West Seattle Knocks Off Reigning Champs in District Semis By Steve Dion
Thursday- February 16th
2017
Girls
3A
SeaKing
Bellevue College
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Bellevue
10
8
12
7
37
West Seattle
10
15
9
13
47
Jasmine Gayles & Ellie Turk – West Seattle
In the first of two girls SeaKing semifinal matchups, the defending 3A champion Bellevue Wolverines faced the Metro League runner-up West Seattle Wildcats.
After a back-and-forth first quarter, West Seattle made their move in the second frame to build a lead that would set them up to close out strong. Grace Sarver & Izzy Turk led the Wildcats in the scoring column early on and were countered by sharpshooting Annika Prins for the Wolverines. The scoreboard read 25-18 at the break.
When play resumed, the Wolverines were able to cut down the deficit to a manageable figure heading into the final game through more buckets by Prins. However, as she has shown the ability to do in multiple occasions, Jasmine Gayles exploded in the final quarter to finish the job for the Wildcats as one of three West Seattle players in double figures for the game. With the victory, they will battle for the district title on Saturday night!
The Final Score
West Seattle 47, Bellevue 37
Top Performers: West Seattle
Grace Sarver- 12 points
theFinalScore.TV
Final 3A Girls Power Rankings By Steve Dion
With the 2015-2016 season in the books, here are the final top ten rankings for the 3A Girls classification!
1) Bellevue (29-0): One of the best teams in state history, the Wolverines captured the school’s first title since 1975 with a perfect 29-0 record.
2) Lynnwood (26-1): The Royals were even better this season than the championship team from a year ago, but Bellevue foiled their plans of a repeat in the semifinal round.
3) Arlington (25-2): The 3A runner up compiled 25 wins in a tough WesCo League with the only blemishes on the schedule compliments of Bellevue and Lynnwood who sit atop the Eagles in the power rankings.
4) Mt. Spokane (16-11): Spokane’s Wildcats gave Bellevue a scare in the opening round of the Hardwood Classic demonstrating their strength to run with the best Washington has to offer.
5) Kamiakin (15-12): Finishing in the Final Four this season is a tremendous feat for the Mid-Columbia representative Braves given the depth of the 3A classification.
6) Prairie (21-6): The Falcons proved they could go toe-to-toe with just about any team they faced as untimely losses spoiled a higher finish in the overall standings.
7) Edmonds-Woodway (17-12): A ten point win over Auburn-Riverside in the regional round raised some eyebrows for how prepared the Warriors were to make some noise in the postseason.
8) Lincoln (24-3): The lone Tacoma-based team to finish their season within the confines of the Dome were 24-1 heading into state cementing their rank as a top-ten team.
9) Bishop Blanchet (23-3): The young core group of Braves that nearly won the title in 2014 continues to churn out quality seasons, but does so amongst equally talented programs that are fighting to play in March.
10) West Seattle (22-4): A state tournament caliber team drew Lynnwood in regionals to prevent a trip to Tacoma, but a fantastic campaign for first year head coach Darnell Taylor nonetheless.
theFinalScore.TV
Final 4A Boys Power Rankings By Steve Dion
With the 2015-2016 season in the books, here are the final top ten rankings for the 3A Boys classification!
1) Rainier Beach (21-4): Mike Bethea is running out of ring fingers as Head Coach of the Beach Boys captures another state title in a season loaded with quality 3A teams.
2) Garfield (24-3): Convinced the Bulldogs would have played in the championship game if not placed in the same side of the bracket as Rainier Beach.
3) O’Dea (21-9): The Irish take the third spot based on the convincing matchups against the Bulldogs in the regular season. Handing Beach a loss in the opening round of the playoffs was impressive.
4) Kennedy Catholic (18-11): Despite the record, the Lancers found a groove late in the season to propel themselves to the 3A semifinal against O’Dea in a strong finish to the season.
5) Bellevue (25-3): A shocking end to a fantastic season leaves some curiosity of what the Wolverines could’ve done in the Hardwood Classic if played again.
6) Cleveland (22-7): Coach Petty deserves a ton of credit for arguably the biggest turnaround in the state by making the Eagles a formidable force to the best the state has to offer.
7) Lincoln (21-5): Narrows champs completed another year as the class of the 253 finishing down the street at the TDome.
8) Auburn-Mountainview (23-2): Claiming the league title from unquestioned favorite Peninsula was a huge accomplishment; The Lions unfortunately fell short of a trip to Tacoma.
9) Wilson (18-7): A team worthy of playing in the comfy confines of the Tacoma Dome drew Garfield in the regional round who ended the solid Rams season.
10) Peninsula (21-4): Purdy has plenty to be proud of as Coach Jackson’s first full class of Seahawks completed a strong senior season led by Mr. Basketball JaQuori McLaughlin.
On the Bubble
Stanwood
Mountlake Terrace
Edmonds-Woodway
Shadle Park
Bellevue Runs the Table, Hoists 3A Trophy By Steve Dion
Saturday- March 5th
2016
Girls
3A
Championship
Tacoma Dome
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Arlington
8
16
4
12
40
Bellevue
14
21
12
22
69
3A Champions – Bellevue Wolverines
Entering the 2015-16 season, Coach Leah Krautter knew she had a talented squad, but didn’t know how all the pieces would fit together. After the first game of the season, she was encouraged this team was special.
After topping Lynnwood on Friday which may have been Bellevue’s toughest test to keep their unbeaten record intact, they entered championship Saturday with the expectation to close the deal and lift the trophy. To do so, they needed to get past Arlington who is no stranger to deep tournament runs. Much like the game played prior to this one between Rainier Beach and O’Dea, Bellevue outmatched Arlington from the early stages of the game and it carried throughout. By halftime, they built a double-digit lead which put the Eagles on the ropes. Gracie Castandea and Serafina Balderas needed to spark the Eagles to climb back into the game after solid contributions in the first two quarters.
The stifling Bellevue defense held Arlington to four points in the pivotal third quarter leading to 19% from the field in the second half. Meanwhile, the Wolverines kept the pedal down as Shelby Cansler and Quinessa Caylao-Do broke the game open as the duo combined for 41 points. The victory against the Royals on day two proved to be the quasi championship game as the vast majority of the second half was simply a wait for the inevitable. Congratulations to Bellevue on going wire to wire from the opening tip of the season.
The Final Score
Bellevue 69, Arlington 40.
Top Performers: Bellevue Points
Shelby Cansler – 21 and 8 Rebs
Quinessa Caylao-Do – 20
Ann-Marie Jacobs – 12
Arlington Points
Gracie Castandea – 12 and 9 Rebs
Serafina Balderas – 11
Sevi Bielser – 5
Bellevue Runs Over Rams, Continues Perfect Season By Steve Dion
Saturday- February 27th
2016
Girls
3A
Regionals
Bellevue College
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Wilson
10
7
7
2
26
Bellevue
16
30
24
9
79
Bellevue senior Anna Wilson
Leah Krautter’s undefeated Wolverines continued their streak of dominance on Saturday night in Bellevue’s lopsided win over Wilson to earn another trip the TDome in the final week of the season. This game was decided before intermission when BHS took a 46-17 lead into the locker room. Tatiana Streun, Quinessa Caylao-Do, and Anna Wilson led the charge by combining for 36 first half points. Kiki Knox and Erica Hamlin countered with 7 & 6 respectively in the half, but this proved to not be enough.
The second half was merely procedural with the result evident allowing Bellevue to demonstrate its depth. Nine Wolverines scored to which Streun commented about after the game by saying, “We don’t have bench players. We all contribute…everyone can shoot, everyone can pass the ball. We just play as a team and it’s great to be a part of.” In regards to the team’s chemistry with new players added this season, Streun added, “It’s like they’ve been here for four years and there’s nothing holding us back as a team.”
The all-around balance of BHS helped the Wolverines reassure their position as one of the favorites heading into finals weekend. Will Bellevue win the requisite three games to hoist the hardware and claim a perfect season?
Bellevue Cruises Past Terrace, Tacoma Bound By Steve Dion
Saturday- February 27th
2016
Boys
3A
Regionals
Bellevue College
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Mountlake Terrace
8
11
4
12
35
Bellevue
11
11
16
5
43
Bellevue Wolverines
Despite having only 6 players active in Saturday’s regional game against Mountlake Terrace, Bellevue was able to punch their ticket in a low-scoring affair with the Hawks. An early Bellevue lead created by the likes of Sharif Khan and sharpshooter Colin Suter was gradually whittled away heading into halftime as Khyree Armstead found his rhythm recording all nine of his points in the first two quarters.
They were unable to carry the momentum into the third quarter when the Wolverines put the clamps down on defense. Mikey Henn and Cole Cirillo helped give their team a lead Terrace would not surmount. As a result, the Wolverines find themselves playing March basketball once again.
After the game, Sharif Khan discussed the excitement of returning to the Dome stating, “It’s a great feeling just knowing we’re going back there, and we have one more shot at it.” When asked about the team’s performance on Saturday, he said, “Guys stepped up big time, Cole Cirillo was huge for us, Andrew Kenny played extremely tough, and then Colin Suter was knocking down shots.” If they end up meeting with favorites Garfield or Rainier Beach in the final game, Khan explains the importance of “mental toughness. As long as we come out with an attitude that we can compete is all you can ask for.”
The Final Score
Bellevue 43, Mountlake Terrace 35.
Game Recap
SeaKing Final- Bellevue vs. Bishop Blanchet 2-20-16
SeaKing Champions – Bellevue Wolverines
The SeaKing district final paired league champs as KingCo’s Bellevue squared off against Bishop Blanchet from the Metro League. Listen as Nic Beckman provides a game recap including post-game comments from Bellevue senior Shelby Cansler!
To listen to the game recap,simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
KingCo Claims SeaKing District With Bellevue Victory By Steve Dion
Friday- February 19th
2016
Girls
3A
SeaKing Final
Bellevue College
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Bishop Blanchet
11
18
8
16
53
Bellevue
23
9
22
13
67
SeaKing District Champions – Bellevue Wolverines
The SeaKing district final could potentially be a matchup we see once again before season’s end as undefeated Bellevue faced off against Metro League champs Bishop Blanchet. The Wolverines showed their team speed within the opening moments of the game as Quinessa Caylao-Do started her scoring spree following the opening tip with an outlet score. This sparked a 12-5 run which prompted a Blanchet timeout to talk things over.
The pace remained up-tempo, but Blanchet was able to claw back through contributions of Jadyn Bush and Taylor Chambers who scored 15 and 12 respectively. Bellevue’s leading scorer Shelby Cansler rolled her ankle midway through the second quarter amidst a strong start. The Braves chipped away at the deficit and trailed by three at the break 32-29.
It didn’t take long for the Wolverines to grab hold of the game in the second half when Anna Wilson and Caylao-Do buried a handful of buckets from downtown to drive the lead back up to double digits. The lead continued to grow and Blanchet’s chances of a comeback became less feasible. The final quarter was essentially procedural with Bellevue’s victory at hand to capture the district title and a continued perfect record. After the game, Bellevue’s Shelby Cansler talked about the importance of the win by saying, “It’s a huge statement for us because we didn’t know how we compared to Metro teams playing only KingCo.” When asked about what the Wolverines will be focusing on in the state tourney, Cansler replied, “Rebounding is something we can improve on. But, otherwise, just keep playing the way we play.”
theFinalScore.TV
4A State Girls Basketball Rankings By Steve Dion
As league play is in its final weeks and the playoffs are on the horizon, here at the top ten rankings for the 3A girls classification!
1) Lynnwood: 15-0 (7-0) This Royals team is having a season that will be remembered for years to come.
2) Bellevue: 14-0 (9-0) Winning the Tournament of Champions in Arizona as part of an undefeated record shows the Wolverines are firing on all cylinders.
3) Bishop Blanchet: 16-0 (11-0) If the Braves stay healthy down the stretch, the sky is the limit.
4) West Seattle: 16-0 (11-0) Will host what appears to be the Metro League title tomorrow against Blanchet .
5) Arlington: 15-0 (5-0) Haven’t faltered every time a tough opponent has tried to compromise the Eagles unblemished record!
6) Auburn-Riverside: 16-0 (10-0) Rare to call a 16-0 a team a “sleeper”, but this year the Ravens are .
7) Lincoln: 15-1 (10-0) The Abes edged rival Wilson by a pair to determine South Sound dominance .
8) Wilson: 13-3 (9-1) The Rams have put together one of the toughest schedules, and the three losses were by a combined 9 points.
9) Mercer Island: 12-2 (6-1) Don’t forget about the Islanders that are in Bellevue’s rearview mirror.
10) Glacier Peak: 12-4 (6-2) Can run with the best, but are slightly outmatched by powerhouses like Lynnwood .
On the Bubble
Prairie
Stanwood
Lakeside
Bonney Lake
Roosevelt
theFinalScore.TV
3A State Basketball Rankings By Steve Dion
As league play is in its final weeks and the playoffs are on the horizon, here at the top ten rankings for the 3A classification!
1) Garfield 14-1 (10-0) Not only the best team in the state, but among the best in the country.
2) Rainier Beach 11-1 (10-0) While Bethea’s Beach Boys patiently await their anticipated game against Garfield, they continually breeze through their league schedule.
3) Bellevue 14-1 (9-0) The Wolverines have all the pieces necessary to match up against any team that stands in their way.
4) Peninsula 15-1 (9-1) If they continue to “Do What We Do”, this team could make a serious run.
5) Lincoln 12-2 (9-0) The Abes have earned the distinction of Tacoma’s best right now.
6) Wilson 13-3 (9-1) Tough interstate loss against a strong West Linn squad last week, but still top ten material.
7) Auburn-Mountainview 15-1 (9-1) Defensive minded Lions have held opponents to 50 or fewer points in 10 of 16 games.
8) Cleveland 13-2 (9-1) A convincing win over O’Dea on a big stage at the Unity Hoop Showcase showed these rising Eagles are for real.
9) West Seattle 12-4 (8-3) A polished leader at point guard and a staunch front court is a nice recipe for a well-rounded Wildcats squad.
10) Shadle Park 11-4 (10-3) The Hilanders are holding their own nicely against a 4A-laden GSL.
On the Bubble
O’Dea
Edmonds-Woodway
Kamiakin
Mercer Island
Seattle Prep
Bellevue Rings in 2016 with Win Over Vikings By Steve Dion
Monday- January 4th
2016
Girls
4A/3A
KingCo
Bellevue High School
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Inglemoor
9
13
10
9
41
Bellevue
23
14
13
17
67
Bellevue senior Shelby Cansler
Monday night showcased a clash of KingCo powerhouses in Bellevue and Inglemoor. The Wolverines are fresh off a first place finish in the Tournament of Championships in Arizona over the holiday break. They would put their perfect record on the line against an always tough Vikings squad. Bellevue controlled the pace early by pushing the ball up the court quickly and not allowing Inglemoor to get comfortable in their defensive sets. The Wolverines picked up a double digit lead that continued to grow through contributions by Quinessa Caylao-Do who scored 14 in the contest including an efficient 11/12 from the free throw line. Additionally, Shelby Cansler notched 11 of her team-high 18 in the first half as the versatile scorer demonstrated her range and skill under the basket. Inglemoor regrouped and put together a late run in the first half to close the gap. Kennedy Nicholas finished a tough reverse layup while drawing a foul to bring the deficit within ten and bring to single digits. Difficulty from the charity stripe troubled the Viks and Bellevue capitalized by bringing the lead back to fifteen by halftime.
The Wolverines continued to grow their lead in the third quarter as the defensive effort continued to pay dividends. The Bellevue trap forced several turnovers, many by Anna Wilson who finished with 13 points. Inglemoor seniors Mackenzie Gardner and Ifeoma Emeka solidified the Inglemoor attack by showing toughness down the stretch. Emeka finished with a team-high 13 in the contest. The fourth quarter was mostly academic as the outcome of the game was essentially decided. However, the final moments of the game featured a stamp on the contest which was a behind the back pass from Anna Wilson to Ann-Marie Jacobs. The Wolverines start 2016 by continuing their long streak in the win column.
Bellevue’s Dominant Third Quarter Conquers Kentwood By Steve Dion
Saturday- December 19th
2015
Boys
4A/3A
SPSL/KingCo
Showare Center
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Kentwood
17
17
4
17
55
Bellevue
19
18
15
18
70
Bellevue senior Mikey Henn
The matching 23 point totals for Sharif Khan and Mikey Henn helped propel Bellevue to a double-digit win over Kentwood in the Showare Shootout. Early in the contest, Conqueror guard Darius Lubom helped Kentwood jump out in front. However, Bellevue countered with an extended run during the second quarter which helped the Wolverines take a narrow 3 point lead into halftime.
The Wolverines continued to score at their average rate in the third quarter, but Kentwood hit a wall. The Conks only recorded 4 points in the third quarter. As the game winded down, it was evident Kentwood was pressing a bit and the Wolverines kept their composure. Despite double figure scoring by Koby Huerta, Rayvaughan Bolton, and Lubom for Kentwood, the dynamic duo of Khan and Henn guided BHS to a win. Additionally, Bellevue sophomore Andrew Kenny nearly recorded a double double with 9 points and 10 rebounds and Cole Cirillo dished out 7 assists.
Eastside Catholic Erases 28 Point Deficit in 3A Thriller By Steve Dion
This is the game Washington high school football fans wanted to see. This is the game that seemed inevitable. The most dominant high school football program in the state during the 21st century against their neighbor that has gradually built a powerhouse of their own. A fourth straight matchup for the 3A title would match Bellevue who won the first two in ’12 & ‘13 and Eastside Catholic the victor a year ago.
The Crusaders received the opening possession and were forced to punt when the drive stalled deep in their own territory. The punt was mishandled and recovered by Parker Davidson to give the Cru the ball back before they could relinquish it. Two plays later, Chris Lefau burst into the endzone to give Eastside Catholic the first points of the contest. Benaiah Ellington made up for the punt return fumble by picking off EC quarterback Harley Kirsch later in the first. This set up Ercle Terrell for his first of four unanswered touchdowns including one from 54 yards up the gut. Brandon Wellington had seen enough and returned the kickoff 97 yards to cut the Wolverines lead to 14. Despite only having 1:38 to work with in the half, the Wolverines charged down the field once again and Tyson Penn who dropped what would have been a touchdown earlier made a spectacular diving grab to put BHS within striking distance. Wolverine quarterback Justus Rogers was content with feeding the hot hand so he went to Penn once again; this time in the corner of the endzone. Bellevue stampeded into halftime with a commanding 35-14 lead. They were led by Terrell’s 129 first half rushing yards and quartet of scores as part of their 232 to 53 total yards advantage over their counterpart.
A three touchdown deficit to Bellevue is a tall task to overcome. The prospects of a comeback became less of a reality when the lead extended to four touchdowns midway through the third when Christoph Hirota punched it in for the sixth Bellevue score. The Crusaders appeared to be at their breaking point. Harley Kirsch who had thrown a rare pair of interceptions in the game returned to their potent aerial attack immediately by finding Hunter Bryant on a 28 yard toss to the back corner of the endzone. The Cru defense did their part to get the ball back to their playmakers. Kirsch would find Bryant once more before the third quarter closed. Down 14 points with one frame remaining, could Bellevue hang on?
Coach Butch Goncharoff ran the ball 56 times in this game and even as his team’s lead dwindled, he did not stray from his game plan. On a crucial fourth and three, Wellington stopped Omar Dyles from moving the chains. Six plays later, Matt Laris pulled in a four yard toss to bring EC one score away from evening up the score. The Cru could taste it. With the pressure on Bellevue to hold on, their next drive was thwarted when Steve Moran stripped Justus Rogers to which Davidson recovered once again. At this point, Eastside was on a crash course to the endzone to which Wellington was behind the wheel. The senior tailback tied the game up leaving only 1:24 on the clock. Bellevue failed to advance the ball to field goal range in the final seconds and we were headed to overtime!
Bellevue took the first crack in extra time. On second down, Rogers passed to Penn in the endzone and Victor Guevara batted the ball away in a courageous effort. On fourth down, Bellevue lined up for a 39 yard field goal. The ball was mis-hit and all EC need now was a score of any kind. A pitch to Wellington resulted in a dive to the pylon that was one yard short of the game winner. Eastside Catholic hurries to set up into formation. Kirsch takes the snap, hands off to Wellington, initially stopped at the point of attack, but a second effort allowed for just enough room to dive past the plane of the goal line. Crusaders win! The team and coaching staff rush onto the field knowing they just completed one of the premier comebacks in the history of the Gridiron Classic. The trophy stays in the plateau for another year.
Moments after the game, a glowing Coach Thiebahr said, “I’m so happy for our seniors and for our community. I’m just really happy to show what we are; the resilience that our school has and the resilience of our football program. One of these seniors “Coach T” was referring to is Brandon Wellington who scored the game winning touchdown and when asked about his four years with Thielbahr, an emotional Wellington replied, “He’s a great teacher…he has pushed me to that next level. I’m gonna miss him.” After three years as the starting Crusader quarterback in which he collected two state titles, Harley Kirsch remarked, “It’s weird to think it’s all over…I was thinking a couple days ago ‘wow, that’s our last practice’ and now I’m thinking wow, that’s it.”
The Final Score:
Eastside Catholic 48, Bellevue 42
2015 State Championship Preview: 4A/3A 4A & 3A
Dick Fain & Steve Dion
With the 2015 Gridiron Classic at the Tacoma Dome coming up this weekend, Dick Fain from Varsity Football Live on Sports Radio 950 KJR and Steve Dion break down the 4A and 3A title games to project what they expect to see at the Woodshed this weekend!
To catch the complete State Tournament Preview with Dick Fain & Steve Dion, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Wolverines Double Up Blanchet in Semis, Championship Game Bound Again By Steve Dion
Bellevue has become synonymous with championship football in Washington and their appearance at the Tacoma Dome during semifinal week is par for the course. Bishop Blanchet would look to continue their dream season under Coach Kyle Moore on the heels of a 73-28 blowout over Juanita last week.
The Braves demonstrated how green they were literally and figuratively as the first snap of the game was fumbled and recovered for a Wolverine touchdown. Bellevue struck again two minutes late as Isaiah Ifanse punched it in from two yards out to cap off a four-play, seventy-two yard drive and give BHS an early double digit lead. Needing a big play to spark Blanchet, the ever-reliable O’Shea Trujillo made a big play; a 39 yard fumble recovery for touchdown cutting the lead to a single score. This started a back-and-forth game trading touchdowns as the scoreboard read 35-21 in favor of the Wolverines heading into halftime.
Butch Goncharoff certainly reinforced the need to start halves strong because his team found the goal line early in the third on an Ercle Terrell run who finished with three total touchdowns. Once again, Bishop Blanchet answered the call on a trick play which involved a pass from Trujillo to a wide-open Christian Peter. The Braves finally recovered an onside kick afterwards, but failed to turn the momentum into points. This proved to be a backbreaker for Blanchet because Bellevue put the nail in the coffin to secure a 56-28 win. For the fourth consecutive year, the Bellevue Wolverines will face the Eastside Catholic Crusaders for the 3A state title.
Bellevue Gets Back to Winning with Islander Shutout By Steve Dion
It’s rare that Bellevue heads into any game with a two game losing streak. Friday night was one of those exceptions as the Wolverines were looking to get back into the win column as the 2014 state championship game and ’15 season opener with Bishop Gorman from Nevada were primed to be put in the rear view mirror. The challenger to this proposition would be rival Mercer Island who found themselves tied 21 apiece when they played at Bellevue last year before eventually losing.
The game started in familiar Wolverine fashion as a quick forced 3 and out on defense was followed by a 55 yard receiving touchdown by Tyson Penn on their first play from scrimmage. This was followed by another forced punt and 35 yard dart thrown by Justus Rodgers to Isaiah Gilchrist up the middle on 4th and six to put BHS up by 14 early. The onslaught had begun. The inability for the Islanders to gain an upper hand on the field position battle left them susceptible to allowing more scoring by the hungry Wolverines. After touchdown runs by Ercle Terrell and Christoph Hirota, Bellevue led 28-0 at the half.
More of the same continued in the final two frames as Justus Rogers scored on a QB keeper adding to the lead and further sealing the fate of the contest. The Islanders fought hard and the Mercer Island faithful showed up loud and proud, but they were unable to find the scoreboard.
Lynnwood Cruises to Final in Blowout of Bellevue By Steven Dion
Friday- March 6
2015
Girls
3A
State
Tacoma Dome
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Lynnwood
13
19
23
8
63
Bellevue
6
6
19
6
37
Lynnwood Junior Mikayla Pivec
Lynnwood’s stifling defense and lightning quick offense has put them on a collision course to a deep state tournament run all season long. With one game separating them from their first championship appearance in 3A, Bellevue who has put together another strong season stood in their way. The well-balanced Royals squad Coach Everett Edwards places on the floor each night featuring Mikayla Pivec and Monty Cooper cruised to a convincing 60-36 victory over a talented West Seattle team in the opening round. Meanwhile, the Wolverines rolled to a double-digit win over Prairie in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday. With a ticket to the title game on the line, who would prevail?
The Royals put together a first half that would determine the fate of the game in their dominance on both ends of the floor. Not only did they limit Bellevue to a dozen points in the first sixteen minutes of play, they built a twenty point lead in the process. Their 42% field goal percentage compared to BHS’ 17% told the story in the opening quarters of the contest. A 32-12 halftime score meant the Wolverines had a huge hill to climb.
BHS returned to the floor with a spark in the third quarter in which they registered 19 points, but allowing 23 in the process caused the Lynnwood lead to grow. Bellevue’s key players all season long including Mackenzie Keeter, Deja Rogers, Tatiana Streun, and Mandy Steward were unable to establish a rhythm and react to the incredible team speed of Lynnwood. Back-to-back possessions where the Royals drained long jump-shots including a deep three by Dani Hayes causing the net to get tangled with the rim symbolized the roll Lynnwood was on from start to finish. Four Royals finished in double figures including Pivec and Jordyn Edwards with 15 apiece. LHS advances to take on the back-to-back defending champs in Cleveland on Saturday.
Rainier Beach Downs Wolverines For SeaKing Title By Steven Dion
Saturday- February 21
2015
Boys
3A
SeaKing
Bellevue College
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Rainier Beach
27
14
15
14
70
Bellevue
19
13
12
12
56
Rainier Beach Vikings
In what could become a state final matchup, the 3 time defending champs Rainier Beach squared off against a surging Bellevue team for the district title on Saturday at Bellevue College. The capacity crowd was eager to see two of the top teams in the state square off to determine district dominance. This particular game had seeding implications on the line in addition to an extra boost heading into regionals weekend. The stage was set: Metro League versus KingCo. Which league would prevail?
As Rainier Beach does better than anyone, the Vikings pressed the Wolverines in the backcourt with Ivy Smith and Shadeed Shabazz. This defensive effort provided dividends on the offensive end as Shabazz got a hot hand early. Bellevue countered with high scoring early as big man Mikey Henn notched eight points including a pair of triples in the first quarter. Ivy Smith connected on a long toss at the first quarter buzzer to give RB a 27-19 lead after one quarter.
Senior leader for Beach Dejounte Murray demonstrated his versatility by pulling down tough rebounds and controlling the Viking attack. He followed his 10 point first quarter with half a dozen more in the second frame. Murray finished with a game-high 22. The Wolverines kept pace with a variety of scoring options including reserve Andrew Kinney who provided a nice boost. At the break, RBHS held a nine point lead.
When play resumed, BHS was eager to find a groove and cut the deficit to set themselves up for a chance to win. Senior captains Kyle Foreman and Gunther Klimes attempted to will their team to reach that extra gear Bellevue is capable of locking into. Rainier Beach dashed their hopes on back-to-back possessions when a two-handed alley-oop slam by Murray was followed up by a defensive stop and a tomahawk slam by high-flying freshman Kevin Porter. Trailing by a dozen with a quarter to go, could Coach O’Connor rally the Wolverines?
Beach responded with a resounding “no” as Murray converted on two crucial possessions to put the game away. He zipped an assist to Vincenzo Reiser who was parked under the cup and on the next possession dished the rock to Ivy who knocked down a three while being fouled in the process. These two plays put the game on ice and propelled Rainier Beach to a district championship. Don’t be surprised if these teams meet up again in the Tacoma Dome in March!
The Final Score: Rainier Beach 70 Bellevue 56
Top Performers: Rainier Beach
Dejounte Murray-22 points
Henn’s Explosive Second Half Propels Bellevue Past Crusaders By Steven Dion
Tuesday- February 17
2015
Boys
3A
SeaKing
Bellevue College
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Bellevue
12
15
21
21
69
Eastside Catholic
12
10
9
16
47
Bellevue Senior Kyle Foreman
The 3A District 2 tournament is underway and the second round was played on Tuesday night including a pair of contests at Bellevue College. The nightcap featured the 3A runner-up in the state championship tournament Eastside Catholic and a surging Bellevue squad who enjoyed a sense of home-court advantage due to close proximity. The winner would advance to the quarterfinals where they would take on Garfield who won the early game over Franklin. Conversely, the losing squad would move to the other side of the bracket where they would have a chance to finish up to fifth place in the highly competitive SeaKing district.
A buzzing gym with packed sidelines may have taken a toll on the nerves of both teams in the opening minutes, but it did not take long for each side to find a rhythm. An emphatic dunk by Gunther Klimes gave Bellevue a burst. EC responded moments later when Matisse Thybulle elevated for a one-handed tip jam that brought many people to their feet.
Tied at dozen apiece heading into the second quarter, the ability for one team to create some separation was available. The Wolverines seized the opportunity by stringing together an 11-0 run that ate up nearly five minutes. Sharif Khan scored five in the frame and Javon Jefferson provided a lift off the bench by knocking down two buckets in the quarter. Max Hudgins finally got the Cru off the scheid at the 3:30 mark when the senior knocked down a three-pointer. This allowed ECHS to close the quarter strong by outscoring the Wolverines 8-4 in the final minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to five points at 27-22.
Bellevue’s versatile post Mikey Henn had a quiet three points in the first half, but that quickly changed in the second. A few early buckets including a monstrous two-handed slam earned the junior more time with the ball in his hands as the half progressed. Senior guard Kyle Foreman distributed the ball nicely to Henn in addition to knocking down shots of his own. He buried a pair from downtown en route to 15 points and ten by Henn helped Bellevue blow the doors off the game in the pivotal third quarter. The final frame was on cruise control for Chris O’ Connors Wolverines as they chewed up clock and used precision passing to neutralize the Crusaders press. Henn netted eight more points to pad his game-high 21 point total. The BHS bench was emptied to protect the starters down the stretch and the clock wound down quickly as Bellevue ran away with a 22 point win.
Bellevue Girls Advance in SeaKing District Tourney Over Lakeside By Steven Dion
Tuesday- February 17
2015
Girls
3A
SeaKing
Bellevue College
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Bellevue
18
8
24
12
62
Lakeside
8
8
8
19
43
Bellevue Senior Dejah Rogers
Tuesday night at Bellevue College featured four SeaKing matchups including a clash of top girls squads in Bellevue and Lakeside. The Lions picked up a 40-31 victory over Seattle Prep on Saturday to advance to the second round of the winner’s bracket. Leah Krautter’s Wolverines earned a first round bye to place Bellevue directly into this game. Advancing to the next round in the district tourney was on the line for the victor of this contest.
Bellevue jumped out to an early lead as the disruptive perimeter defense forced turnovers and created open looks on the offensive end. Mandy Steward showed her shooting range by knocking down jumpers after intercepting passes on the defensive end of the floor. Kimijah King led the Lions in scoring by strong takes to the cup despite strong defense in the paint. A stark difference in the contest was the sure-handedness of Bellevue. They pulled down rebounds stronger and were able to pluck away loose balls more regularly. After garnering a ten point lead after the first quarter, Bellevue was on its way to a blowout. However, Lakeside finished the second quarter strong and was able to retain a ten point deficit going into halftime.
The Wolverines continued to build their lead early in the third as their variety of scoring options made a presence. Steward tacked on eight, Ann-Marie Jacobs added four points, and five other Bellevue contributed to the huge 24 point third quarter. With eight minutes remaining and a 50-24 lead, the fate of the game was sealed. However, Lakeside continued to battle and the support showed by those on the bench fueled the Lions to a strong final frame. Their tenacity on defense including hitting the deck for loose balls paid dividends on offense. Kelly Keene knocked down a corner three and after Lakeside intercepted the ensuing inbound, found Keene in the same spot for another triple in the matter of seconds. The Lions would outscore BHS in the fourth quarter by a 19-12 margin, but the Wolverines walked away with the win.
Bellevue Hands Sammamish First Loss, Takes Lead in 3A KingCo By Steven Dion
Wednesday- December 16
2014
Boys
3A
KingCo
Bellevue High School
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Final
Bellevue
13
20
15
22
70
Sammamish
9
11
9
18
47
Bellevue Senior Gunther Klimes
Tuesday night’s high school hoops schedule included a clash of two teams that were without a loss in their records. The Wolverines played host to the Totems with a chance to be perched at the top of the KingCo League standings. The home team features many of its key contributors to the state tournament last season; would Sammamish challenge one of the state’s finest?
There was a high level of energy displayed in this contest as both teams were content with attacking the bucket in transition early in the shot clock. Bellevue’s zone defense established their ability to create turnovers as their length and swarming nature resulted in Sammamish headaches. However, the Wolverines were unable to convert these takeaways to points, thus keeping the Totems within striking distance. Seven Wolverines scored in the second quarter giving the home squad a 33-20 lead by halftime. The final moments of the first half were quite a spectacle as Kyle Foreman seemingly had a clear path to another Bellevue bucket. Michael Shinaul chased the Wolverine senior down and made a phenomenal block near the rim. Shinaul came crashing down into the padding behind the basket knocking it off the wall. Meanwhile, Issac Garcia raced to pick up the loose ball that was bouncing toward the Sammamish bench. He collided with an official and both tumbled to the floor into the Totem bench as the buzzer sounded. There were seemingly more players on the hardwood than standing as the first half concluded.
To give themselves a chance to climb back into the game, it was imperative the Totems outscore Bellevue in the third quarter. Shaky free throw shooting by BHS was a start, but not finishing on their own possessions prevented Sammamish for cutting down the lead. Zach Moore, Andrew Kenny, and Foreman scored four apiece in the third and while captain Vlad Yadevich netted five, the Bellevue lead grew to 19 after three quarters. The depth of the Wolverines continued to show its strength as 8 players scored in the fourth quarter as the home team picked up its fourth win by the score of 70-47. The leading scorers in the game were Gunther Klimes and Kyle Foreman of BHS and Kyle Tracy of SHS who all scored 14 points.
Top Performers: Bellevue
Gunther Klimes & Kyle Foreman-14 points
The Mighty have Fallen; Eastside Catholic Ends Bellevue’s Reign By Steven Dion
Since 2001, Butch Goncharoff has led Bellevue to 11 of 13 state championships including the previous six consecutive titles. Defeating the Wolverines has taken truly special teams in their era of dominance. Eastside Catholic coach Jeremy Thielbahr had his sights set on becoming the next challenger to the 3A crown and had his fair share of growing pains in the process including back-to-back defeats by Bellevue in the 2012 and 2013 championship games.
The Crusaders and Wolverines steamrolled through their seasons to find themselves playing December football once again. The first two title games these teams played were blowouts in the favor of Bellevue. Everyone at the Tacoma Dome witnessed another lopsided result, but this had a different tune.
Per usual, the Wolverines scored a touchdown on their opening drive, a 5 yard Sam Richmond touchdown run. Playing from behind is never a good way to start against a team approaching its 68th consecutive victory. The Crusaders managed to strike back with a 9 yard touchdown scamper by Brandon Wellington who would score twice more in the contest. Less than a minute later, Isaiah Gilchrist ran a reverse 56 yards to the house to regain the lead. The Wolverines botched the extra point which appeared to give EC a dose of confidence after conceding a big scoring play. The half would close with several read option runs by Crusader quarterback Harley Kirsch which moved the chains and set up a 6 yard strike to Hunter Bryant to give the underdogs a halftime lead.
Bellevue’s commitment to the run was an unsuccessful endeavor in the second half as the Eastside defensive line grew stronger and more aggressive. Justus Rogers had three pass attempts in the game, none of which were completed. Midway through the third, Kirsch found Devon Arbis-Jackson on a short pass which he carried several defenders with him to the goal line for the score. Leading 21-13, the possibility of an upset was becoming a reality. The Wolverines ineptitude on offense was alarming as they ran only 25 offensive plays to EC’s 83 and did not convert a single third or fourth down. The total yard figures were 158 to 414 in favor of the Crusaders.
Early in the fourth quarter Brandon Wellington put Eastside up by two scores on a 1 yard dive play. On the ensuing kickoff, EC recovered the football. Eleven plays later, Wellington was in the end zone again to ice the game. There was 4:18 left on the clock at this point, but leading 35-13, Eastside’s sideline was starting to realize what they had accomplished. Bellevue’s offense was stalled one final time and ECHS was able to run down the clock at their discretion.
When the scoreboard read 0:00, waves of joy, shock, and disappointment were felt throughout the Tacoma Dome as Eastside Catholic defeated Bellevue in convincing fashion. Coach Goncharoff said the better team won the game and he was concerned going into the game about being undersized at the line. Winning coach Jeremy Thielbahr said they had to create an entirely new offensive scheme which Bellevue hadn’t seen them do before. The 3A crown is taking a short trip east to the Issaquah plateau for a year, and maybe more.
Wolverines Advance, Pilchuck’s Memorable Season Ends By Steven Dion
Bellevue is no stranger to the Tacoma Dome and the juggernaut from the east side of Lake Washington will play in the Gridiron Classic for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons. To reach December football, Goncharoff’s guys would square off against Marysville-Pilchuck. The Tomahawks have overcome major adversity on and off the field these past few months so this game was emotionally charged in many ways. The sea of red on the MP sideline was enormous and the support was felt by everyone at the Tacoma Dome. But there was a game to be played, how did it shake out?
The smothering defense of Bellevue made a statement early by stuffing Marysville on their first few possessions. Likewise, the Tomahawks stuffed a run-heavy attack of BHS and helped keep the contest scoreless after one quarter. However, the first play of the second was a one-yard touchdown run by Sam Richmond to close a long drive for Bellevue. Pilchuck found their offensive groove by eating away a huge chunk of the frame by moving the chains and setting up Sebastian Navar for a 24 yard field goal. In the waning moments of the half, Bellevue drove quickly and efficiently down the field to retain their seven point lead as Kian Khodamorad knocked home a field goal from 28 yards out to close the first half of play. At the break, M-P head coach Brandon Carson told his team, “24 minutes, lay it on the line.”
Pilchuck’s ability to keep the score within one possession and feeding off the crowd helped take their defensive effort to another level. Bellevue was held scoreless in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Pilchuck offense came alive as Austin Joyner and Killian Page barreled through defenders to keep a long drive going into Wolverine territory. Drew Hatch who finished with 11 tackles on defense was the recipient of a 14 yard strike from Erik Lind to tie the ballgame at ten apiece. The Pilchuck sideline erupted as their resilient squad was battling toe-to-toe with the best. With one quarter left, the game was up for grabs.
The Bellevue coaching staff gathered the team together to refocus and they responded accordingly. BHS quarterback Justus Rogers found success in running the football later in the contest and set his team up for another redzone opportunity. Richmond rumbled through defenders en route to a two yard touchdown run despite the ball popping loose at the end of the run. Down a score, Pilchuck needed a response. Their offense stalled and were forced to punt. Bellevue drove down the field quickly, but were stopped from recording a likely back-breaking touchdown. Khoadamorad set up for a field goal. Off the post!
But wait, a flag was down! Running into the kicker. The Wolverines would knock it home this time to go up by ten. In the final moments of desperation, MP fumbled the ball and Bellevue would hold on to win. Incredible support by both sides as the entire Bellevue team saluted the Marysville faithfaul. Asked what Carson was going to tell his team after the game…”I love them.”
The FinalScore – Bellevue 20, Marysville-Pilchuck 10.
Top Performers: Bellevue
Sam Richmond- 29 carries, 99 yards, 2 touchdowns
