Olympia head coach John Kiley
Game Recap
Olympia vs. Tahoma 1-16-16
Saturday night presented an exciting non-league game between Narrows and SPSL representatives in Olympia and Tahoma. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of an exciting matchup including post-game comments by head coach of the Olympia Bears John Kiley!
To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.
Olympia Wins Battle of the Bears Against Tahoma
By Steve Dion
| Saturday- January 16th | 2016 | Boys | 4A | Narrows/SPSL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahoma High School | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Tahoma | 12 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 43 | |
| Olympia | 9 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 48 | |
Olympia senior Liam Murphy
Saturday night at Tahoma High School featured a bear brawl between host Tahoma and Olympia. The home team jumped out to a early lead as Tagen Whitaker and Hayden Sundstrom combined for 19 first half points. The pair outscored the entire output for Olympia in the opening two quarters as their early foul trouble prevented them from finding a rhythm. Additionally, Oly dealt with the misfortunes of a pesky rim that denied several shots that appeared to be on the way down the hatch. At the break, THS led 22-15 with a heavy dose of momentum that would propel their effort at a major upset in the final two frames.
Clearly displeased with the execution of his team in the first half, coach John Kiley brought Olympia back onto the court with significant time remaining in the intermission period. Tahoma was unfazed by the increased intensity shown by the Oly defense as their crisp ball movement led to back-door cuts and open jumpers. David Woodward jump-started the OHS attack late in the third by scoring 8 of his 15 total points which tied Brett Thompson for the team lead. The two seniors additionally led an increased defensive emphasis to spark a run that caused the Olympia fans to rise to their feet. Clayton Stultz quieted the crowd on a pivotal late possession in the third by burying a mid-range jumper that was preceded by a series of great ball movement by Tahoma. The home team led by a half-dozen heading into the final quarter.
An early foul in the fourth on Stultz forced Coach Kilgallon to substitute for his dominant post to which Olympia responded with a run that closed the game. An acrobatic shot by Woodward while drawing contact fell and Olympia could sense they were in control. Thompson was able to knock down some tough shots in the block to add to the lead Oly finally obtained. In his postgame comments, Coach Kiley praised the defense by stating, “I thought the guys dug pretty deep…Brett (Thompson) and David Woodward both just willed something to happen!” Stultz returned and drained some tough jumpers, but the damage was done. Olympia was able to avoid a big loss on their impressive season resume. When asked what was the catalyst for the momentum to shift, Coach Kiley replied, “Once we started to jump some passing lanes smartly in good balance, we were able to make some plays.” Despite the loss, Tahoma can build off their effort on Saturday night.
The Final Score
Olympia 48, Tahoma 43.
Top Performers:
Olympia
David Woodward- 15 points
Brett Thompson- 15 points
Tahoma
Clayton Stultz- 12 points
Vashon Island Sails Past Bears
By Steve Dion
| Saturday- December 12th | 2015 | Boys | 4A/1A | SPSL/Nisqually | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline College | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Tahoma | 6 | 14 | 2 | 21 | 43 | |
| Vashon Island | 17 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 48 | |
Vashon Island senior Sam Yates
At high noon in the Highline College Gym on Saturday, Vashon Island and Tahoma tipped off for game three of the Sports Authority Shootout. The Pirates jumped out to a commanding lead early by starting the game on a 17-0 run. The Bears could not get any shots to fall and their woes were compounded when their 6’9 post Clayton Stultz recorded his second foul in the first 90 seconds of the game. Once Tahoma finally found the scoreboard, they strung together a 12-0 run to find themselves back within striking distance. After two quarters of play, the Vashon Island led by a half-dozen.
THS started the second half the way they began the game by going on an extended cold streak. The Pirates outscored their opponents 11-2 in the third quarter. VI senior Alex Symbol-Godfrey led all scorers with 18 points in addition to his 10 boards. Sam Yates also scored in double figures with 15. Heading into the fourth quarter trailing 15 the Bears needed a big run to climb back into the game. They responded by outscoring the Pirates 21-11 in the final frame when Connor Thomas and Kimball Cottam heated up. The pair combined for 20 points total, many of which were scored in the final minutes of the game. Despite the game slowing down in the latter moments, VI had a big enough edge to prevent the Bears from climbing the mountain.
The Final Score
Vashon Island 48, Tahoma 43
Top Performers:
Vashon Island
Alex Symbol-Godfrey- 18 points, 10 rebounds
Tahoma
Connor Thomas- 12 points
| 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)
| 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
| Friday- Feb. 15 | -4A- | West | Central | District | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Tahoma | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Tahoma | 13 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 55 | |
| Todd Beamer | 16 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 73 | |
Beamer began their full court press in the second, trapping the Bears and forcing three early quarter turnovers. The Titans extended their lead to as many as ten in the second behind eight points from sophomore guard Charles Frazier. But Tahoma cut that lead to eight at the end of two, 31-23.
Coming out of the break, Todd Beamer continued to put offensive pressure on Tahoma, with back to back threes by Juwan Flowers to extend the Titan lead to 12. Bogdon Bliznyuk contributed to the Beamer pull-away, scoring six points and pulling down five rebounds in the quarter. Tahoma had a difficult time controlling their defensive glass in the quarter, allowing four offensive rebounds and six points off second chance baskets.
The game opened up offensively in the fourth, with the teams combining for 42 points. Beamer pulled in front by as many as 21, and ended up closing out the contest by 18, 73-55.
Top Performers:
Tahoma
DeShon Williams (22 points, 7 rebounds)
Coleman Woot (12 points, 13 rebounds)
Paul Lorenger (9 points, 8 rebounds)
Todd Beamer
Trey Burch-Manning (19 points)
Bogdon Bliznyuk (19 points, 7 rebounds)
Juwan Flowers (13 points, 6 rebounds)