Tag Archives: West Seattle

West Seattle Bounces Wilson in Quarterfinal Bout

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West Seattle Bounces Wilson in Quarterfinal Bout
By Steve Dion

Thursday- March 2nd 2017 Boys 3A Hardwood Classic
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Wilson 14 7 13 20 54
Rainier Beach 15 10 15 22 62

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West Seattle Senior Nate Pryor

The penultimate Hardwood Classic quarterfinal matchup on Thursday featured an increasingly less unknown West Seattle squad against locally-based Wilson Rams. After facing the likes of Nathan Hale, Rainier Beach, & Garfield on several occasions in recent weeks, it was certainly a nice change for Keffrey Fazio’s Wildcats squad to test its meddle against other top Washington talent.

The matchup of length pitted Emmitt Matthews Jr. and Nathaniels Stokes for Wilson against the Mohamed brothers of West Seattle and the pairs of forwards figured heavily in the offensive output of the ballgame. Neither team gained a significant lead in the opening two quarters. Matthews accounted for the bulk of Wilson’s output netting 13 in the first half alone. West Seattle employed a more balanced attack with five Wildcats reaching the score sheet before intermission.

As the game wore on, Yusuf Mohamed continue to wreak havoc on both sides of the floor finishing with 23 points and 8 boards including a few highlight jams. Nate Pryor quietly added 13 and 7 in total as the Rams were outscored in all four quarters, thus never cutting down the deficit. The win earns the Wildcats a semifinal showdown with the victor between Garfield and Rainier Beach.

The Final Score
West Seattle 62, Wilson 54

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Yusuf Mohamed- 23 points, 11 rebounds

Wilson
Emmitt Matthews Jr.- 20 points, 6 rebounds

West Seattle vs. Lincoln-Girls
Game Stats- 3/1/17
3A State Tournament

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Varsity Hoops Live
Live Broadcasts of the 3A State Tournament
on www.theFinalScore.TV

Wednesday- March 1 2017 3A Girls Tournament
Tacoma Dome 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 8 7 16 23 54
Lincoln 10 23 15 17 65

3A West Seattle Wildcats
# Player FG 3FG FT REB A F PTS
2 Ellie Turk 0-1 0-1 0-0 1 0 4 0
3 Izzy Turk 3-7 3-6 0-0 3 0 0 9
4 Kelsey Lenzie 1-2 1-2 0-0 1 3 1 3
5 Rilcy Newsome 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
10 Jenna McPhee 3-7 2-4 1-2 1 1 5 9
11 Jasmine Gayles 5-10 0-0 3-3 7 3 1 13
20 Grace Sarver 6-10 1-3 3-9 5 0 2 16
21 Kathryn Anawalt 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0
32 Meghan Fiso 1-3 0-1 2-2 2 1 4 4
42 Lennae Starr 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0

3A Lincoln Abes
# Player FG 3FG FT REB A F PTS
1 Faith Brantley 3-8 2-4 4-4 3 1 1 12
2 Zaniya Banks 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 1 0
3 Nashoutae Frazier 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0
4 Azallee Johnson 1-2 0-0 1-2 3 0 0 3
5 Ashia Donahue 2-4 0-0 2-2 2 0 4 6
10 Jessica Salevao 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
11 Dashawnae Archibald 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 0
12 Kondalia Montgomery 6-15 0-0 1-1 7 2 3 13
20 Morticia Mc'Call 7-11 2-3 9-12 12 4 1 25
24 Sa'Naya McAfee 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
32 Sjontae Frazier 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2
33 Lisi Brooks 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0 0
34 Shawndreia Brown 1-5 0-0 2-8 3 1 3 4

Catch our Live Broadcasts of the 3A State Tournament on theFinalScore.TV all week long.

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West Seattle Chops Timberline in Regional Rout

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West Seattle Chops Timberline in Regional Rout
By Steve Dion

Saturday- February 25th 2017 Boys 3A Regionals
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Timberline 12 8 7 11 38
West Seattle 16 10 14 20 60

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West Seattle Senior Yusuf Mohamed

In the 1pm Saturday afternoon state tournament seeding regional matchup at Bellevue College, West Seattle squared off against Timberline with a first round bye at the Dome on the line.

A closely contested first quarter featured a showcase guard matchup between Nate Pryor & Tariq Romain with the pair matching a half dozen in the opening frame. As the half wore on, the Wildcats were able to create separation as Anthony Giomi made his presence felt by knocking down a pair of triples which marked the margin held by West Seattle at halftime.

The third quarter began with key fouls to West Seattle’s Yusuf & Abdul Mohamed which forced Keffrey Fazio to put in reserves for the majority of the third quarter. Unfortunately for Timberline, this opportunity to capitalize was not taken advantage of and they found themselves trailing by double digits heading into the fourth even with a strong effort by Blazers leading scoring Erik Stevenson entering double figures in the game.

Nate Pryor put a stamp on the contest in the final frame by netting five more points including a deep three en route to a game-high 21 as West Seattle’s Cinderella season continues next Thursday at the ‘Woodshed’ with the first-round bye earned with the win over the Blazers.

The Final Score
West Seattle 60, Timberline 38

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 21 points

Timberline
Erik Stevenson- 10 points

West Seattle Punches State Ticket with Resounding Regional Win

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West Seattle Punches State Ticket with Resounding Regional Win
By Steve Dion

Saturday- February 25th 2017 Girls 3A Regionals
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Edmonds-Woodway 4 7 20 10 41
West Seattle 20 11 13 19 63

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West Seattle Sophomore Jasmine Gayles

Bellevue College served as the site for a full day of Regional round basketball starting with a winner-to-state contest between the West Seattle Lady Wildcats & Edmonds-Woodway Warriors. Which team would earn its spot at the Dome next week?

The Metro League runner-up Wildcats used their trusted formula of tenacious defense leading to transition buckets from the opening tip including 11 first-half points by Jasmine Gayles who matched the Warriors first-half score. The lead progressively ballooned as the half wore on and by intermission, West Seattle found itself up by 20. Bailee Chynoweth provided a spark for Edmonds-Woodway, but she would need an explosive second half to propel her team back into the ballgame.

It didn’t take long for the second half to become a matter of clock management as the potent full-court attack of West Seattle continued to push the lead built in the first two quarters. Edmonds-Woodway increased its offensive output in the third frame with Ingrid Fosberg knocking down a pair from the perimeter, but the Wildcats matched Woodway bucket-for-bucket and the margin never reached a point of jeopardy. A total of eight Wildcats players scored in the ballgame which included a 14-2 run midway through the fourth quarter put the game on ice. With the win, West Seattle is T-Dome bound.

The Final Score
West Seattle 63, Edmonds-Woodway 41

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Jasmine Gayles- 17 points

Edmonds-Woodway
Bailee Chynoweth- 11 points

Porter Steers Hale Past Pryor-Led West Seattle in District Semis

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Porter Steers Hale Past Pryor-Led West Seattle in District Semis
By Steve Dion

Thursday- February 16th 2017 Boys 3A SeaKing
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 10 16 15 11 52
Nathan Hale 16 13 15 18 62

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Nathan Hale Senior Michael Porter Jr.

It was eight days ago that top-ranked team in the country Nathan Hale faced one of its stiffest tests of their historic season; a Metro League semifinal matchup with West Seattle at Alaska Airlines Arena. The Wildcats had another opportunity to make a run at the Brandon Roy-led juggernaut again in the district semis Thursday night.

There were many similarities to the game last week evident early on as the Wildcats were able to keep the Raiders within arms length at all times. Senior leaders Michael Porter Jr. & Nate Pryor led their ballclubs with one razzle-dazzle play after another igniting the crowd ever more. Porter demonstrated his highlight-reel ability with some thunderous dunks in the first half. Pryor sent Westside into the locker room with a dose of momentum by burying a half-court shot at the second quarter buzzer.

The third quarter was a blow-for-blow eight minutes where Pryor continued to rack up several of his team-high 31 points on increasingly difficult shots. Westside even attained a lead late in the third frame. However, eight minutes is a lifetime against the likes of the Raiders. Like the recent matchup, Hale closed strong with some clutch Porter field goals and a highlight PJ Fuller dunk that zapped the remaining momentum the Wildcats built. Despite the valiant effort, Hale maintained their perfect record heading into the district final against Rainier Beach set to take place Saturday night.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 62, West Seattle 52

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 34 points

West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 31 points

West Seattle Knocks Off Reigning Champs in District Semis

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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

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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

Bellevue
Annika Prins- 15 points

West Seattle Bounces Back From Metro Final with SeaKing Stunner

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West Seattle Bounces Back From Metro Final with SeaKing Stunner
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- February 14th 2017 Girls 3A SeaKing
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Garfield 22 12 9 20 63
West Seattle 13 14 13 24 64

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West Seattle Sophomore Jenna McPhee

SeaKing tournament play at Bellevue College started with a clash of state title contenders West Seattle & Garfield. Following their 62-46 defeat in the Metro League Championship game to undefeated Bishop Blanchet on Friday, Darnell Taylor’s ability to refocus his young Wildcats squad was an interesting storyline heading into the ballgame.

Garfield’s potent attack was evident early with Juanita Agosto racking up tough points in the paint and quick-draw Sam Tolliver firing from beyond the arc. West Seattle slowly clawed back from the early deficit as the first half wore on including a deep three at the 2nd quarter buzzer by Izzy Turk. This cut a ten point lead by the Lady Bulldogs to a manageable 7 heading into the locker room.

The Wildcats clamped down on defense in the third frame and set themselves up for a late run by allowing only 9 points in the quarter while bringing score within a single field goal heading into the fourth. A back-and-fourth final eight minutes featured an offensive explosion by Jenna McPhee & Jasmine Gayles for the Wildcats who netted 7 apiece while being countered by 10 from Tolliver. West Seattle grabbed the lead for the first time since the infant stages of the game heading into the final minutes of the game.

Leading by one with under 5 seconds remaining, the Wildcats simply needed a successful inbound pass to either run out the clock or draw a foul. Garfield’s Tamia Mobley picked off the inbound and promptly hoisted a three-point attempt which was corralled by Jayla Howard. The buzzer sounded as Howard went up for the uncontested putback which fell through the hoop, but a moment too late. West Seattle breathed a huge sigh of relief as they advance in the winner’s bracket of the SeaKing playoff bracket.

The Final Score
West Seattle 64, Garfield 63

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Jenna McPhee- 20 points

Garfield
Samaiyah Tolliver- 25 points

Blanchet Repeats as Metro Champs, Remains Undefeated

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Blanchet Repeats as Metro Champs, Remains Undefeated
By Steve Dion

Friday- February 10th 2017 Girls 3A Metro Championship
Chief Sealth High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bishop Blanchet 8 19 18 17 62
West Seattle 15 12 9 10 46

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Bishop Blanchet Braves – Metro League Champions

The first of two Metro title games at Chief Sealth HS on Friday night was a rematch of a year ago as the top-seeded Bishop Blanchet Braves looked to defend their title against the West Seattle Wildcats. Following their tough win against Garfield on Wednesday night in the semifinal round, Blanchet Head Coach Brett Hecko stated, “West Seattle is the most talented team in Metro”, high praise from the man behind the helm of the top-ranked team in the state. Could the young Wildcats hand the Braves their first loss of the season in the league championship round?

For a team playing its third game in four nights, West Seattle jumped out to a hot start by forcing turnovers and attacking the bucket. It caught the Braves off balance who were unable to establish a rhythm until late in the second quarter. Grace Sarver & Jenna McPhee highlighted a relentless defensive performance that yielded the pair double-digit scoring outputs in the first half alone.

However, the Braves found their groove as the first half wore on. Jadyn Bush used her strength in the paint against a smaller Wildcats squad to log 16 points as part of a game-high 27 on a night where the Harvard-bound senior was honored as a first-team Metro selection in addition to Defensive Player of the Year.

As the game wore on, so did the fatigue of the Wildcats which Blanchet capitalized on to ultimately claim the victory. Katie Merrywell tacked on some daggers from beyond the arc to go with more offensive output by Bush. Sarver’s valiant attempt to carry the load for West Seattle came up short for the young challengers, and when the fourth quarter elapsed, Blanchet was able to celebrate their back-to-back league championship with a still unblemished record to boot.

As the playoffs continue to unfold, look for a replay of these two exciting teams!

The Final Score
Bishop Blanchet 72, West Seattle 59

Top Performers:
Bishop Blanchet
Jadyn Bush- 27 points

West Seattle
Grace Sarver- 21 points

Hale Survives Scare By West Seattle in Metro Semis

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Hale Survives Scare By West Seattle in Metro Semis
By Colin Caruso

Wednesday- February 8th 2017 Boys 3A Metro Semifinals
Alaska Airlines Arena 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 16 24 9 10 59
Nathan Hale 18 16 17 21 72

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Nathan Hale Junior Jontay Porter

In the historic Hec Edmundson Pavilion and Alaska Airlines Arena, the Metro tournament was back in action for a semifinal matchup between West Seattle High School and the #1 team in the country, the Nathan Hale Raiders. Although suffering two defeats this year at the hands of Nathan Hale, the West Seattle Wildcats were not to going to back down to the juggernaut Raiders.

West Seattle led for the majority of the first half. Despite the large Hec Ed facility, they seemed right at home knocking down 3 after 3. Led by PG Nate Pryor in the first half, they took a 40-34 lead into the locker room at halftime. Despite good shooting by Michael Porter Jr. of Nathan Hale, the constant double teams forced him to pass, exactly what coach Keffrey Fazio of West Seattle wanted. At one point in the second quarter, all five Wildcats on the floor were smothering Michael Porter at the high post.

Nathan Hale received a motivating chat at halftime from coach Brandon Roy and came out on fire to start the third. Seven unanswered points gave them the first lead since early in the second quarter, 41-40. Even this quick burst did not intimidate Pryor and the Wildcats, they continued to battle and trailed by just two, 51-49 entering the fourth quarter.

After exchanging buckets for the first few minutes of the quarter, Michael Porter Jr. took the game into his hands. He followed up a missed free throw put back dunk with two mid-range jumpers and a thunderous dunk to take a 65-55 lead with under three minutes to play. West Seattle had no answer for the acrobatics of the Porters, Jontay and Michael, who scored all Nathan Hale’s points in the first 14 minutes of the second half. Nathan Hale, despite trailing at half, cruised to a 72-59 win.

The Final Score
Nathan Hale 72, West Seattle 59

Top Performers:
Nathan Hale
Michael Porter Jr.- 42 points

West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 26 points

West Seattle Outlasts Beach, Metro Title Game Bound

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West Seattle Outlasts Beach, Metro Title Game Bound
By Steve Dion

Wednesday- February 8th 2017 Girls 3A Metro Semifinals
Alaska Airlines Arena 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 11 12 21 7 51
Rainier Beach 8 16 13 8 45

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West Seattle Wildcats

The Metro League semifinals at Alaska Airlines Arena tipped off with the girls #2 vs. #3 seed game between Rainier Beach & West Seattle.

For playing less than 24 hours prior, the young West Seattle squad was ready to compete taking an early lead with Jasmine Gayles & Jenna McPhee leading the charge. Beach countered with a flurry of buckets in the post by talented freshman Dalayah Daniels. The second seeded Lady Viks were able to take a one-point lead to the locker room 24-23.

The Wildcats emerged from the locker room ready to take control of the game with Meghan Fiso scoring six of the Wildcats 21 in the quarter. Grace Sarver continued to tack on to extend the lead as the defense started to clamp down in unison. A late surge by the Vikings wasn’t enough to climb back into the game as West Seattle advances to the championship game.

The Final Score
West Seattle 51, Rainier Beach 45

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Jasmine Gayles- 16 points

Rainier Beach
Karizma Loeffler- 13 points

Pryor, Sarver Send West Seattle to Semifinals

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Pryor, Sarver Send West Seattle to Semifinals
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- February 7th 2017 Boys 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Seattle Prep 17 15 11 6 49
West Seattle 16 7 16 14 53

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West Seattle Wildcats

With a trip to Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday on the line and a chance to play the top-ranked team in the country Nathan Hale, the West Seattle Wildcats who entered on an 8-game winning streak hosted the Seattle Prep Panthers on Tuesday night.

The guard battle between Aaron Nettles & Nate Pryor took center stage with both floor leaders trading buckets. Nettles buried a step back fadeaway triple at the first quarter buzzer to give Prep an early lead. This carried to halftime with Nic Lynch also making contributions down low.

Coach Fazio made the required adjustments at the break as West Seattle began to immediately chip away at the Panther lead in the third quarter. Pryor continued his torrid pace, but needed to rely on teammates down the stretch for clutch buckets. Jack Golgart & Cass Elliott buried some huge buckets from beyond the arc to give West Seattle a three point lead in the final minute. A defensive stop set up a series of free throws which allowed the Wildcats to push the lead out of reach and ultimately punch their ticket to the league championship semifinal.

The Final Score
West Seattle 53, Seattle Prep 49.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 21 points

Seattle Prep
Aaron Nettles- 18 points

Pryor, Sarver Send West Seattle to Semifinals
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- February 7th 2017 Girls 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Cleveland 11 10 10 21 52
West Seattle 12 27 14 18 71

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West Seattle Wildcats

The nightcap at West Seattle featured the home West Seattle team and visiting Cleveland Eagles with the winner heading over to Hec Edmunson Pavilion at The University of Washington tomorrow to take on #2 seeded Rainier Beach.

It was a back-and-forth affair in the opening quarter with both teams battling playoff nerves. However, West Seattle put together a decisive second quarter which set up an 18 point lead by halftime. Kelsey Lenzie was lethal from the perimeter and Grace Sarver was scoring anyway she wanted to. Jazzeem Bethea tried to keep the Eagles in the game, but was it too late?

West Seattle’s dominance continued in the second half as airtight defense led to one fastbreak after another. In total, four Wildcats scored in double figures. On the other side, Giavanni Flowers put together a strong second half, but the damage was done. The young, talented West Seattle squad is moving on to the big show on Wednesday night at Alaska Airlines Arena at 3:30pm.

The Final Score
West Seattle 71, Cleveland 52.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Grace Sarver- 18 points

Cleveland
Jazzeem Bethea- 17 points

Late Pryor Runner Seals Westside Win

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Late Pryor Runner Seals Westside Win
By Steve Dion

Tuesday- January 31st 2017 Boys 3A Metro
Cleveland High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 19 4 19 9 46
Cleveland 7 17 14 7 45

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West Seattle Wildcats

As the final week of league play begins, the West Seattle Wildcats ventured over to Cleveland HS to take on the Eagles for a clash of major playoff implications. The Cats are currently the 4th seed with a 10-3 league record looking to maintain their placement in standings. Meanwhile, Cleveland whose 9-4 record currently slates them at the sixth and final seed are seeking to fend off Eastside Catholic who are chasing them down in the last week of the regular season.

Before Cleveland could blink, they were trailing by a dozen with Wildcat floor general Nate Pryor involved in the early offensive production. However, the Eagles kicked into gear in the second quarter when C.J. Elleby found his stroke from all over the court as well as Fahad Sharif who started to connect from downtown. A late Eagle surge helped them take a 24-23 into the locker room.

As the second half progressed, Cleveland’s reliance on Elleby to control the offense grew and was countered with a strong output by senior forward Yusuf Mohamed who scored 10 second half points.

With mere minutes remaining, a strong take to the cup by Pryor resulted in a hard crash to the ground, which he was miraculously able to shrug off. Moments later, he drove down the lane for the go-ahead bucket with less than a minute to go.

Cleveland had 5 seconds to advance the ball down the court to take a potential game-winner by Yusuf had other plans as he ripped the ball loose and clutched the ball as the horn sounded. West Seattle hangs on for a critical one-point victory to retain their 4-spot in the standings.

The Final Score
West Seattle 46, Cleveland 45.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 16 points

Cleveland
C.J. Elleby- 23 points

Metro League Semifinals move to Alaska Airlines Arena at UW

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2017 Metro League Tournament just got Bigger!

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Metro League announced their plans to move their semifinal basketball match-ups to Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday, February 8th.  The Boys and Girls final four teams will go head-to-head as part of the Metro League Tournament.

Former Garfield Bulldog and current Nathan Hale coach, Brandon Roy, was interviewed by KJR personalities Mitch Levy and Dick Fain about the Raiders upcoming game against his Alma Mater Garfield this Friday Night at Garfield High School.

This battle of #1 Nathan Hale vs. #2 Garfield has received unprecedented coverage and includes live broadcasts on both ESPNU-TV and Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM. This is the first game televised Live from Garfield High School since Roy was a senior for Garfield back in 2002.

Mitch and Dick of Sports Radio KJR then broke the news that the Metro League Playoffs will move its semifinal games to Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday, February 8th.  This will allow all fans an opportunity to see in person what experts are saying is the toughest league in Washington state history, if not the toughest league in the country.


“Metro Athletics represents quality student athletes from public and private schools in all sports,” stated Eric McCurdy, Executive Director of Athletics of Seattle Schools. “We are proud to have Varsity Hoops Live and theFinalScore.TV produce this event as they continue to positively impact high school students through events and programs on and off the court.”



Game and Broadcast Schedule

2017 Metro League Tournament Semifinals schedule of events:

• Winner #6 Metro vs #3 Metro Play-in vs. Metro #2 seed – Girls 3:30pm*
• Winner #5 Seattle Prep vs #4 West Seattle Play-in vs. Nathan Hale – Boys 5:30pm*
• Winner #5 Metro vs #4 Metro Play-in vs. Bishop Blanchet – Girls 7:00pm*
• Winner #6 Metro vs #3 Rainier Beach Play-in vs. Garfield – Boys 8:30pm**

* Varsity Hoops Live Broadcast on www.theFinalScore.TV
** Varsity Hoops Live Broadcast on Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM

The event has several media partners including Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM, POWER 93.3-FM and www.theFinalScore.TV.

All games will be carried via a live audio broadcast over the internet or on radio.

“Our hope is to celebrate great teams in a great venue. We look to showcase amazing high school students on and off the court throughout the day! We are excited to produce the event while broadcasting the games live over the web,” stated Randy Novak, President of ZUMA Media.

 

Ticket Information

Tickets are available for general admission seating and good for all four games. Tickets will be available the day of the event ONLY beginning at 3:00pm at the HUSKY STADIUM Box Office located on the westside of the Stadium.

Once fans enter Alaska Airlines Arena for the event, they can stay for all four games. However, they will not be able to re-enter the event if they leave. Ticket prices are as folllows:

Adults/students without ASB: $10
Students with ASB: $ 7
Kids K-8: $ 5
Seniors 62yrs +: $ 5

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West Seattle, Cleveland Prevail in Unity Hoops Showcase

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West Seattle, Cleveland Prevail in Unity Hoops Showcase
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 13th 2017 Boys 3A 5pm
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 15 14 6 18 53
Eastside Catholic 8 7 17 12 44
Friday- January 13th 2017 Boys 3A 7pm
Garfield High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Final
Cleveland 10 18 14 22 6 70
Franklin 16 11 18 19 4 68

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Cleveland & Franklin Battling For the Rebound at the End of Regulation

The 4th Annual Unity Hoops Showcase at Garfield High School featured a Metro League doubleheader starting with West Seattle taking on Eastside Catholic & the nightcap between Cleveland & Franklin.

West Seattle’s commitment to their gameplan which emphasized defensive intensity and precision offensive execution carried them to a sizable lead in the first half. The Wildcats kept Crusader sharpshooter Brock Mackenzie at bay while Yusuf Mohamed put his versatile scoring ability logging 10 of his game-high 16 in the first half.

Eastside Catholic stormed back in the third frame thanks Noah Springborn finding a groove from beyond the arc. Only leading by three heading into the final quarter, West Seattle relied on their trusty senior Nate Pryor to carry them to the finish line to the tune of a 53-44 victory.

Game two matched the Cleveland Eagles & Franklin Quakers both eager to pick up a crucial league win. The tandem of Marquan Williams and Maurice Bennett was hot out of the gates with electrifying ball handling by Williams and thunderous dunks by “Mo Buckets”. Cleveland relied on their leader C.J. Elleby to lead the charge including a pair of triples in the final moments of the first half to give the Eagles a one point leading heading into halftime.

The pace of play shifted into overdrive in the third quarter with the pace ramping up into the final frame of regulation which saw the Franklin guards attacking the rim with reckless abandon and the Eagles countering with transition buckets in bunches. Cleveland led by a pair in the final seconds of regulation. After coming up with the defensive rebound, instead of waiting to be fouled, they turned the ball over to Franklin in which Cejay Garrison Jr. was able to capitalize with a clutch bucket to tie the game and send the game into OT.

A pair of back-to-back buckets early in the extra period gave Cleveland the needed lift to come away with the win against a tough Quakers squad. This game was an appropriate ending to a great night of high school hoops at Garfield High School.

The Final Score
West Seattle 53, Eastside Catholic 44
Cleveland 70, Franklin 68

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Yusuf Mohamed- 16 points

Cleveland
C.J. Elleby- 33 points

West Seattle Escapes Lady Bulldog Rally

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West Seattle Escapes Lady Bulldog Rally
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 6th 2017 Girls 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Garfield 15 14 12 17 58
West Seattle 17 17 15 13 62

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West Seattle Sophomore Jenna McPhee

Two teams jockeying for position near the top of the Metro League standings met at West Seattle HS on Friday night as the host Wildcats welcomed the Garfield Lady Bulldogs. A critical victory was on the line as the sprint to the playoffs has begun.

Defensive intensity defined the course of this game with as Garfield utilized a full-court press throughout and West Seattle was opportunistic in their zone. Samaiyah Tolliver of Garfield and West Seattle’s Meghan Fiso led their teams in the first half with 9 and 15 points respectively in a close contest with several lead changes. As Bulldogs coach Lee Adams pointed out in our pregame interview, execution down the stretch and the ability to make game winning plays is critical.

As the third quarter progressed, West Seattle jumped out front and the depth on the roster Darnell Taylor pointed out was becoming more evident. Jasmine Gayles started to impose her will by attacking the basket and growing the WS lead.

Garfield rallied in the fourth behind the leadership of Juanita Agosto who was able to connect on some crucial runners in the paint. In the waning moments, Jenna McPhee saved her best for last on a backbreaking bucket, her first of the game, that propelled the home team to a victory.

The Final Score
West Seattle 62, Garfield 58.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Meghan Fiso- 18 points

Garfield
Juanita Agosto- 25 points

Head Coach Interview – Keffrey Fazio (West Seattle)

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Varsity Hoops Live Coach Interview
West Seattle Wildcats – Head Basketball Coach
Keffrey Fazio

As we turn to holiday break in the early stages of the high school hoops season, Steve Dion catches up with West Seattle Head Coach Keffrey Fazio whose Wildcats squad is keeping pace in the tough Metro League. He discusses the identity of this year’s team and the culture of the basketball program over on California Avenue. Have a listen!

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West Seattle Head Coach Keffrey Fazio

To catch the complete interview with West Seattle Coach Keffrey Fazio,
 simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

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VIDEO -Varsity Hoops Live
Metro League Clash
Rainier Beach vs. West Seattle

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2016 Varsity Hoops Live – Metro League Clash
Saturday, December 18, 2016

Video – 2016 copyright ZUMA Media

16-WA-BBall-MetroSound-Standings

Rainier Beach Grinds Out Gritty Win Over West Seattle

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Rainier Beach Grinds Out Gritty Win Over West Seattle
By Steve Dion

Saturday- December 17th 2016 Boys 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 14 12 9 11 46
Rainier Beach 11 17 8 14 50

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Rainier Beach Senior Khalil Shabazz

The marquee Metro matchup Saturday night featured the defending champs Rainier Beach visiting the West Seattle Wildcats. Both teams entered the game with a 3-1 league record which meant the victor would take the league in the Sound division.

A defensive battle was the theme of the contest starting under the rim with Yusuf Mohamed patrolling the post for WS and was countered by the physical Nehemie Kabeya for Beach. Meanwhile Tyler Lenzie and Tijohn Rodde found the mark from beyond the arc and at the break, Rainier Beach led by a pair.

When play resumed, West Seattle started to inhibit the Beach attack even more than it was heading into the game with talented guard Kevin Porter Jr. not playing by putting the Viks in foul trouble. This curbed the Beach offense, but West Seattle failed to capitalize. In the closing minutes, West Seattle led by a single point.

As Rainier Beach has done for years, they executed down the stretch by earning trips to the free-throw line and knocking down their shots. Monte Britt and Fred Roberson both buried critical pairs from the charity stripe and a desperation shot by the Wildcats was not enough to extend the ballgame.

Another gutsy win by one of Washington’s premier basketball powerhouses.

The Final Score
Rainier Beach 50, West Seattle 46.

Top Performers:
Rainier Beach
Tijohn Rodde- 11 points

West Seattle
Yusuf Mohamed- 12 points

Final 3A Girls Power Rankings

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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.

Head Coach Interview: Darnell Taylor (West Seattle)

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West Seattle – Head Coach
Darnell Taylor

Dick Fain catches up with head coach of the West Seattle Wildcats Darnell Taylor. Listen as he talks about his team’s quest to reach the Tacoma Dome in his first year as head coach of West Seattle!

To catch the complete interview with Coach Taylor, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

Rainier Beach Cruises Past West Seattle in Must-Win District Contest

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Rainier Beach Cruises Past West Seattle in Must-Win District Contest
By Steve Dion

Friday- February 19th 2016 Boys 3A SeaKing
Bellevue College 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 8 7 11 14 40
Rainier Beach 17 13 16 25 71


Rainier Beach junior N’Kiel Nelson

Rainier Beach punches its ticket to a must-win SeaKing consolation game on Saturday with a comfortable win against West Seattle. Kevin Porter’s 11 first-half points helped the Vikings gain a big lead at the half which continued to grow as the game wore on. Wildcat junior Yusuf Mohamed led his team with 13 including a pair from beyond the arc.

However, the emergence of Sam Cunliffe in the third and fourth quarters allowed Rainier Beach to cruise to a 71-40 victory. After the game, Cunliffe talked about the team’s mindset right now stating, “We just want to get one game at a time. Our goal right now is to get to the state championship.” When asked about work their way to regionals after an opening round loss in districts, he added, “Losing to O’Dea and the things that have happened, our team has come together after that loss.”

With the win, Beach meets Mercer Island on Saturday with the winner claiming the fifth and final seed to qualify for regionals. West Seattle’s season comes to an end with reason for optimism moving forward given its young talent.

The Final Score
Rainier Beach 71, West Seattle 40.

Top Performers:

Rainier Beach
Sam Cunliffe- 17 points

West Seattle
Yusuf Mohamed- 13 points

Varsity Hoops Live – Steve Dion – 3A SeaKing

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Varsity Hoops Live Game Recaps- 3A SeaKing

Listen to Steve Dion’s game recaps by clicking on play button below

Game Recap 2/19: Steve Dion from theFinalScore.TV
2-19-16

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Bishop Blanchet Captures Metro League Championship

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Bishop Blanchet Captures Metro League Championship
By Steve Dion

Friday- February 12th 2016 Girls 3A Metro League Championship
Ingraham High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
West Seattle 19 15 10 20 64
Bishop Blanchet 19 13 26 9 67


Metro League Champions – Bishop Blanchet Braves

Less than three weeks ago, West Seattle hosted Bishop Blanchet for a regular season meeting. This served as a preview for Friday night’s rematch with the Metro League Championship title on the line. The capacity crowd at Ingraham High School enjoyed an exciting matchup which was decided by three points!

The first half featured a back and forth exchange in which the battle down low between Blanchet’s Jadyn Bush and West Seattle’s Lydia Giomi took center stage. They scored 11 and 8 in the first half respectively as the pair finished with 16 apiece. Braves senior Lilly DiPietro knocked down 3 of her 5 three pointers in the first half as part of her 19 total. After the game, she talked about her role as a senior stating, “This year, I’m definitely trying to lead, be a leader on the team. Everyone contributes, it’s not one person, and I love that about our team.” At the break, the Wildcats led by a deuce 34-32.

The third quarter featured a Blanchet surge that would propel them the remainder of the game outscoring West Seattle 26-10. Taylor Chambers netted 8 of her team high 21 in the game. After the game, when asked about the difference between the last time the Braves faced WS she said, “Now we know we just have to come out strong and not be lackadaisical with the ball, no turnovers.” Wildcat Coach Darnell Taylor rallied his troops in the final frame and sparked a rally that cut the deficit. However, the damage was done and Bishop Blanchet was able to hold on to claim the Metro League title. The season series sits at 1-1. Will these teams meet again before season’s end?

The Final Score
Bishop Blanchet 67, West Seattle 64.

Top Performers:

Bishop Blanchet
Taylor Chambers- 21 points
Lilly DiPietro-19 points
Jadyn Bush- 16 points

West Seattle
Lydia Giomi- 16 points
Lexi Ioane- 13 points

Audio Recap: West Seattle vs. Bishop Blanchet

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Game Recap
West Seattle vs. Bishop Blanchet 1-27-16


West Seattle Head Coach Darnell Taylor

Wednesday night featured the much anticipated Metro League match-up between undefeated West Seattle and Bishop Blanchet. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the contest including post-game comments from West Seattle head coach Darnell Taylor!

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

West Seattle Claims Sole Possession of Metro Lead, Tops Braves

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West Seattle Claims Sole Possession of Metro Lead, Tops Braves
By Steve Dion

Wednesday- January 27th 2016 Girls 3A Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Bishop Blanchet 6 8 6 10 30
West Seattle 13 11 9 11 44


West Seattle Wildcats

Wednesday night at West Seattle High School was the first sign that playoff hoops is quickly approaching. The host Wildcats and Bishop Blanchet Braves both carried 16-0 records into tonight’s game and this would determine the Metro League regular season champions in all likelihood.

The Wildcats rebounding advantage was evident early as Lexi Ioane pulled down several offensive boards and Lydia Giomi was a force on the defensive end of the glass. After the game, West Seattle head coach Darnell Taylor stated, “I noticed early on they were doubling Giomi…I sat Lexi down and told her it was your time to go at it and take over.” The two recorded 12 and 14 in the contest respectively. Taylor Chambers scored a quick five points for the Braves, but they were unable to get contributions elsewhere and fell behind. The Wildcats were able to avoid an extended defensive lapse throughout the first half and carried a double digit lead to the locker room.

The uphill battle continued early in the second half for Blanchet as the team’s leading scorer this season Jadyn Bush faced foul trouble that forced Coach Burns to sideline the junior wing. A dagger three pointer by Jenna McPhee solidified the Wildcats’ edge in tonight’s game. Blanchet briefly cut the lead to single digits in the waning minutes, but WSHS converted on scoring opportunities before the clock hit triple zeros. When asked about how his team responded to the extra pressure added to this game in terms of league standings, Coach Taylor replied,”I’m really excited the way they handled themselves through the week building up to this big game, they were really focused.” These teams will likely meet again in the near future with increasingly high stakes.

The Final Score
West Seattle 44, Bishop Blanchet 30.

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Lydia Giomi- 14 points
Lexi Ioane- 12 points

Bishop Blanchet
Taylor Chambers- 11 points

3A State Girls Basketball Rankings

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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

3A State Basketball Rankings

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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

Audio Recap: West Seattle vs. Thomas Jefferson

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Game Recap
West Seattle vs. Thomas Jefferson 12-23-15

West Seattle and Thomas Jefferson met for a non-league game on Wednesday night before Christmas Eve. Listen as Nic Beckman provides an audio recap of the game.

To listen to the game recap, simply click on the PLAY BUTTON below.

 

West Seattle Depth Too Much for Jefferson

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West Seattle Depth Too Much for Jefferson
By Steve Dion

Friday- December 23rd 2015 Boys 4A/3A SPSL/Metro
West Seattle High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Thomas Jefferson 13 9 6 7 35
West Seattle 21 15 21 12 69


West Seattle junior Yusuf Mohamed

A light slate of games on Wednesday night before Christmas Eve included an interleague clash between Thomas Jefferson from the South Puget Sound League and host West Seattle of the Metro League. The game started with an energetic, up-tempo pace as both teams established a run-and-gun scoring approach. West Seattle gained some separation when they started to heat up from the perimeter. Tyler Lenzie drained three buckets from downtown in the first half including one at the buzzer heading into the break giving the Cats a 14 point margin after two quarters. The Raiders needed a second half rally and to close quarters strong to climb back into the game; would the home team falter?

The first few minutes of the third frame were pivotal in determining the outcome of the game as Jefferson had quality chances around the basket, but couldn’t convert. Meanwhile, the Wildcats strung together a series of successful possessions that pushed the lead out of reach of the opposition. Nate Pryor recorded 10 points in the third quarter alone as part of a game-high 15 points. Coach Fazio began to incorporate his entire roster into the game and West Seattle ended with 10 scorers in the ball game. Jefferson was gassed down the stretch and could not muster a comeback. The Raiders were led by Darius Anderson’s nine points in the game and a breakaway dunk by Tarence Taylor.

The Final Score
West Seattle 69, Thomas Jefferson 35

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Nate Pryor- 15 points

Thomas Jefferson
Darius Anderson- 9 points

West Seattle Charges Past Kentridge

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West Seattle Charges Past Kentridge
By Steve Dion

Saturday- December 19th 2015 Girls 4A/3A SPSL/Metro
Showare Center 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kentridge 12 11 2 12 37
West Seattle 12 12 15 17 56


West Seattle senior Lydia Giomi

Game five of the 2015 Showare Shootout featured the West Seattle Wildcats and Chargers from nearby Kentridge. The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the lead changed on four separate occasions. KHS was slightly more efficient scoring in the first two quarter based on field goal percentag, but West Seattle took a one point lead into the locker room. Which team would make the necessary plays down the stretch to pick up a quality non-league win?

West Seattle rolled out a 21-0 run most of which took place in the third frame as steals on the defensive end led to several buckets in transition. The Wildcats recorded 27 points off turovers, nearly half of their entire offensive output. Trailing by a dozen with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter, Kentridge needed to regroup. However, the Wildcats kept the pedal down and limited the Chargers to two points in the third frame. Grace Sarver led all scorers with 15 points and her teammate Lydia Giomi adding 14 of her own for WSHS. Morgan Gary led the Chargers with 13 points, but the huge Wildcat third quarter was enough to stave off a late comeback and allowed West Seattle to cruise to a comfortable victory.

The Final Score
West Seattle 56, Kentridge 37

Top Performers:
West Seattle
Lydia Giomi- 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals

Kentridge
Morgan Gary- 13 points, 3 rebounds