Federal Way Wins Mismatch 4A Boys State Title

Posted on March 10, 2015 by colincarusoZUMA

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

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

Federal Way Eagles

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

Don’t worry, it didn’t happen.

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

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

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

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

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

Davis Rallies, But Cleveland Hangs on for Non-League Win

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Steven Dion

Davis Rallies, But Cleveland Hangs on for Non-League Win
By Steven Dion

Saturday- December 20	2014	Boys	3A/4A	Non-League
Cleveland High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Cleveland	19	17	12	18	66
Davis	7	15	17	20	59

Cleveland Eagles

Saturday afternoon included a contest with 3A against 4A in Cleveland and Davis. The Pirates based out of Yakima won the 4A state championship in 2012 and have regressed since that memorable run. However, some of the members of that title squad are still on the roster as upperclassmen so Davis is still a quality basketball team. Cleveland has struggled to remain competitive in the highly talented Metro League in recent years, but appear to be headed in the positive direction this season. Would Davis be able to get two wins in as many days or would Cleveland prevail on home court?

The pace of this game got off to a fast start as both teams were eager to score in transition. The advantage of size in the paint for Cleveland was evident early as the Eagles rebounded well on both sides of the floor. In addition, they were able to get plenty of quality shots in the paint which translated to leading by a dozen after one quarter of play. The Pirates started to chip away at the early deficit they found themselves in primarily in the perimeter shooting of Nick Navarro. The sharpshooter buried 6 triple in the contest en route to his game-high 20 points. CJ Elleby earned a handful of trips to the free-throw line which he converted as his tenacity helped Cleveland extend their lead to 36-22 at halftime.

Davis was committed to make their road-trip worthwhile as the Pirates increased their second-half intensity to cut the Eagles’ lead. The home team had some foul trouble and turned the ball over to give DHS multiple opportunities to score on offense. The lead started to dwindle and by the end of the third quarter, the difference was nine points. Cleveland’s Nico Buchanan went 6 for 6 from the charity stripe in the final frame to protect the lead. Navarro scored another pair of buckets from downtown to cut the lead to a mere 4 points. This game was still unsettled even though Cleveland led from the opening tip! However, Townsend and the Eagles closed the door by knocking down clutch buckets down the stretch as the Davis shooting starting to cool off. When the buzzer sounded, the home team picked up a quality win against a 4A team by 7 points.

The Final Score: Cleveland 66 Davis 59

Top Performers:
Cleveland
Malik Townsend-16 points

Davis
Nick Navarro-20 points (6 3-pt FG’s)

4A State Finals Preview, Bothell vs. Chiawana

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

4A State Finals Preview, Bothell vs. Chiawana
By Colin Caruso

Talk about the matchup of the year in this one. The Bothell Cougars, widely regarded as the top team in 4A all season long, facing off against the defending champions, the Chiawana Riverhawks. I had the unbelievable privilege to watch the Riverhawks in the state final last year, in the best comeback in Washington state football history. Down 13 points with 1 minute to play, the Riverhawks pulled off a miracle victory over the Camas Papermakers. I have never felt so much remorse for a losing team, a team that played perfectly all season and 47 minutes in the championship game, but couldn’t close the door on a team driven by a tenacious defensive line and a quarterback with a will to win.

But this is a new season, and a new team for the Riverhawks. And their competition is tested and ready for battle. The Cougars have looked unbeatable all year. Bothell quarterback Ross Conners is looking like one of the top QBs in the state, but the loss of star running back Sam McPherson may prove costly. Chiawana had the best defensive line in 4A last year, and returned three of those starters last season.

Look for another spectacular game and finish in this one. Chiawana has just one loss this season, to the Papermakers of Camas. Bothell is undefeated and deservedly so, they have outscored their opponents 597-133 on the year. Who will lift the trophy in Tacoma? Come join the action on Saturday night, December 6th, at 7:30pm.

3A State Finals Preview, Bellevue vs. Eastside Catholic Round 3

Posted on December 5, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

3A State Finals Preview, Bellevue vs. Eastside Catholic Round 3
By Colin Caruso

The Bellevue Wolverines have won 67 straight games, a streak that goes back to 2010 when Mat Taylor’s Skyline Spartans topped them in a regular season contest. They routinely schedule games against the top teams out of state, this year against Serra (CA), and routinely pull off convincing victories. They are dominate, fast, big and strong. The Wolverines are in search of their 7th consecutive state title, and standing in their way is the Eastside Catholic Crusaders.

Eastside showed their grit last year in advancing past the O’Dea Fighting Irish to the state finals, to meet the Wolverines in a 425 clash. The game wasn’t much of a contest, coinciding with the Wolverines season, and ended in a 52-20 route. This year will prove to be much closer than that. One of the states finest running backs, Brandon Wellington, is now a junior and is playing the best football of his life. Junior quarterback Harley Kirsch is also a year older, more mature, and is prepared for a matchup against one of the finest teams in the nation.

The big question at hand, are the Wolverines vulnerable? They showed hints of vulnerability last week against Marysville-Pilchuck. Can the Cru’ end the streak? I don’t think it’s in the cards just yet, but hey, it has to happen sometime, right?

theFinalScore.TV
4A State Football Rankings Week 9

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Randall Novak

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mt. Spokane Shuts Out West Valley

Posted on September 9, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

Game Recap below

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

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

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

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

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

Top Performers:
West Valley
Luke Atterberry – 10.5 tackles

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

DeVries Threes Highlight Explosive Bomber Win in Quarterfinals

Posted on March 7, 2014 by colincarusoZUMA

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

DeVries Threes Highlight Explosive Bomber Win in Quarterfinals
By Steven Dion

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

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

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

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

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

Wenatchee
Dillon Sugg-12 points, 10 rebounds

theFinalScore.tv Rankings

Posted on November 7, 2013 by colincarusoZUMA

theFinalScore.tv Football Pre-Playoff Rankings

4A:
1. Camas
2. Graham-Kapowsin
3. Skyline
4. Chiawana
5. Ferris
6. Union
7. Edmonds-Woodway
8. Curtis
9. Richland
10. Bothell

3A:
1. Bellevue
2. O’Dea
3. Marysville-Pilchuck
4. Mount Si
5. Shadle Park
6. Eastside Catholic
7. Lincoln
8. Mt. Spokane
9. Glacier Peak
10. Blanchet

2A:
1. Tumwater
2. Lynden
3. Sumner
4. Ellensburg
5. Lakewood
6. WF West
7. Lindbergh
8. Mark Morris
9. RA Long
10. Othello

4A State Tournament Scoreboard

Posted on February 28, 2013 by rnovak@zumamedia.com

Click here to Watch Live Tacoma Dome Coverage
Starting at 11am on Thursday

Boys and Girls Scoreboard

Boys 4A Scoreboard

Thursday- February 28	4A Boys
Tacoma Dome – 9:00am	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Newport-Bellevue	16	9	12	3	40
Curtis	18	13	12	19	62

Click here to Watch Live In-Game Coverage and Updates

Thursday- February 28	4A Boys
Tacoma Dome – 10:30am	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Bothell	8	22	3	17	50
Garfield	13	13	13	23	62

Click here to Watch Live In-Game Coverage and Updates

Thursday- February 28	4A Boys
Tacoma Dome – 12:15pm	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Arlington	17	18	18	19	72
Richland	16	14	10	20	60

Click here to Watch Live In-Game Coverage and Updates

Thursday- February 28	4A Boys
Tacoma Dome – 2:00pm	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Jackson	6	20	11	18	55
Central Valley	13	12	8	14	47

Click here to Watch Live In-Game Coverage and Updates

Click here to Watch Live Tacoma Dome Coverage
Starting at 11am on Thursday

Girls 4A Scoreboard

Thursday- February 28	4A Girls
Tacoma Dome – 3:45pm	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Gonzaga Prep	7	4	9	20	40
Arlington	7	8	15	13	43

Thursday- February 28	4A Girls
Tacoma Dome – 5:30pm	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Kentwood	10	8	11	7	36
Lake Stevens	23	11	10	8	52

Thursday- February 28	4A Girls
Tacoma Dome – 7:15pm	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Mead	22	12	11	8	53
Skyline	3	9	8	13	33

Thursday- February 28	4A Girls
Tacoma Dome – 9:00pm	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Mount Rainier	18	13	12	18	61
Inglemoor	11	10	22	13	56