuan Piper – 17 points, 5 rebounds
David Crisp – 18 points
Dejounte Murray – 17 points

O’Dea Cruises to Huge Win Over Islanders

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mercer Island Hangs on Despite Late West Seattle Surge

Posted on February 27, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cleveland Defeats Blanchet for Back-To-Back Metro League Titles

Posted on February 21, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Feb 14th	2014	3A	Girls	Basketball
Garfield High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Cleveland	19	20	11	13	65
Blanchet	19	10	10	11	50

Cleveland Defeats Blanchet for Back-To-Back Metro League Titles
By Steven Dion

Garfield High School played host to the boys and girls 3A championship games for the Metro League tonight, the first of two the girls game featuring Cleveland and Bishop Blanchet. Cleveland won this game last year over Seattle Prep and eventually won the state title. Bishop Blanchet is a team on the rise that seems poised to be in contention for years to come. Would the Eagles repeat as Metro champs or would the newcomers shock everyone at the GHS gym Friday night?

The first half was back-and-forth as Bishop Blanchet traded three pointers from freshman guard Taylor Chambers with buckets from Cleveland’s variety of scoring options. It appeared we were set for a high octane game as the first quarter score read 21-19 in favor of the defending champs. The Eagles eventually found their groove of suffocating defense in the second quarter as a number of turnovers in the backcourt on successive possessions resulted in a growing lead for CHS. When playing Cleveland, it is understood that field goals count for twice as much because they score in bunches. At the half, Cleveland held a double digit lead.

Bishop Blanchet caught their opponent on the heels early in the third quarter as the Eagles’ lead was cut to six midway through the frame. Jaydn Bush played solid on both sides of the floor as the freshman blocked several shots as well as made several buckets for the Braves. Blanchet battled throughout the game, but Cleveland is the defending state champs for a reason as senior Makala Roper buried several clutch shots down the stretch to put the game out of reach for the challenger. When the buzzer sounded, the Eagles raised the hardware for the second consecutive year by the final score of 65-50. After first round byes, Cleveland will face the winner of Liberty/Seattle Prep and Bishop Blanchet will take on the victor of Juanita/Holy Names in the first round of the SeaKing district playoffs.

Top Performers:
Cleveland
Cleveland-Myzhanique Ladd, Jayde Christopher, Alexia Mefi, Makala Roper (All double-digit scorers)

Blanchet
Bishop Blanchet-Taylor Chambers, Jaydn Bush (double-digit scoring, strong defensive effort)

Seattle Prep Sails Past Bainbridge for Fifth Seed

Posted on February 21, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

Seattle Prep Sails Past Bainbridge for Fifth Seed
By Steven Dion

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

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

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

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

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

O’Dea’s Huge Second Quarter Downs Quakers

Posted on February 18, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top Performer:
O’Dea
Quin Barnard – 21 points

Beach Proves their Strength

Posted on February 9, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Feb 7th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Rainier Beach High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Franklin	8	13	4	15	40
Rainier Beach	27	27	19	17	90

Beach Proves their Strength
By Colin Caruso

With leading scorer Keith Smith of the Franklin Quakers sidelined with a partially torn meniscus, the general public knew this would be a tough contest for Franklin against the mighty Rainier Beach Vikings. The Vikings recently climbed to #2 in the country and are widely considered if not the best team in the nation in high school, at least in the top 5. They have taken multiple trips to other states to play the finest opponents in the nation, and Beach has yet to be touched.

This contest was the last game of the regular season for both teams, with Rainier Beach locked in the #1 seed in Metro and Franklin vying for the three seed. With a loss they claimed the four seed, and that is what ensued.

On senior night Beach came out ready to play, and Franklin was not prepared for the offensive onslaught. Beach put up 27 points in both the first and second quarters, roughly 3.5 points per minute. The threes from Shaqquan Aaron, David Crisp, and Naim Ladd were all falling, and Franklin could not find an answer.

With the game in firm grasp after the first half, Rainier Beach coach Mike Bethea experimented with a few line up changes to allow his players to mesh. They continued to extend their lead in the second half, connecting on alley-oops and relentlessly crashing the offensive glass. Beach came away with a commanding win, 90-40.

Top Performer:
Rainier Beach
Shaqquan Aaron – 20 points

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

Posted on January 28, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Garfield’s Zone Propels Win Over Franklin

Posted on January 23, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

Garfield’s Zone Propels Win Over Franklin
By Colin Caruso

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

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

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

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

Top Performer:
Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 28 points

Rainier Beach’s Big Second Half Drops O’Dea

Posted on January 23, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Monday	Jan 20th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Garfield High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Rainier Beach	21	14	30	18	83
O'Dea	18	10	17	17	62

See game recap below

Rainier Beach’s Big Second Half Drops O’Dea
By Colin Caruso

In a packed Garfield High School gym for the Unity in the Community Showcase, the first matchup saw an unblemished Rainier Beach Vikings squad the strong O’Dea Fighting Irish. Rainier Beach has travelled multiple times this season to play the elite teams in the nation, with their last trip to Massachusetts producing another win for the Vikings. Rule of thumb, if you are playing Beach, pray that they are having an off day or else they may put 100 up on the board.

O’Dea played Beach well for the first half in this contest. They were able to keep pace with the Vikings, who do not run half court offenses; they are constantly in transition and moving the ball with ease. Against a team like Beach, turnovers and even made baskets lead to fast breaks for the Vikings. But O’Dea played well in the first half and limited the Vikings to just 35 points.

The third quarter is when Beach made their run. A monstrous 30 point quarter, led by Dejunte Murray’s 12 points in that quarter alone, stifled the O’Dea dream of an upset. Shaqquan Aaron and David Crisp both added seven points in the quarter, and no matter what coach Hairston drew up for the Irish, Beach had an answer on the other end of the floor.

With a 30-18 blowout third quarter, Rainier Beach coasted through the fourth quarter. Both teams emptied their benches late and Beach came away with a 83-62 win.

Top Performer:
Rainier Beach
David Crisp – 25 points

Crusaders Complete Season Sweep of Lakeside Despite Brown’s 39

Posted on January 20, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 17th	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Lakeside High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	14	20	20	19	73
Lakeside	14	13	22	19	68

See game recap below

Crusaders Complete Season Sweep of Lakeside Despite Brown’s 39
By Steven Dion

The 3A runner-up from a season ago has unveiled its new gym, a spectacular venue for high school basketball. All that is missing at this point for Lakeside is a win at the new house. The Lions would get their chance to pick up that victory Friday night against Eastside Catholic following up a 53 point performance by Isiah Brown last week against O’Dea. The Crusaders have established themselves as a formidable force in the Metro League with a combination of athleticism and precision shooting. The Lions would need a complete thirty-two minutes of play to take down their division foe sitting ahead in the standings.

An energetic Lakeside student section gave their Lions a lift early as Brown knocked down his first two shots, a double-clutch jumper and a rainmaker from the perimeter. Freshman guard Daejon Davis jumped the passing lane on a Crusader possession and finished strong with a highlight dunk. Eastside Catholic demonstrated their multi-faceted scoring abilities as slashing buckets at the cup and three-balls began to fall. ECHS set a tough trap in the Lakeside backcourt which gave Lion guards trouble with their entry passes into the offensive zone. The Crusaders were 8/19 from downtown in the ballgame. A double-digit lead ECHS built midway through the second frame was cut to seven going into halftime. At the break, the visitors led 34-27.

Lakeside rallied behind their freshman prodigy Daejon Davis early in the third as the 6’2” guard forced his way into the paint on several trips down the floor. His aggressiveness led to eight points in that third frame for the Lions. Crusader senior Ian Christie twisted his ankle and did not return in the ballgame for EC. Brown continued to sizzle throughout that second half as the bulk of his game-high 39 points came in the final sixteen minutes of the contest. Despite allowing the Lions to tie the ball game in the second half, the Crusaders retained their composure by knocking down buckets when needed. The exclamation point in the game was a tomahawk slam by forward Matisse Thybulle. When the buzzer sounded, ECHS picked up their eighth league win to the tune of a 73-68 victory.

Top Performer:
Lakeside
Isaiah Brown – 39 points (11/23 FG’s, 14/16 FT’s)

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

Posted on January 14, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

See game recap below

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

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

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

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

Top Performer:
Rainier Beach
Shaqquan Aaron – 24 points

West Seattle Pounces On Prep Panthers

Posted on January 10, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Wednesday	Jan 8th	2014	3A	Girls	Basketball
Seattle Prep High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
West Seattle	12	9	10	9	40
Seattle Prep	4	13	7	11	35

See game recap below

West Seattle Pounces On Prep Panthers
By Steven Dion

One of the many games slated for this Wednesday night was a Metro League clash between the visiting Wildcats of West Seattle against the Seattle Prep Panthers. The Sound division leading Wildcats (4-1 league, 7-3 overall) are without a senior on the roster, but experienced nonetheless and loaded with a powerful frontcourt. Michelle Hall’s Prep squad (3-4, 4-7) are coming off a state runner-up season, but the graduation of integral seniors from the 2012-2013 campaign have left the 15 year coach with a young team. This Wednesday night home game would be a step in the right direction for the blue and white.

The first quarter started with a 8-0 run for West Seattle. Lydia Giomi’s rebounding ability created multiple scoring opportunities on single possessions which helped the Cats grab a 12-4 lead after the first quarter. Prep responded to their mismatch nicely by knocking down shots from the perimeter. Their three buckets from downtown in the period brought the Panthers back within four points at the half. At intermission, WSHS led 21-17.

Seattle Prep’s senior leader Mary Ann Santucci heated up in the third quarter; unfortunately she was the only one doing the scoring for the Panthers. This low-scoring affair kept the ballgame balanced even though West Seattle was able to retain the lead they garnered from the tipoff. The Wildcats were able to protect the ball in the fourth quarter as Seattle Prep attempted to make a late run. They drew fouls instead of turning the ball over and buried four of five in the process. Prep got a pair of three-balls late by Santucci, but it was not enough to erase the deficit for the home team as West Seattle picked up the 40-35 victory.

Top Performer:
Seattle Prep
Mary Ann Santucci – 15 points (3 3pt FG’s, 2/2 FT’s)

Rainier Beach puts up 115

Posted on January 10, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

See game recap below

Rainier Beach puts up 115
By Colin Caruso

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

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

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

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

Winning is Deja Vu with Inglemoor’s Strother

Posted on January 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 4th	2014	3A-4A	Girls	Basketball
Bishop Blanchet High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Inglemoor	19	11	9	11	50
Bishop Blanchet	4	10	8	12	34

See game recap below

Winning is Deja Vu with Inglemoor’s Strother
By Steven Dion

Bishop Blanchet has established itself as a contender in the Metro League in this young season as their pair of dynamic freshmen in Jaydn Bush and Taylor Chambers complement an experienced Braves roster. Bryan Willison’s squad had a true test on Saturday as last year’s sixth place finisher in 4A Inglemoor made a visit for a non-league matchup. Blanchet would give up length in this contest as Inglemoor entered with a significant size advantage. If Inglemoor could neutralize Blanchet’s speedy guards, the Viks would have a good chance to pick up a quality road win.

The first quarter set the tone for the game as cold shooting from both teams in the opening minutes changed in favor of the Vikings as sophomore Deja Strother entered the game. The 6’4” center registered five field goals in the first frame after coming off the bench and Inglemoor grabbed a 19-4 lead after quarter one. Strother’s physicality and rebounding ability outmatched the Blanchet opposition all game long. BBHS remained resilient in the second quarter as Chamber buried a pair of three pointers and Bush knocked down five of six free throws before the break. At halftime, Inglemoor grabbed a commanding lead at 30-14.

The Vikings continued their relentless play on both sides of the floor as John Augustavo’s team made highlight blocks on defense and quality offensive possessions at the other end. Bishop Blanchet was able to keep pace, but trailing by double digits meant they would have to find a way to outscore the Viks. The home team just did not have the recipe to make the comeback happen. Inglemoor chewed up the clock in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. When the buzzer sounded, the Vikings were victorious by the score of 50-34. Look for Inglemoor to make a deep playoff run this season as Strother’s presence on the floor changes the complexion of the game. The dynamic sophomore disrupts most shots for opposing teams and is a lethal scoring option in the front court.

Top Performer:
Inglemoor
Deja Strother – 15 points

Hale Prevails in Three Point Shootout With Ingraham

Posted on January 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

See game recap below

Hale Prevails in Three Point Shootout With Ingraham
By Steven Dion

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

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

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

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

Seattle Prep Clinches Late Win Against Rival O’Dea

Posted on January 6, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Jan 3rd	2014	3A	Boys	Basketball
Seattle Prep High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
O'Dea	11	11	13	10	45
Seattle Prep	8	11	14	16	49

See game recap below

Seattle Prep Clinches Late Win Against Rival O’Dea
By Colin Caruso

Seattle Prep held two leads in this game, 15-14 in the middle of the second quarter and when it mattered the most, when the clock struck 0:00. O’Dea led at every other moment of the game, but couldn’t close it out in their rival’s gym. The Irish controlled the pace of play from the beginning of the contest. They were more physical, gathered more rebounds, and scored with ease in the interior. The Irish led 11-8 after the first quarter, and 22-19 at the half.

O’Dea senior big Jacob Lampkin carried the Irish in the first half with 11 of his 13 coming prior to third quarter. But only two points after the break, and a Panther defense focused on keeping him out of the game really turned the tide for Prep. The Panthers were having a tough time knocking down the three ball in the first three quarters, but senior guard Marc Caindec and freshman guard Aaron Nettles were not deterred, they kept firing. The most critical was Nettles’ three to put the Panthers up two, 47-45 with just under a minute to play. The Panthers then forced an Irish turnover, and junior Jack Stewart knocked down two free-throws to close out the contest 49-45.

Top Performer:
Seattle Prep
Jordan Kitchen – 16 points

Cleveland Rings in New Year With Win Over Lynnwood

Posted on January 3, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

Wednesday	Jan 1st	2013	3A-4A	Girls	Basketball
Cleveland High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Lynnwood	11	16	19	13	59
Cleveland	14	3	11	21	49

See game recap below

Cleveland Rings in New Year With Win Over Lynnwood
By Steven Dion

The first day of 2014 granted high school hoops fans a great New Year’s gift in the form of a matchup between undefeated Lynnwood and defending 3A champions Cleveland. It was evident that this game was the place to be in Seattle on Wednesday night because the Eagles gymnasium was packed. The line to enter extended outside the school and did not shrink until the second quarter. The stage was set for a showdown between two of the top girls basketball programs in the state.

Lynnwood jumped out to an early lead by knocking down shots from the paint. The Royals were able to move the ball well in the half-court offense and set up high percentage scoring opportunities. The host Eagles were able to keep pace and trailed LHS by three after one quarter. The second quarter completely changed the complexion of the game. The Royals shots stopped falling and Cleveland’s pesky defense translated to points on the other end of the floor. Alexia Mefi’s blocks brought the capacity crowd to its feet. The Eagles outscored the Royals 16-3 in the second quarter and led 27-17 at the break.

CHS picked up where they left off in the third quarter as senior Makayla Roper drained four field goals in the frame. The deficit increased as the fourth quarter commenced with a 46 to 28 lead in favor of Stephenie Wheeler-Smith’s squad. The contest garnered some interest in the fourth as Lynnwood was able to extend the ball game and get to the free throw line. The Royals were able to cut the Eagles lead to eight points late, but Cleveland held on to pick up a 59-49 victory.

Top Performer:
Cleveland
Makayla Roper – 17 points (2/3 FT’s, 3 3 pt FG’s)

Bainbridge Girls Pick Up Road Win Against Quakers

Posted on December 23, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Dec 20th	2013	3A	Girls	Basketball
Franklin High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bainbridge	18	7	14	14	53
Franklin	5	7	5	14	31

See game recap below

Bainbridge Girls Pick Up Road Win Against Quakers
By Steven Dion

The phrase “Games Are Won In the Fourth Quarter” apply to many basketball games, but when a team jumps out of the gate firing on all cylinders, the result can be decided much sooner. The Bainbridge Lady Spartans’ balanced attack and opportunistic defense gave Franklin everything it could handle Friday night in downtown Seattle. Bainbridge’s 18-5 lead after one quarter of play was facilitated by a pair of triples by freshman sharpshooter Taylor Tye and second-chance scoring opportunities by Katie Usellis’ relentless rebounding. Holding Franklin to twelve points in the first half is a testament to Spartan head coach Nicole Hebner’s ability to utilize her deep bench and maintain fresh legs on the floor.

The second half featured more of what was seen in the first sixteen minutes of play as the Quakers were unable to get into a shooting groove and also allowed transition buckets by the opponent. However, Franklin showed resilience by putting together a respectable fourth quarter by matching Bainbridge with 14 points. FHS sophomore Tamia Spellman buried a three and knocked down a pair of free throws in the frame. When the horn sounded, Bainbridge Island sailed off with a 53-31 victory. Three BIHS players finished with a dozen points: Paige Brigham, Katie Usellis, and Taylor Tye.

Top Performers:
Bainbridge
Paige Brigham – 12 points (4/9 FG’s 3/5 FT’s)

Franklin Survives Late Bainbridge Surge

Posted on December 22, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Dec 20th	2013	3A	Boys	Basketball
Franklin High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bainbridge	9	19	10	24	63
Franklin	19	6	17	24	66

See game recap below

Franklin Survives Late Bainbridge Surge
By Steven Dion

Heading into Holiday break, teams are anxious to finish off on a high note before the short time off. The Franklin Quakers and Spartans from Bainbridge Island proved this to be true on their back-and-forth showdown Friday night in Seattle. Both teams had trouble scoring early, but Franklin was able to finish the first quarter strong with a Emanuel Siale providing the hot hand. The Spartans were prepared to give the Quakers a taste of their own medicine by matching their nineteen points in the second quarter through intense perimeter defense. BIHS distributed the ball well by registering five scorers in the frame. At half, Bainbridge led 28-25.

Quaker sophomore Keith Smith was determined to regain the lead in the third quarter by scoring 15 of his team’s 17 points. He made six of eight field goal attempts in the frame and put Franklin back in the driver’s seat. But Bainbridge was not ready to hop on the ferry quite yet. One of the Spartans eight juniors Blake Swanson began burying open looks down the stretch to keep the contest tight. The guard notched 11 in the quarter. However, Smith was able to knock down free throws after intentional fouls and in doing so, sealed the victory for the home team. The final score was Franklin 66 Bainbridge 63.

Top Performers:
Franklin
Keith Smith 32 points (8/15 FG’s, 15/19 FT’s)

In a Battle of Two Undefeated Teams, Bishop Blanchet Prevails

Posted on December 21, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Wednesday	Dec 18th	2013	3A	Girls	Basketball
Bishop Blanchet High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Holy Names Academy	10	0	9	8	27
Bishop Blanchet	11	6	6	11	34

See game recap below

In a Battle of Two Undefeated Teams, Bishop Blanchet Prevails
By Steven Dion

In a potential preview of a late-February contest, Bishop Blanchet squared off against another undefeated Metro League squad in Holy Names on Tuesday Night. From the opening tip, there was a tangible energy in the game that led to an exciting finish that was not sealed until late in the fourth quarter. At the end of the thirty-two minutes, only one unbeaten team would remain.

Both teams were willing to run a fast-paced first quarter where most of the points came in transition and there were several turnovers forced by each squad. Blanchet freshman Jaydn Bush was playing like a senior as she collected rebound after rebound. Her ability to give her team second-chances was an integral part in BBHS’s success. After holding Holy Names scoreless in the second quarter, the Braves led 17-10 at halftime.

It was apparent that Holy Names head coach Rhonda Smith made adjustments in the locker room as the Cougars went on a third quarter run that brought her team back within reach. Camariah King accounted for 13 total points, including four three-pointers. The Cougs were unable to convert on a few critical possessions down the stretch and an old fashioned three point play by Bush late sealed the victory for Bishop Blanchet. The final score was 34-27 in favor of the home team.

Top Performers:
Bishop Blanchet
Jadyn Bush – 11 points

With a Fourth Quarter Surge, Franklin Boys Top Mountlake Terrace

Posted on December 16, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Saturday	Dec 14th	2013	3A	Boys	Basketball
Highline CC	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Franklin	10	16	11	21	58
Mountlake Terrace	12	11	18	12	53

See game recap below

With a Fourth Quarter Surge, Franklin Boys Top Mountlake Terrace
By Colin Caruso

Talk about a very evenly matched game with playoff implications, both of these teams will have a legitimate shot at playing late into February. With Highline Community College as the destination, the Franklin Quakers took on the Mountlake Terrace Hawks for out of conference bragging rights. Both teams returned strong players from last season, making this a great matchup.

The game was close throughout, with neither team taking more than a seven point lead. The matchup held 7 ties and 12 lead changes, with back and forth action from tip off to the final whistle. After a strong third quarter from the Hawks, Mountlake Terrace took a four point lead into the fourth quarter.

On the back of Eugene Artison Jr. and Keith Smith Jr., the Quakers started the fourth quarter with a bang and took a two point lead with just under two minutes to play. A couple of plays later, senior star Greg Bowman for the Hawks ran coast to coast for a game tying layup and he was fouled for an and one. Unfortunately, he missed the free-throw and the game was tied at 52. After the Quakers failed to convert on their next possession, they fouled Yonnas Tewolde of the Hawks who hit one of two from the line for a 1 point Hawk lead. The remaining 36 seconds in the game all belonged to Franklin.

A layup by Quaker Jamari Lewis and four free-throws for Smith Jr. after two costly Hawk turnovers gave the final six points to Franklin. This proved to be the difference in the game, as Franklin won 58-53.

Top Performers:
Franklin
Keith Smith Jr. – 29 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals
Eugene Artison Jr. – 14 points, 9 rebounds

Mountlake Terrace
Greg Bowman – 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals

Orme’s Last-Second Bucket Propels O’Dea Over Eastside Catholic

Posted on December 14, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Dec 13th	2013	3A	Boys	Basketball
O'Dea High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	16	13	14	20	63
O'Dea	16	14	14	20	64

See game recap below

Orme’s Last-Second Bucket Propels O’Dea Over Eastside Catholic
By Steven Dion

In the sink or swim Metro League, games in December are crucial to keeping up with the pack. This mid-December affair with the host Fighting Irish of O’Dea and Eastside Catholic Crusaders felt like a late-February matchup. There were lead changes from the tip off to the final seconds of the contest. There was a sense of heated familiarity between the student sections as the Crusaders knocked off O’Dea in the football semifinals two weeks ago.

The first quarter set the tone for the game as buckets were traded and momentum swings were brief. Crusader junior guard Mandrell Worthy scored 7 of his game-high 23 points in the first frame. He shot an impressive 10 of 11 from the charity stripe. O’Dea found some rhythm in transition late in the second quarter, finishing at the rim and earning trips to the line. The home team took a one-point lead into the locker room, 30-29.

The intensity rose in the third quarter as slashers like O’Dea’s Jamie Orme and EC’s Matisse Thybulle fired up their squad with dunks. The Irish’s aggression on the offensive boards led to second-shots and free-throws. As the fourth quarter progressed, it became evident that the team with the final possession would win the contest. Eastside Catholic Crusader senior Zach Wallin buried a three with 18 seconds remaining to take a 63-62 lead. On the ensuing possession, Tyler Kidd worked his way into the paint for a four-footer; it clanged off the back iron, but Orme was there for the put-back to give O’Dea the lead. A desperation shot at the buzzer by EC hit the rim, but didn’t fall through. O’Dea escaped with the 64-63 win.

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Mandrell Worthy – 23 points (10/11 FTs)

O’Dea
Tyler Kidd – 20 points

The Wolverines Conquer 3A Again,
6th Straight Title

Posted on December 7, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Friday	Dec 6th	2013	3A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bellevue	7	28	10	7	52
Eastside Catholic	0	7	0	13	20

See game recap below

varsity-football-live-webarticle2

The Wolverines Conquer 3A Again, 6th Straight
By Colin Caruso

3A Washington state football has been dominated by the Bellevue Wolverines for the past 12 years. Ten state titles in that timeframe and a win in Friday’s matchup against the Eastside Catholic Crusaders would make six in a row.

Eastside came out throwing on their first possession, putting together a good drive after a 57 yard completion to Colin Macilvennie. Quarterback Harley Kirsch dropped back to pass on the next play, tossed the ball into the end zone for running back Brandon Wellington but the pass was a tad underthrown. Safety (also quarterback) Timmy Haehl was able to make a leaping interception, giving Bellevue their first possession. Five plays later Haehl connected with Ross Connors for a 65 yard touchdown to give Bellevue the early 7-0 lead.

After two punts from Eastside and one from Bellevue, the Wolverines got the ball back on their own 27 yard line. Two plays later Haehl busted free for a 70 yard touchdown run to give the Wolverines a 14-0 lead.

The Crusaders needed an answering drive and they put together a well-executed eight play 57-yard drive that was capped off by a 1 yard quarterback keeper by Harley Kirsch to close the Wolverine lead to 14-7. But Bellevue stormed right back and converted on a 9 yard Sam Richmond run to elevate the lead back to 14, 21-7.

After two Crusader offensive plays, senior Wolverine Shane Bowman forced a fumble that was recovered by Bellevue on the Crusader 14 yard line. Two plays later Richmond struck again, his second on the evening, to put the Wolverines up 28-7. After a three and out by the Crusaders, Bellevue struck again on a Haehl run, his second of the day. Bellevue took a 35-7 lead into halftime.

Bellevue received the second half kick but was forced to punt to the Crusaders. Deep inside their own territory on their second offensive play, Kirsch dropped back and threw a deep ball over the middle that was intercepted again by Haehl of the Wolverines, who returned in 32 yards for another Bellevue score. After another Crusader turnover, Bellevue added a Kian Khodamoradi field goal to push the lead to 45-7.

To make the game a little more respectable, the Crusaders put together a great drive in the beginning of the fourth quarter that was capped off by a 1 yard Elisha Pa’Aga run. Both teams added a score to close out the fourth quarter and Bellevue pulled off another win in convincing fashion, 52-20. Congratulations to the Bellevue program for winning 6 straight state titles, and 11 of the last 13.

Top Performers:
Bellevue
Timmy Haehl – 7/7 for 91 yards 1TD, 8 carries for 116 yards 2TD, 2 defensive interceptions, one return for TD
Budda Baker – 18 carries for 101 yards and 1TD

Eastside Catholic
Harley Kirsch – 27/37 for 266 yards and 1TD

Basketball Has Begun! Seattle Prep Dominates Bishop Blanchet

Posted on December 4, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

Tuesday	Dec 3rd	2013	3A	Boys	Basketball
Bishop Blanchet High	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Seattle Prep	13	17	25	17	72
Bishop Blanchet	15	6	5	10	36

See game recap below

Basketball Has Begun! Seattle Prep Dominates Bishop Blanchet
By Colin Caruso

A great way to tip off the basketball season is a rivalry game. That is what showcased on Tuesday night, as the Seattle Prep Panthers made the three mile trip to Bishop Blanchet to battle the Braves. These teams have shared some amazing games in the past, but this one did not live up to any hype.

Blanchet held the lead after the first quarter on the back of Matt Welch, who scored 13 of his teams 15 first quarter points. Amazingly enough, he actually totaled 28 of his teams first 30 points in the contest. Unfortunately, Blanchet didn’t break the thirty point barrier until midway through the fourth quarter.

On the back of 16 points from 6’6″ junior Jordan Kitchen and 14 points from 6’7″ sophomore Sean Gummersall, the Panthers dominated the final three quarters, outscoring their rivals 59-21 to close out the game. Aside from Welch’s 28 points, no one on Blanchet scored more than two, and the Panthers completely controlled the paint and the three point arc throughout.

In speaking with Coach Mike Kelly at the end of the contest, he is excited about the competition this year in the always dominate Metro league. Metro 3A has taken the state crown in 10 of the last 12 seasons.

Top Performers:
Seattle Prep
Jordan Kitchen – 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Jack Stewart – 13 points, 5 steals, 3 rebounds
Sean Gummersall – 14 points, 5 rebounds

Bishop Blanchet
Matt Welch – 28 points, 6 rebounds

Eastside Catholic Advances to 3A State Final for Second Year in a Row

Posted on November 30, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

varsity-football-live-webarticle2

Friday	Nov 29th	2013	3A	Boys	Football
Tacoma Dome	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Eastside Catholic	7	14	7	0	28
O'Dea	0	7	0	7	14

See game recap below

Eastside Catholic Advances to 3A State Final for Second Year in a Row
By Colin Caruso

In their second matchup of the season, the Eastside Catholic Crusaders were looking to avenge their only conference loss of the season in this state semifinal matchup against the powerhouse O’Dea Fighting Irish. After a spectacular interception by Eastside linebacker/running back Brandon Wellington, the Crusaders struck first with a 3 yard pass from Harley Kirsch to Matt Laris to take a 7-0 lead. O’Dea answered with a 61 yard run from star running back Myles Gaskin to tie the contest at seven.

After an injury to workhorse running back Brandon Wellington early in the second quarter, Eastside turned to their aerial attack and connected on a 64 yard pass from Kirsch to Colin Macilvennie to take a 14-7 lead. O’Dea put together a great drive after the Eastside score, but quarterback Pierre LeDorze was intercepted in the end zone by Wellington, his second on the day, who came back from injury to help the Crusader defense. That interception led to an 80 yard drive from the Crusaders, capped off by another Kirsch touchdown pass to Colin Boit with just 21 seconds left in the half. Eastside Catholic took a commanding 21-7 lead into halftime.

O’Dea received in the second half but was forced to punt after a good defensive stand from Eastside Catholic. The Crusaders then put together another long drive, this time 90 yards, capped off by a 22 yard run from Wellington to place a commanding 28-7 lead on the Irish. After the teams exchanged punts, O’Dea started to drive down the field but was halted after a fumble on the exchange between LeDorze and his fullback Jack Flor. Eastside recovered but was forced to punt back to the Irish just before the end of the third quarter.

O’Dea capitalized quickly in the fourth with a much needed score, a beautiful LeDorze pass for 41 yards to Bobiono Sims to make it a two score game, 28-14. But the Irish couldn’t put together another solid drive; the Crusader defense was stifling, filling gaps and relentlessly pursuing the football. Eastside Catholic closed the game with a 28-14 victory and will play next weekend in the Tacoma Dome for the 3A state championship.

Top Performers:
Eastside Catholic
Harley Kirsch – 19/31 for 294 yards and 3TD
Brandon Wellington – 14 carries for 66 yards, 1TD, 2 defensive interceptions

O’Dea
Myles Gaskin – 20 for 134 yards TD