Change is sweeping across the Kentlake High girls basketball courts this winter.
“We’re very green in the post this year,” deadpanned sixth-year coach Scott Simmons. “We’re no longer big.”
Indeed. Kentlake graduated four-fifths of its starting lineup from last season, including 6-foot-3 center Riley Butler (Seattle Pacific University) and 6-foot-1 do-it-all forward Morgan Comstock (Eastern Washington University).
The coaching philosophy was as simple as it was complex.
Build for the future, but play for the present.
Certainly the two conflict in some respects, but it was an ideal, a goal, a foundation to success that Brett Drewery felt was imperative last winter, his first at the helm of the Kent-Meridian High girls basketball program.
The only direction to go this winter is up for the Kentridge High girls basketball team.
But first-year coach Bob Sandall is fully aware it’s going to take a complete buy in from everybody who steps onto the floor.
“The girls worked hard over the summer and made some pretty significant improvements,” Sandall said. “It’s looking good. The kids are buying into what we’re trying to do.”
They were on the brink last year.
So close they could see the pinnacle.
Good. At times, even great.
But when the season ended, the Kentwood High girls basketball team still wasn’t where it wanted to be.
SPSL NORTH: AT A GLANCE• FAVORITE: Auburn Riverside.• CONTENDER: Kentwood.• SLEEPERS: Tahoma, Auburn, Mount Rainier.• LEAGUE OUTLOOK: By all accounts, it appears to be a… Continue reading
Eight games in one day will highlight the 2010 Les Schwab Preview, a high school basketball event set for Highline Community College in Des Moines Dec. 11.
And along the way, some of the state’s best basketball players will be on display.
Daniel Landram is keeping it simple this winter.
The Kentlake High guard doesn’t care how many points he scores this basketball season. Nor does he care about how many rebounds he collects or assists he dishes out.
Landram has just one goal in mind.
They have a new home.
And the Kent-Meridian High boys basketball team is hoping new results follow.
Due to gym renovations at the high school, Kent-Meridian will be playing the majority of its home games this winter at Mill Creek Middle School, a venue that will seat roughly 300 fans.
The Royals also will play a pair of “home” games at Green River Community College, when it hosts Kentridge on Dec. 9 and Kentwood on Jan. 4.
A change is taking place on the South Puget Sound League North Division boys basketball scene this winter. A change that very well could play into the hands of Kentridge High coach Dave Jamison.
“There’s definitely a change (happening),” he said. “There really aren’t that many big guys (in the league).”
Nerves. Excitement. Passion.
First-year Kentwood High boys basketball coach Brian Davis is feeling it all these days.
• FAVORITE: Auburn.
• CONTENDERS: Kentridge, Kentwood.
• SLEEPERS: Kent-Meridian, Tahoma, Kentlake, Mount Rainier.
• LEAGUE OUTLOOK: The SPSL North is taking on a drastically different
• FAVORITE: Auburn.
• CONTENDERS: Kentridge, Kentwood.
• SLEEPERS: Kent-Meridian, Tahoma, Kentlake, Mount Rainier.
• LEAGUE OUTLOOK: The SPSL North is taking on a drastically different
Eight Puget Sound area high school basketball teams will kick off the season at the 2010 Les Schwab Tipoff Classic at Kentwood High School Dec. 2 and 4.
The Kootenay Ice defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-2 Nov. 27 at the ShoWare Center.
The Ice were led by a two-goal effort from Steele Boomer, and a solid showing by Ice netminder Nathan Lieuwen who made 23 saves on 25 shots.
Luke Lockhart picked up the game's first goal on a wrist shot at 8:44 of the first period. Kootenay was unable to clear on the penalty kill and Brenden Dillon fed Lockhart for his 11th of the season to give the T-Birds the 1-0 lead.
Burke Gallimore scored two goals Nov. 26 at Comcast Arena in Everett to help lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-1 victory over the Everett Silvertips.
The T-Birds improve their record to 11-5-3-4 with the win.
The Tri-City Americans defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-4 in a shootout Nov. 24 at ShoWare Center.
Adam Hughesman was the only shooter to score in the shootout to give the Americans the win. Colin Jacobs and Marcel Noebels were stopped by Tri-City goalie Drew Owsley and Burke Gallimore shot wide. Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard stopped Patrick Holland.
I hate shootouts.
Can’t stand ’em. In fact, I can’t think of a more ridiculous way to end a game, particularly a state championship game. However, I am able to come up with several alternatives in other sports that would be the equivalent.
Baseball? Have a home run derby.
Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Calvin Pickard made 48 saves Nov. 19 at ShoWare Center to lead the T-Birds to a 2-1 shootout victory over the Spokane Chiefs.
Pickard arrived in Seattle on Friday afternoon from Prince George, British Columbia, where he was participating in the Subway Super Series Nov. 17 and 18.
The Everett Silvertips defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-2 Nov. 20 at the ShoWare Center.
Everett (10-8-1-3) opened the scoring at 3:42 of the first period on Josh Winquist's third goal of the season. Tyler Maxwell had the only assist.
The Silvertips stretched their lead to 2-0 at 12:31 of the first period on Maxwell's 15th goal of the season. Kellan Tochkin and Brennan Yadlowski registered assists on the goal.
Seattle Thunderbirds center Justin Hickman was named to Hockey Canada's Team Pacific Nov. 17.
Team Pacific is one of five Canadian teams that will skate at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, December 29 to January 4, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Team Pacific is comprised of 11 players from British Columbia and 11 players from Alberta.
