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Hoops Preview: Narrows/SPSL- TJ Cotterill from The News Tribune
12-16-15
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
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.
| Friday | Oct. 10th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spartan Stadium | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Graham-Kapowsin | 0 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 17 | |
| Skyline | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
Graham-Kapowsin Shocks Skyline
By Colin Caruso
On a beautiful evening on the Issaquah plateau, the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles travelled north to face off against the home side Skyline Spartans. It was homecoming for the Spartans and their crowd was in full force expecting a win in this non-conference matchup. The Eagles and their strong fan base had different plans.
The game began in typical Skyline fashion, with a long drive of both passing and running, capped off by a 1 yard touchdown run by Rashaad Boddie. After a failed fourth and goal attempt for the Eagles on their next drive, the Eagles forced a punt from the Spartans and capitalized mid-way through the second on an Asbjornsen pass to Walkinshaw to tie the game at 7.
Skyline responded, as they typically do, with another great drive, and a touchdown pass from Blake Gregory to Derek Loville. Loville had a huge day for the Spartans; he finished the day with 162 yards receiving. But he wasn’t targeted as much in the second half despite single coverage, and this proved catastrophic for the Spartans.
Graham-Kapowsin tightened their defense immensely in the second half. The Eagles held the Spartans to negative 32 yards rushing in the second half, negative 11 from Boddie. The Eagles 6’6″ 310 pound sophomore Foster Sarell became the big play maker, clogging up the line on defense and blocking well against one of the state’s best pass rushers, Skyline’s Cameron Saffle.
This stifling defense did not allow a point in the second half, while the Eagles added just one field goal, which proved to be the game winner. Graham-Kapowsin came up with the big road win, 17-14.
Top Performers:
Graham-Kapowsin
Trevor Asbjornsen – 17-28 for 192 yards and 1TD
Shannon Edwards – 20 carries for 114 yards and 1TD
Skyline
Blake Gregory – 20-37 for 282 yards and 1TD
Derek Loville – 9 catches for 162 yards and 1TD
| Saturday | March 8th | 2014 | 4A | Girls | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Gonzaga Prep | 17 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 53 | |
| Mount Rainier | 16 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 51 | |
Gonzaga Prep Comes Back from 12 down to Win State Title
By Colin Caruso
The Tacoma Dome was rocking for the 4A girls state final between the one loss Gonzaga Prep Bullpups and the Mount Rainier Rams. Mount Rainier is led by Brittany McPhee, a former Gatorade state player of the year and one of the states finest players.
The first half showed a lot of McPhee, who worked hard to get her shots and scored a half high 17 points. Hannah Caudill for the Bullpups led her team with 11 points in the first, and kept them within striking distance for the second half. Mount Rainier took a seven point lead, 34-27 into the locker room.
McPhee kept up her scoring in the third quarter. She added nine more in the frame and Mount Rainier began to pull away from the Bullpups, ahead by ten points with three minutes remaining. But Gonzaga Prep put together a much needed 6-0 run to cut the lead back down to four. The Rams led by five, 47-42 going into the fourth.
Early in the fourth belonged to the Bullpups. Otiona Gildon converted on back to back pick and roll layups, trimming the lead to just one with four minutes remaining. With two minutes of no scoring, Gildon converted on two more layups, going on a personal 8-0 run and putting the Bullpups up by three with under a minute to play.
Kaiti Freeberg finally ended the Rams drought, converting on a layup with 17.5 seconds on the clock. Still trailing by one, the Rams were forced to foul to put the Bullpups on the line. Unfortunately they only committed three team fouls and there was less than one minute remaining. So when they finally got to a bonus situation, there were just three seconds on the clock. Caudill converted on one of two from the line for the Pups and Mount Rainier was unable to get a good shot off before the buzzer. Congratulations to the Bullpups in a 53-51 win!
Top Performers:
Gonzaga Prep
Otiona Gildon – 18 points, 15 rebounds
Laura Stockton – 11 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks
Mount Rainier
Brittany McPhee – 28 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 steals
| Saturday | March 8th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Todd Beamer | 12 | 8 | 21 | 20 | 61 | |
| Richland | 14 | 19 | 22 | 20 | 75 | |
Undefeated Richland Advances to 4A State Final
By Colin Caruso
In the nightcap 4A boys game, the undefeated Richland Bombers faced off against the 22-4 Todd Beamer Titans. Outside of Nathan Streufert for the Bombers at 6’7”, Beamer had a complete size advantage in this matchup. This did not bother the Bombers, as they put together a nice 10-2 run in the first and took a 14-12 lead into the second.
Beamer struggled offensively throughout the second; their one on one mentality resulted in a lot of misses and no second chance opportunities. On the other side of the floor, Richland found no problems putting the ball through the hoop. Bomber Steven Beo had a great first half with 11 points, and Richland went into the locker room feeling good with a 13 point lead.
Beo took over to start the third quarter. He hit three straight three pointers for the Bombers, pushing their lead to 19. But Beamer would not let the game get out of hand. They continued to battle and clawed their way back to a ten point deficit on threes from Quadir Williams and Bogdon Bliznyuk. Fouls began to plague both teams late in the quarter, as Raybonne Freeman for the Titans and Nathan Streufert for the Bombers both gathered their fourth. Richland extended their lead to 14 going into the fourth.
The 14 point lead ballooned to as many as 20 for the Bombers, who were not bothered at all by the Beamer press. Beamer could not get back into this one; too many miscues on offense and phenomenal shooting from the Bombers. Richland took this one with ease, 75-61, and will face the Garfield Bulldogs for the 4A state final.
Top Performers:
Todd Beamer
Charles Frazier – 13 points, 8 rebounds
Richland
Steven Beo – 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Jacob DeVries – 18 points, 8 rebounds
Nathan Streufert – 8 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists
| Thursday | March 6th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Gonzaga Prep | 14 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 49 | |
| Todd Beamer | 12 | 4 | 19 | 22 | 57 | |
Beamer Fever Advances to State Semis
By Colin Caruso
In one of the bigger size mismatches of the day, the Todd Beamer Titans faced off against the Bullpups from Gonzaga Prep to secure a spot in the 4A state semifinal. Beamer started the game on a strong 8-2 run, utilizing their size and strength to get shots close to the hoop. But Gonzaga Prep answered with a 12-4 run to close the quarter with a two point lead 14-12.
The Bullpups made up for the size differential with a higher level of intensity. Gonzaga Prep added a 7-0 run on top of their 12-4 run in the first to take an early nine point advantage, 21-12. Beamer seemed very stagnant on the offensive side, too much standing around and not enough screening and cutting. Gonzaga Prep took a 28-16 lead into half.
Beamer finally adopted their diamond full court trap to start the second half, which completely stifled the Bullpup offense. Beamer’s length was in the passing lanes on every possession and they started the quarter on a 15-2 run to take their first lead since the first quarter. Gonzaga Prep recaptured their lead on back to back threes, but Beamer was back in the game, trailing by just three going into the fourth 38-35.
Beamer closed the three point lead in a hurry, and the teams repeatedly exchanged leads down the stretch. The Titans snagged the lead by two on a Bogdon Bliznyuk three with two minutes to play. Quadir Williams added two free-throws for Beamer, extending their lead to four. Sam Dowd answered for the Bullpups with two free-throws of his own, trimming the lead to two with one minute to play. The Titans answered with a Charles Frazier layup, a defensive rebound, and two more Quadir Williams free-throws to take a six point lead. Another miss for the Bullpups led to two more free-throws for the Titans, extending their lead to eight with less than thirty seconds to play. But a quick two and a turnover for the Titans led to a three pointer by Brendan McClary. The Bullpups were within three with just 22 seconds remaining. Frazier hit one from the line to extend the lead to four, and Williams added two more from the stripe to take a six point lead with ten seconds to play. The Titans put together a great comeback, winning 57-49 and advancing to the state semifinal.
Top Performers:
Gonzaga Prep
Sam Dowd – 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Brendan McClary – 12 points, 4 steals
Todd Beamer
Quadir Williams – 18 points, 6 rebounds
Trey Burch Manning – 15 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
| Thursday | March 6th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Kentridge | 10 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 41 | |
| Garfield | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 63 | |
Garfield Dominates one-loss Kentridge
By Colin Caruso
In another rough quarterfinal matchup, the one loss Garfield Bulldogs faced off against the one loss Kentridge Chargers for a berth to the 4A state semifinal. Both teams’ losses came late in the year to teams still playing, with Garfield’s loss coming to Issaquah and Kentridge’s loss coming to Todd Beamer.
Garfield jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in this one, but Kentridge leading scorer Jawan Stepney would not let Garfield make it a blowout. Stepney answered with back to back threes for the Chargers, which kept them in the contest, as the Bulldogs kept their foot to the pedal. Garfield led 17-10 after one quarter.
Kentridge needed to answer to start the second, and it simply did not happen. Garfield held the Chargers to two points in the second quarter, while putting up 17 on their own. Turnovers were the story; 12 total for the Chargers leading to 14 Garfield points off. Kentridge could not get good shots up and Garfield continued their tenacious defensive pressure. Garfield took a commanding 34-12 lead into the half.
The second half looked a lot like the first half in this game, with Garfield controlling the scoring and the pace. Kentridge closed the gap significantly late in the fourth to lose by 22. Their largest deficit was 28 points early in the fourth. Garfield will advance to the 4A state semifinal.
Top Performers:
Kentridge
Jawan Stepney – 13 points, 3 rebounds
Garfield
Tramaine Isabell – 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
| Thursday | March 6th | 2014 | 4A | Girls | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Dome | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Inglemoor | 11 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 57 | |
| Mount Rainier | 20 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 64 | |
Mount Rainier Takes down Inglemoor, Advances to State Semis
By Colin Caruso
In an unfortunate matchup in the round of eight between two of the state’s best 4A girls programs, the McPhee led Mount Rainier Rams took on the Inglemoor Vikings. The Rams are 24-3 on the year, with big wins over two final eight teams, Kentwood and Skyview. Inglemoor is led by post Deja Strother, and they are 21-3 on the season.
Mount Rainier exploded offensively in the first half. They played quicker and with more poise than their competition, and led by as many as 12 points. The McPhee twins combined for 18 points in the first half, but the team was led by Aqeelah Williams’ 11. Strother and Mackenzie Gardner kept the Vikings in the contest with 12 points each, but only two other players for the Vikings scored in the first half. Mount Rainier led 46-33 at the break.
Mount Rainier continued to play fundamentally sound basketball in the third, pushing their lead to as many as 19. It seemed as if the Rams got their hands on every entry pass to Strother, gathering the loose balls and getting out in transition. After three, Mount Rainier led 52-35.
Inglemoor needed a big run to get back into this game, down 17 entering in the fourth. They picked up their defense and the shots began to fall for the Vikings, who started the quarter on a 13-7 run. But it was too little too late. The Vikings won the quarter 22-12, but lost by seven, 64-57. The win for the Rams avenged an earlier season loss to the Vikings, a game Inglemoor won by 15.
Top Performers:
Inglemoor
Deja Strother – 25 points (11-15 FG), 18 rebounds (9 offensive), 2 blocks
Mackenzie Gardner – 14 points, 4 assists
Mount Rainier
Brittany McPhee – 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Jordan McPhee – 12 points, 4 steals
| Saturday | Feb 15th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Tahoma High | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Emerald Ridge | 7 | 19 | 24 | 15 | 65 | |
| Tahoma | 6 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 47 | |
Emerald Ridge Extends Season With Victory Over Tahoma
By Steven Dion
Game two of the slate of District 3/4 matchups at Mount Tahoma High School on Saturday featured another consolation game with loser-out stakes attached to it and winner advances. The teams set to play were the Emerald Ridge Jaguars from South Hill and Tahoma Bears. This battle between SPSL South and North was prime for exciting play from both sides. Both teams suffered close losses in the first round of districts. Emerald Ridge fell to Stadium by one point on short rest whereas Tahoma was defeated by five points against the defending state champs in Curtis.
Tahoma picked up an early lead in the game by way of a 6-0 run in the opening minutes. Emerald Ridge had open looks, but nothing was falling until their first points of the game came with 2:51 left in the first frame on free throws. Jaguar senior post Goa Mal was a key bench player as his length in the paint created solid interior pressure. ER finally got rolling and rattled off seven straight to take the lead. They would not look back the rest of the way. Jaguar guard Marcus Harris was not afraid to let it fly in this game and despite spotty shooting at times, the senior made enough to keep warranting opportunities. Tahoma’s leading scorer Coleman Wooten was held to five points in the first half who averages nearly 26 a ballgame. At the break, the Jags led 26-19.
Much like Mal’s impact noted earlier, more of Emerald Ridge’s several role players were highlighted in the second half. Guillermo Alcaraz knocked down some back-breaking And-1s that extended the ER lead in the third. The final minute in the quarter was the Raeshon Scales Show as the sophomore buried 3 triples including one at the buzzer in front of his own bench where he was promptly mobbed afterwards. Leading 50-32 in the final quarter, the Jags were in the driver’s seat. Tahoma was resilient and earned 10 trips to the free throw line in the final eight minutes, making 8. However, Harris’ 31 points and solid contributions up and down the roster sealed a respectable victory for the Jaguars, who live to see another day in districts.
Top Performers:
Emerald Ridge
Marcus Harris-31 points (10/14 FT’s including making both after getting poked in the eye)
Tahoma
Coleman Wooten-20 points (7/11 FT’s)
| Tuesday | Feb 11th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShoWare Center | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Curtis | 17 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 64 | |
| Kentwood | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 52 | |
Reigning Champs Curtis Prevails Over Conks
By Steven Dion
The battle for third and fourth place in the final regular season standings of the South Puget Sound League featured the defending 4A champions in Curtis and a dark horse Kentwood squad. Tim Kelly’s Vikings are mostly a new-look squad compared to the victorious team of last year with some familiar faces. However, Curtis is still a formidable contender to make a run in the 4A tournament. The Conks have firepower primarily through freshman guard Darius Lubom. Blake Solomon’s Kentwood team is able to contend with top teams now, but is built for a bright future with their young talent.
Curtis established their desire to execute on both sides of the court and were able to shoot an efficient 64% from the field in the first quarter while limiting the opposition to 40% field goals. The Viking defense effectively forced several turnovers by pressuring the Conks to dribble through traffic. Kentwood seemed to struggle finding continuity offensively, but managed to put up enough points to keep the game within reach needing a strong second half. Lubom’s ten points in the first two frames helped to cut a big KHS deficit to 13 before the break.
It appeared Curtis had the Conks on the ropes early in the second half as the lead continued to grow early in the third, but the Viks seemingly took their collective foot off the pedal slightly. Free throws began to rim out and sloppy offensive play gave Kentwood a window to climb back into the contest. The Conks cut down the Curtis lead to single digits, but there was not enough clock for KHS to reach the summit. At the end of regulation, the 2013 4A champs came away with a 64-52 win, good for a third place finish in the South Puget Sound League. The Viks have their work cut out for them if their season is to wrap up at the Tacoma Dome again come March.
Top Performers:
Kentwood
Darius Lubom – 14 points (5/8 FG’s, 3/5 FT’s)
Curtis
Aushanti Potts-Woods – 19 points (8/15 FG’s, 3/3 FT’s)
| Tuesday | Feb 11th | 2014 | 4A | Girls | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShoWare Center | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Kentwood | 17 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 57 | |
| Puyallup | 8 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 46 | |
Kentwood Girls Conquer the Viks in Third Place SPSL Showdown
By Steven Dion
The first of four matchups at the ShoWare Center on Tuesday night was the battle for third place in the SPSL between Kentwood and Puyallup. The Conks are led by University of Hawaii commit Sarah Toeaina, a 12-letter varsity earner. Puyallup features a dynamic guard/post duo of Braylie Jeffers and Addie Picha. This north versus south battle would provide an admirable third place finish in a competitive South Puget Sound League.
Kentwood took an early grip of this contest by grabbing a double digit lead in the first half. The physicality of this game was prominent as there were Vikings and Conquerors strewn along the hardwood fighting for loose balls. The Lady Viks were able to pull themselves out of a big deficit before the conclusion of the first half, primarily through a pair of triples by Jeffers and Sarah Steimle. The Conks took a 30-24 lead into the locker room.
As if the intensity in the first half was not enough for those in the grandstands, the second half jumped up another notch in the final sixteen minutes. Coach Ainslie put Christina Holland on the floor in the third quarter for PHS and picked up a noticeable return in energy and momentum for the Viks. The Conks countered with strong play by Alycea DeLong, a primarily contributor of offensive rebounds and second chances at the offensive end of the floor. Puyallup clawed back in the contest and were within one to two possessions during the fourth quarter, but the intentional foul game started. Toeaina demonstrated the senior leadership by knocking downs shots from the charity stripe and effectively sealed the deal for the Conquerors. Final score: Kentwood 57 Puyallup 46.
Top Performers:
Kentwood
Sarah Toeaina – 16 points (10/14 FT’s)
Puyallup
Addie Picha – 14 points
| Friday | Jan 25th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentridge High | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Auburn | 8 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 47 | |
| Kentridge | 14 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 64 | |
Kentridge Remains Undefeated With Win Over Auburn
By Steven Dion
The Chargers are one of the few teams in the state that has not lost a single game this season and is quietly emerging in the state rankings as one of the top teams in 4A. Hailing from the SPSL North, Kentridge would have to contend with the second place Auburn Trojans (8-3 league, 10-5 overall) to keep the blemish-free mark in the standings. The gut reaction heading into this contest was the size advantage down low for the host Chargers as Chris Adams and Danny Torlai standing at 6’7 and 6’6 respectively had a distinct size advantage to Auburn’s forwards that peak at the 6’3 range. It was intriguing to see if Ryan Hansen could draw up a plan to upset first place Kentridge.
The first frame consisted of both teams trading buckets early as a Marquise Prater three-ball energized the visiting Trojans. However, the Chargers offense got rolling and carried a 14-8 lead after one frame of play. Kentridge built on this lead by using their size advantage down low to convert on close range buckets. Auburn was able to tie the ball game at 18 apiece midway through the second by forcing Kentridge to take some outside shots, which were not falling. A 10-2 run to close the first half by KRHS gave the home team a 28-20 lead going into the half.
Dave Jamison’s Chargers picked up where they left off in the third quarter as the monstrous presence of senior Chris Adams on defense led to smooth offensive transitions which consisted of no-look passes by either Deon Thomas or Jawan Stepney to Danny Torial under the bucket time after time. Thomas nailed all six of his points on consecutive possessions as a three-pointer, defensive stop, and another triple built a 46-31 lead after three quarters. Auburn senior Rio Paul scored a big chunk of his game-high 24 points in the final frame by knocking down tough shots. With a comfortable lead, Kentridge was content to challenge Paul, but not over-extend defensively and give the 6’2 wing extra points from the charity stripe. An alley-oop dunk from Thomas to Stepney followed by an Adams two handed slam and a fourth and final block by the big senior put a bow on this contest to keep Kentridge undefeated at 17-0.
Top Performers:
Auburn
Rio Paul – 24 points
Kentridge
Danny Torlai – 20 points, 9 rebounds
| Monday | Jan 20th | 2014 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield High | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Jefferson (OR) | 24 | 24 | 5 | 14 | 67 | |
| Todd Beamer | 11 | 11 | 21 | 17 | 60 | |
Jefferson (OR) Barely Hangs on to Defeat Beamer
By Colin Caruso
In the final game of the Unity in the Community Showcase, the Todd Beamer Titans hosted the Jefferson Democrats from Oregon. Unfortunately for Root Sports they did not televise this game, as this was by far the most entertaining matchup. Jefferson has one loss on the year, to the mighty Rainier Beach Vikings. Beamer also had one loss entering this contest, to the Lincoln Abes.
Jefferson began this contest unconsciously hot from long range. Back to back 24 point quarters with a total of eight three pointers made put the Beamer Titans in a big hole. Also, Beamer couldn’t get past the two towers for the Democrats, both standing over 6’9″ and turning away most shots at the rim. Jefferson led convincingly 48-22 at the half.
The Beamer staff decided that after the first half it was time to put into effect the terrorizing Beamer full court press. Todd Beamer is an interesting team in that they have five or six players who all hover around the 6’4″ and 6’5″ range who all move well. Their diamond press proved extremely challenging for the Democrats, who only put up 5 points in the third quarter.
By pressing with your best players, you also risk the occurrences of random fouls far away from the basket. This began to hurt the Titans, as their leading scorer in the contest and captain Trey Burch-Manning fouled out. This put a cap to the fantastic comeback for Todd Beamer, who once came as close as four points late in the fourth quarter. But Jefferson held on while only scoring 19 points in the second half to a 67-60 win.
Top Performer:
Jefferson
Silas Melson – 25 points
| Thursday | Dec 26th | 2013 | 4A-1A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy High | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| King's | 16 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 64 | |
| Kent Meridian | 12 | 10 | 14 | 20 | 56 | |
Clash of Nobility Resulted in King’s Knights Victory over Royals
By Steven Dion
Game three of the first round of the Christmas Classic at Kennedy High School mashed up a 1A school in King’s against the 4A Royals of Kent-Meridian. The guard duo of Quincy Brown and Romaine Jackson would prove to be a tough matchup for a King’s roster loaded with forwards. However, Rick Skeen’s has prepared his Knights to be able to play up against higher classification teams.
The Royals quickly established they wanted to run up and down the floor on both sides of the ball. King’s adjusted nicely and their ball movement was able to counteract KM’s energy. The backcourt presence of Royals guards opened up the King’s attacking zone and their superior ball-movement led to easy buckets. Seven Knights scored in the first quarter and as a result led 16-12 after the first quarter. KMHS head coach Brian Lockhart made a defensive adjustment in the second frame to apply slightly less pressure in the King’s backcourt forcing them to move the ball up the floor. Brown and Jackson began to jump into passing lanes and set up the Royals for some transition buckets. Junior Chris Lewis nailed another three pointer in the period; one of his five from downtown in the contest. However, King’s was able to match their sixteen points from the first quarter to carry a 32-22 lead into the break.
Trailing by double digits meant Kent-Meridian would have to take some chances on the offensive end to claw back into the contest. Shooting triples appeared to be their strategy in doing so. Lewis knocked down a pair from downtown in the third, but the team shooting percentage was low. King’s continued their gritty attack in the paint and protected their ten point lead going into the fourth. The Royals put together a solid fourth quarter, but failure to bury buckets from close range dashed their hope of vying for the lead. Freshman Knight Corey Kispert pulled down several critical rebounds in addition to scoring a game-high twenty points. When the buzzer sounded, King’s claimed a 64-56 win.
Top Performer:
King’s
Corey Kispert – 20 points (4/7 FT’s)
| Saturday | Dec 21st | 2013 | 3A-4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShoWare Center | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Stanwood | 13 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 59 | |
| Jefferson | 6 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 46 | |
Stanwood Proves too much for Jefferson
By Colin Caruso
In the fourth game on the day at the ShoWare Center in Kent, in a non-league matchup, the Jefferson Raiders took on the Stanwood Spartans for bragging rights. Jefferson had a tough time finding the hoop in the first quarter, falling behind 13-7 after one. They were down as many as nine in the first half twice, but continued to battle back on spread out scoring from their starters. The Raiders cut the lead to just six at the half, despite shooting below 50% from the line and allowing two more made three pointers.
The Spartans came out of the locker room early, getting a few shots up prior to starting the second half. Jefferson came out after the halftime horn blew, giving them no shots and no touches on the ball during the half. This seemed to favor Stanwood, as they put together another strong quarter, exploiting the Jefferson 2-3 zone and converting on easy layups. Stanwood led 48-34 going into the fourth.
With a comfortable lead entering the fourth, the Spartans were able to slow the game down for the final eight minutes. Four Spartans scored in double figures, led by Josh Thayer with 17 and Drew Stang with 15. Only one Raider ended up in double figures, Xavier Scott, who scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Stanwood took the non-league contest 59-46.
Top Performers:
Stanwood
Skout Roberson – 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Josh Thayer – 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Jefferson
Xavier Scott – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Cordae Mcafee – 8 points, 8 rebounds
| Saturday | Dec 21st | 2013 | 4A | Girls | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShoWare Center | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Jackson | 13 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 59 | |
| Auburn Mountainview | 16 | 8 | 18 | 11 | 53 | |
Timberwolves Claw Their Way to Victory in Win Over Auburn-Mountainview
By Steven Dion
In the opening round of the ShoWare Shootout, Wesco met SPSL in a matchup between Jackson and Auburn-Mountainview. The Timberwolves’ dynamic guard combo of Faithaleen Lopez-Flores and Sierra Anderson accounted for the bulk of Jackson scoring. In addition to their 17 and 25 points respectively, they logged all thirty-two minutes of play. AMHS grabbed a first quarter lead, but an eight point second quarter found them trailing 24-27 at the half.
The Lions dominated several key statistical categories that are general indicators of victory including second-chance points and bench scoring, but low field-goal percentage on the game (30%) plagued Auburn-Mountaiview’s ability to sustain scoring momentum. With the game in the balance, Jackson’s reliable senior Anderson stepped up and knocked down clutch buckets and converted at the charity stripe with a perfect eight for eight. For this Timberwolves squad to be a front-runner in the 4A Wesco league, they will need to incorporate more scoring options, especially their forwards. Auburn-Mountain is almost entirely composed of seniors, so it is imperative for the Lions to play with urgency to make a run come February.
Top Performers:
Jackson
Sierra Anderson – 25 points (8/14 FGs, 8/8 FT’s), 4 assists, 3 steals
| Saturday | Dec 14th | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Basketball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline CC | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Inglemoor | 7 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 33 | |
| Todd Beamer | 8 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 53 | |
Todd Beamer’s Stifling D Smothers Inglemoor
By Colin Caruso
The Todd Beamer Titans gave the Inglemoor Vikings a long Saturday afternoon, allowing just 11 points in the first half to the Vikings, and forcing nine steals. The first quarter was close, with Beamer taking the slightest one point lead into the second. But with a veteran team with the likes of Trey Burch-Manning and Bogdon Bliznyuk, you knew the Titans were going to start heating up.
The Beamer 1-3-1 press in the second quarter was stifling. They forced turnover after turnover and the Vikings could not seem to figure the press out. After a 20-4 second quarter in favor of the Titans, the game was fully in Todd Beamer’s hands.
Beamer came out in the second half still hot from the second quarter, but slowed the game down as the third quarter winded down. In the fourth, Lynnwood was finally able to break the 10 point mark in a quarter, scoring 15 against the Titan reserves. Beamer showed a great defensive performance in this game. Don’t be surprised if you see them playing late in February like they did last year.
Top Performers:
Inglemoor
William Luckett – 9 points, 8 rebounds
Todd Beamer
Trey Burch-Manning – 16 points, 8 rebounds
Bogdon Bliznyuk – 12 points, 8 rebounds
| Saturday | Dec 14th | 2013 | 4A | Girls | Basketball | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline CC | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT1 | OT2 | Final | |
| Lynnwood | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 57 | |
| Mt. Rainier | 7 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 54 | |
Lynnwood Girls Take Down Mount Rainier in Double OT Thriller
By Colin Caruso
In a battle between some of the best girls basketball teams in the state of Washington, the Lynnwood Royals took on the Mount Rainier Rams in the 2013 Muscle Milk Preview tournament at Highline Community College. Lynnwood took charge in the first half, doing well containing the dangerous McPhee twins by holding them to just nine first half points. The Royals also dominated the glass, grabbing ten more rebounds than the Rams leading towards ten more first half shot attempts. Lynnwood took a four point lead into the half, but they controlled the pace of play and led by as many as nine.
Mount Rainier began to heat up in the second half on the back of Emily Fiso, who finished with 15 points on the day. She hit a layup with just over a minute to play to cut the Royal lead to two points, 42-40. After the Royals failed to convert on their next possession, Jordan McPhee knocked down a three pointer for the Rams with just 22 seconds left on the clock, giving them their first lead since the first quarter. But Monty Cooper responded for the Royals with just 12 seconds left with a three of her own, giving the Royals a two point lead. You know Brittney McPhee was going to get into the action at some point, and the future Stanford Cardinal made a game tying layup on Mount Rainier’s next possession to send the game to OT.
Lynnwood controlled the first overtime as well, going ahead by as many as five points in the short frame. But Fiso struck again for the Rams, knocking down a three with 13 seconds in the frame to tie the game at 50 and send this great game to another overtime.
Lynnwood again took control of the second overtime, as both McPhee twins fouled out early in the final frame. This proved to be the difference in the game, without Jordan and Brittney the Rams were in trouble. Lynnwood closed out the game at the free-throw line, and a last second attempt from Rams guard Aqeelah Williams fell just short to give Lynnwood a 57-54 win.
Top Performers:
Lynnwood
Mikayla Pivec – 12 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals
Jasmin Edwards – 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Monty Cooper – 14 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals
Mount Rainier
Brittany McPhee – 18 points, 20 rebounds, 3 steals
Jordan McPhee – 10 points, 11 rebounds
Emily Fiso – 15 points, 6 rebounds
| Friday | Nov 22th | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Way Memorial Stadium | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Richland | 14 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 34 | |
| Federal Way | 7 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 41 | |
A Tale of Two Halves; Federal Way Tops Richland
By Colin Caruso
In a contest that filled both sets of stands and Memorial Stadium, the Federal Way Eagles hosted the Richland Bombers for a spot in the 4A state semifinals. Richland, making the almost 250 mile trip to Federal Way, started the scoring onslaught early. The Bombers put up 14 points in the first quarter on a touchdown run from Nathan Perry and a touchdown pass from Zach Whitby to Hayden Whitby. The Eagles, with a smaller and faster team, started slower and did not break their scoring drought until late in the first with a Keenan Curran QB keeper, his first of two touchdowns on the day.
The scoring continued in the second quarter, with Nathan Perry punching in two more scores for the Bombers and Curran and star running back Chico McClatcher both rushing in scores for the Eagles. The Bombers held a 28-21 lead going into the half and looked poised to make a good push in the second.
The confidence and speed that the Bombers held going into the locker room dwindled during the 15 minute halftime. Federal Way came out executing on all cylinders in the second half, with a half-back passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown from McClatcher in the third quarter alone. Federal Way’s defense began to heat up as well, forcing five turnovers and a punt in Richland’s first six possessions in the second half.
The Bombers were on the ropes early in the fourth, down two scores to a high octane Federal Way offense and a second half smothering defense. McClatcher added two interceptions in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the Eagles, 41-34. Federal Way will play the winner of Chiawana vs. Wenatchee for a trip to the state final. This is the first appearance for the Eagles in the state semifinal since 1976.
Top Performers:
Richland
Nathan Perry – 3 total TD, rushing of 18 and 4 yards, 13 yard catch
Federal Way
Keenan Curran – 20 carries for 211 yards, 2 rushing TD, defensive INT
Chico McClatcher – 20 carries for 104 yards, 3 rushing TD, passing TD, 2 defensive INT
| Friday | Nov 8th | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop Keeney Stadium | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Puyallup | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | |
| Bothell | 19 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 54 | |
Bothell Drops Puyallup in First Round of Playoffs
By Steven Dion
The Bothell Cougars had a full week to think about their loss to Skyline last Friday. The 10th ranked team in 4A earned the opportunity to host a first round playoff game versus Puyallup from the SPSL. The Cougs have protected Pop Keeney Stadium nicely this year by beating their opponents by the combined score of 173-34 at home. Tonight was no exception. The Cougs broke the game wide open early by forcing three-and-outs and capitalizing on offense. Sam McPherson returned a punt 70 yards for the score to put BHS up 12-0 in the first. Before halftime, Bothell opened the playbook to the back page by testing senior receiver Cameron Gale’s arm from the flat; a connection with Jackson Keimig in the back of the end zone. At half, the host was up 33-0.
Halftime did not seem to halt the Bothell onslaught as the second half kickoff was returned 100 yards by McPherson. The Viks responded and were finally able to sustain a drive that yielded a handful of red zone snaps, one of which ended with a DJ Winter touchdown. The running clock was in effect during the second half so the scoring subsided greatly. A late score by Bothell was capitalized by a made point-after-touchdown by junior kicker Nicole Daoura. The Cougar sideline erupted as the lone female on either roster notched her first score of the season. Puyallup scored once more on a reception by Levi Jordan to cease the offense for both sides. After four quarters of play, Bothell walked away with a 54-14 win in dominating fashion. The Cougs advance, the Viks end their season 6-4.
Top Performer:
Bothell
Samuel McPherson – 4 total TDs, 2 rushing of 11 and 9 yards, 2 kickoff returns of 70 and 100 yards
| Thursday | Nov 7th | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline Memorial | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Spanaway Lake | 8 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 38 | |
| Mount Rainier | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |
Spanaway Lake Offense Erupts Versus Mount Rainier
By Steven Dion
The final game for both SPSL’s Rams and Sentinels was played at a windy, rainy Highline Memorial Stadium Thursday night. This game did not have any playoff implications but school pride was on the line, and the effort displayed during all 48 minutes was evident. Spanaway Lake set the tone early by establishing the running game and finding the end zone on a 14-yard run by Kyle Mason. The Sentinels’ ability to pound the ball up the field on the ground led to lengthy possessions. Joseph Martin punched in a 3-yard QB keeper to give Spanaway Lake a 14-0 lead early in the second frame. A safety and another Martin score were added before intermission to give SLHS a 24-0 lead.
The teams emerged from the locker room to close out their seasons with a more competitive second half of play. Ram senior quarterback Matthew Dammeier remained poised in the pocket despite heavy pressure by the likes of Augustus Ndow. Mount Rainier found the scoreboard on a goal-line push, but the incompletion on the two-point conversion squelched any chance of a comeback. The Sentinels were able to find the end zone twice more before the final buzzer to finish the season on a high note with a 38-6 win.
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
| Thursday | Oct. 17 | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Field | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Tahoma | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 26 | |
| Kentwood | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | |
Tahoma Conquers the Conquerors
By Colin Caruso
Even with the Seahawks on Thursday night football, the French Field stands filled up well to see the Tahoma Bears travel to Kent to play the Kentwood Conquerors. Tahoma spoiled the home field advantage of the Conquerors, controlling both lines of scrimmage and putting lots of pressure on Kentwood sophomore quarterback Brian Campbell. The Bears put together two great drives in the first quarter, marching straight down the field, but only capitalizing on one TD, a 1 yard run by senior Joe Donahue. Kentwood responded later in the second quarter, after not moving the ball well at all, with a 79 yard pass from Campbell to senior Terrence Grady. But a dagger at the end of the half altered the momentum in favor of the Bears, with a 33 yard touchdown pass from Bears quarterback Shane Nelson to senior Deshon Williams with no time left on the clock to take the halftime lead 14-7.
The Bears turned up their defense in the second half, allowing just one more big play for a score, but otherwise holding Kentwood’s great rushing attack at bay. Grady capitalized on another huge passing play, this time 65 yards from Campbell to tie the game at 14, but Tahoma was too tough. The Bears added two more scores, one in the third and one in the fourth, to close the game 26-14.
Top Performers:
Tahoma
Shane Nelson – 2TD passes of 15 yards and 33 yards
Deshon Williams – 2TD catches
Kentwood
Brian Campbell – 2TD passes of 79 and 65 yards
Terrence Grady – 2TD catches
| Thursday | Oct. 10 | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Thomas Jefferson | 6 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 26 | |
| Auburn | 7 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 23 | |
Thomas Jefferson Spoils Auburn’s Homecoming
By Colin Caruso
Going into the fourth quarter of this contest, both the Auburn sideline and fan section were fully prepared to win this football game. The Trojans were up by eleven, dominating the line of scrimmage on offense, and had the crowd amped up on their homecoming night. In came the Thomas Jefferson Raiders, down by two scores to begin the fourth, with no answer for the Auburn offense. That is when quarterback Niko De La Cruz began to heat up. He threw an earlier touchdown on the Raiders first possession on a double reverse, a beautiful pass to James Fitch to take an early lead, but found himself trailing entering the final quarter.
On the first play in the fourth quarter, De La Cruz, in Russell Wilson type fashion, scrambled left and right and spotted Phillip Cuadron wide open on the left sideline. Cuadron then ran another twenty yards down the sideline for a beautiful 50 yard pitch and catch to cut the lead to five after the failed point after, 23-18. The Raiders gave Auburn two first downs on penalties in their ensuing drive, one on an offside, and one on a costly facemask that put the Trojans deep into Raider territory. But the Raiders held and forced a turnover on downs, getting the ball back midway through the fourth quarter. The Raiders marched right down the field and De La Cruz capped off the drive with a 1 yard TD run, followed by a scramble for the 2-point conversion, to take a 26-23 lead with just 48 seconds on the clock.
Auburn’s offense, primarily a running attack, is not equipped to make the big passing plays down the field when they have little time. They instead settled for a few shorter passes, more in line with their playing scheme. The short plays were too little too late, and Thomas Jefferson pulled off the upset on the road, 26-23.
Top Performers:
Thomas Jefferson
Niko De La Cruz – 7/8 118 yards 2TD, 1 rushing TD
Zachariah Grayson – 23 carries for 179 yards, TD
Auburn
Brier Atkinson – 16 carries for 113 yards, TD
Kieo Buchanon – 10 carries for 80 yards, TD
| Thursday | Sept. 26 | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Way | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Bethel | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 18 | |
| Federal Way | 19 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 45 | |
Federal Way Eagles Soar Over Bethel
By Steven Dion
A crisp September evening in Federal Way was the setting of a league matchup between the host Eagles and Bethel Braves. The combination of running back Chico McClatcher and quarterback Keenan Curran of the home team set the tone for their offensive onslaught. Both players found the end zone in the first quarter in addition to a Max Lautalo receiving score to build a 19-0 lead after one period of play. Federal Way’s defensive front seven kept the Bethel offense off balance for the bulk of the contest by stopping the run on early downs and forcing them into third and long situations which were defended well. As well as their third and long downs, Bethel had a handful of scoring chances in the first half foiled by penalties and turnovers. However, Braves kicker LT Bailey put the pigskin between the uprights from 45 yards out late in the second quarter for Bethel’s only points of the first half. Halftime score was 25-3 in favor of the Eagles.
The third quarter was highlighted by a 96 yard scamper by Curran which essentially sealed the victory for the home squad early in the second half. But Bethel finished strong by ending sustained drives with touchdowns by Quentin Freeman and Blake Schwartz. Braves’ stocky ball carrier Jon Concepcion ran well in the second half with big pickups through the Eagle defense, requiring multiple tacklers. When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 45-18 in favor of Federal Way. The two upcoming collegiate prospects in McClatcher and Curran made big plays all night long in front of the home crowd.
Top Performers:
Federal Way
Keenan Curran – 3 rushing TDs of 96, 72, 19yds. 1 passing TD of 49yds.
Chico McClatcher – reception TD of 49yds, rushing TD of 67yds, passing TD of 52yds
| Saturday | Sept. 21 | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Field | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Mount Rainier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kentwood | 27 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 50 | |
Kentwood Conquers Mount Rainier
By Colin Caruso
Kentwood struck early and often in their Saturday night matchup versus the Mount Rainier Rams. After the Washington Huskies pulled a 59-0 win, the Conquerors of Kentwood did their best to match their local college with a 50-0 destruction of the Mount Rainier Rams. The beginning of this game saw a punt from both teams, seemingly a well balanced matchup. But halfway through the first quarter the onslaught began, and it didn’t end until the final whistle. Senior running back Derrick Bell broke the scoreless tie with 5:57 remaining in the first quarter with a rushing touchdown, only to be followed less than three minutes later with his second rushing touchdown. Kentwood added two more scores in the first after forcing a three and out and recovering a fumble, to lead 27-0 after one quarter of play.
Mount Rainier began the second quarter with a chip on their shoulder, and senior running back Donovan Moi added a 57 yard run for the Rams all the way down to the Conqueror 8 yard line. But Kentwood held strong, and Bell again came up huge with an interception in the end zone two plays later. Kentwood would add another rushing touchdown and a safety in the second to take the lead 36-0 going into the half.
By this point, with the game largely in hand for the Conquerors, Kentwood put in their second and third string players to play the majority of the second half. They added two more touchdowns to end the punishment, winning 50-0.
Top Performers:
Kentwood
Derrick Bell – 3 carries 48 yards, 2TD, defensive INT
Brandon Sytsma – 16 carries 88 yards, 2TD
| Thursday | Sept. 19 | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks Stadium | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Kentlake | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 20 | |
| Puyallup | 20 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 41 | |
Puyallup Fends off Kentlake
By Steven Dion
A non-league matchup at Sparks Stadium between the Puyallup Vikings and Kentlake Falcons had a striking similarity to the many park rides next door at the Washington State Fair on Thursday night. Fortunately for Puyallup, their point production in one quarter secured their victory. The Vikings scored first on a red zone strike to Levi Jordan from Brendan Illies. The next Kentlake possession resulted in a fumble recovery score by Puyallup’s Quinn Rawson.
The Viks kept their foot on the pedal by turning an interception into another passing touchdown to DJ Winter as they gained a comfortable 20-0 lead after one frame. Kentlake got on the board with a 2-yard quarterback sneak by D’Marye’ Dedrick. Before the first half concluded, Puyallup’s Trent Nivala returned a fumble 78 yards for six more on a long, sustained drive by the Falcons. Both teams returned to their respective dressing rooms with the scoreboard reading 27-7.
The superior pass protection of Puyallup by the likes of Rawson, Nolan Myers, and Nivala allowed Illies to stand in the pocket and roll out when needed. The junior quarterback found the endzone in the third on a QB keeper to extend the lead to 27 points. But Kentlake’s offense woke up in the fourth as Danstan Kaunda broke through twice to bring Kentlake back within two scores. The third touchdown by Illies late in the fourth ended the Falcons attempt at a comeback. Both teams conducted an up-tempo read option offense, but both defensive units resisted nicely. The difference maker was Illies aerial attack to his many wideout options. Puyallup improves to 3-0 with the win as Kentlake falls to 0-3.
Top Performers:
Kentlake
Danstan Kaunda – RB 2TD
Puyallup
Brendan Illies – QB 3TD
| Thursday | Sept. 12 | 2013 | 4A | Boys | Football | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Field | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Auburn Riverside | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 26 | |
| Kentridge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Auburn Riverside Shuts Out Kentridge
By Colin Caruso
On a beautiful evening in Kent, Wa. the Kentridge Chargers hosted the Auburn Riverside Ravens on French Field in front of a great crowd. The Ravens, dominate all game, started offensively in the spread and moved the ball seamlessly down the field to score the first touchdown of the game. The Kentridge defense was no match for the Ravens’ offensive line, with quarterback Alex Riley having tons of time to pick apart the Charger secondary. However, the Charger defense benefited on penalties in the next two drives and held the Ravens to no points for the remainder of the first.
Auburn Riverside coach Bryant Thomas made a strong offensive adjustment after those two straight scoreless drives. Instead of the spread offense they moved to the “I” formation and the pistol to run the ball with more of a power feel. This worked spectacularly well, with two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter and a pick-six, the Ravens took a 26-0 lead into the locker room at half. The lead was made possible through sound offense and a stifling Raven defense.
The Ravens allowed just 27 total yards in the first half, only to be topped by allowing 17 yards in the second half. Kentridge moved into Raven territory twice, but once was on a kickoff return and the other was through multiple penalties. An amazing performance by the Ravens defense against the run in the second half led the Chargers to a -12 yard rushing total after halftime. The Charger defense stepped up as well, not allowing any points in the second half. The game had a blowout feel, but no scoring in the second half led to a 26-0 finish in favor of Auburn Riverside.
Top Performers:
Auburn Riverside
QB Alex Riley – 13-24 137 yds, 2 rushing TDs
RB Cole Huckaby – 11 carries, 88 yards
WR Gavin Hettinger – 4 catches, 64 yards
Boys State Tournaments
Thursday, February 28 – Saturday, March 2, 2013
Click here to Watch Live Tacoma Dome Coverage
Starting at 2pm on Saturday
4A Boys
4A Boys Winners Bracket
3A Boys
3A Boys Winners Bracket
2A Boys
2A Boys Winners Bracket
1A Boys
1A Boys Winners Bracket
2B Boys
2B Boys Winners Bracket
1B Boys
1B Boys Winners Bracket
Girls State Tournaments
Thursday, February 28 – Saturday, March 2, 2013
Click here to Watch Live Tacoma Dome Coverage
Starting at 2pm on Saturday
4A Girls
4A Girls Winners Bracket
3A Girls
3A Girls Winners Bracket
2A Girls
2A Girls Winners Bracket
1A Girls
1A Girls Winners Bracket
2B Girls
2B Girls Winners Bracket
1B Girls
1B Girls Winners Bracket