High school basketball roundup: Tahoma denies Kentridge late, grabs first place in 4A NPSL
SATURDAY (JAN. 13)
BOYS BASKETBALL
2A
White River 59, W.F. West 36
Hornets guard Greg Schmitz dropped a game-high 17 points, and White River (8-0, 11-2) cruised to a fifth consecutive win in a non-league contest at W.F. West High School.
Schmitz drained three treys, and an unrelenting White River defense stymied the Bearcats to 13 first-half points in their double-digit victory Saturday afternoon.
“Great defensive effort,” White River head coach Zach Johnson said.
White River completed a 16-4 run throughout the second quarter and piled 18 more points to run away in the third.
Hornets guard Logan Senon and senior forward Colin Schmidtke delivered nine points apiece.
W.F. West’s Gage Brumfield (guard) and Grady Westlund (forward) co-led the Bearcats with eight points.
BOX SCORE
WR: 11-16-18-14–59
WFW: 9-4-9-14–36
GIRLS BASKETBALL
4A
Kentwood 52, Kentridge 47
Conquerors guard Jessica Ajayi’s game-high 35 points lifted Kentwood to a comeback win over Kentridge on Saturday night.
Ajayi dropped a dozen points in the fourth quarter and drained 5-of-6 crucial free throws that helped erase a late deficit at Kentwood High School. The junior guard hit five three-pointers and went 10-of-13 from the foul line.
Kentwood guard Nikola Boris delivered eight points and freshman guard Tyanna Sims added five.
The win lifts Kentwood (5-2, 11-4) into third place in the 4A NPSL.
Kentridge guard Sydney Esperanza dropped a team-high 19 points. Sophomore wing Jaya Brown added eight.
BOX SCORE
KR: 12-11-13-11–47
KW: 17-5-13-17–52
2A/3A
North Thurston at Tumwater, postponed
Tumwater’s home contest with North Thurston was canceled Saturday due to inclement weather and travel conditions, and it’s unclear whether the game will be rescheduled, T-Birds head coach Nathan Buchheit said.
Sunday, Tumwater will reassess the potential for a make-up game Monday, announced on X Saturday morning.
THURSDAY (JAN. 11)
BOYS BASKETBALL
4A/3A
Federal Way 58, Stadium 45
Mason Thomas scored a game-high 20 points, including eight across the final seven minutes, as visiting Federal Way pulled away from Stadium late in a meeting of top South Sound programs Thursday night in Tacoma.
Neither team pushed the lead higher than single digits through the first three quarters in a back-and-forth contest, but Federal Way eventually closed on a 15-2 run in the fourth to post a 58-45 victory.
“We just needed momentum,” Thomas said of how the Eagles built their late double-digit lead. “We know Stadium’s a good team. That’s the mentality we had coming into it — knowing that we were playing a tough team, playing a team that knew what they were doing.
“So, I think just keeping our composure. Keeping our composure and just believing in ourselves and just knowing that we’ll pull through.”
Stadium held an 11-10 advantage at the end of the first, but the two programs entered halftime tied at 25-25, and ended the third quarter still locked at 39-39.
Thomas gave Federal Way what turned out to be the game’s final lead on a free throw with 5:08 to play, and the Eagles limited Stadium to just one basket in the final six minutes.
Kofi Peyton added 13 points for the Eagles, while Brayden McVey had eight.
The defending 4A NPSL champion Eagles (9-2) — who earned a third-place finish in the Tacoma Dome last March, but graduated several impact players, including reigning league MVP and TNT All-Area and all-state pick Vaughn Weems, 4A NPSL defensive player of the year Isaiah Afework and first-team selection Dace Pleasant — extend their current winning streak to six games with the victory.
Stadium is the third 3A PCL team the Eagles have bested in as many weeks, also posting convincing victories over Mount Tahoma and Silas in December.
The Eagles’ only losses this winter are to Lincoln and Todd Beamer in their first two games of the season, and to 4A NPSL leader Tahoma early in league play. All were single-digit defeats.
“We’re picking up, we’re looking real good, so I’m real excited,” Thomas said.
Miles Washington led Stadium with 11 points Thursday, while Moses Steen-Gix added 10 and Donovan Gill and Henry Benninghoven each had eight.
The loss snaps what was a 10-game winning streak for the Tigers. Stadium, currently 11-2 and leading the 3A PCL, hosts Silas in the second of two league meetings at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, which could shake up the Tigers’ record and the league standings.
Following the first meeting played at Silas in December, Stadium seemed to post a 70-68 victory, but two technical fouls were assessed to the Tigers following the final buzzer. Silas will attempt the four resulting free throws ahead of Saturday’s second contest, which could change the outcome of the first meeting.
Federal Way resumes league play at 7 p.m. Saturday against Kennedy Catholic, and is set to host The Dream Showcase on Monday. The Eagles are scheduled to play 2A state power North Kitsap in the final game at 8 p.m.
3A
Lincoln 66, Spanaway Lake 51
Five Abes notched double-digit scoring performances, and Lincoln (4-2, 10-3) cruised to a home win over Spanaway Lake on Thursday night.
Senior forward LaVhanta Sandling-Green dropped a team-high 13 points, and Lincoln won every quarter in a victory that pushed the Abes into a tie for second place in the 3A PCL.
Lincoln’s pick-your-poison offense featured a dozen points apiece from senior forward Dairius Dillard (6-9 FG) and freshman guard Trey Collier. Abes forwards Omarion Boston and TeShawn Ports-Jackson added 11 points each.
Spanaway Lake guard AJ Manning-Blanks poured in a game-high 23 points (8-16 FG) and went 6-for-8 from the foul line. Sophomore point guard Darius Alexander added 11 points.
BOX SCORE
SL: 9-15-13-14–51
L: 17-17-17-15–66
MORE SCORES
3A PCL
Mount Tahoma 65, Lakes 56
Silas 76, Bonney Lake 55
GIRLS BASKETBALL
4A
Tahoma 47, Kentridge 40
Adalynn Busch’s game-high 11 points and Tahoma’s stout defense in the closing minutes lifted the Bears over league-rival Kentridge and into sole first place of the 4A NPSL on Thursday night.
Busch and senior guard Brooke Deyak delivered clutch buckets in the third quarter to claw Tahoma out of a late, 30-30 tie at Kentridge High School.
Busch (11 points) led a balanced scoring attack that saw nine Bears score. Deyak posted eight points, sophomore Bailey Nettleton added seven, and six Bears tallied four points or more.
Chargers guard Jayla Keowla spearheaded Kentridge’s fourth-quarter comeback attempt (five points) but converted the Chargers’ only field goal of the period. Senior guard Sydney Esperanza paced Kentridge with 10 points; Keowla added nine.
The program’s third straight win puts Tahoma (4-0, 7-1) in control of what would be consecutive NPSL league titles for the reigning third-place 4A state finishers.
But one-loss Kentridge (5-1, 8-4) has other plans – the programs meet for a pivotal rematch that could even the standings at Tahoma High School on Jan. 30.
BOX SCORE
T: 14-14-10-9–47
KR: 12-8-12-8–40
MORE SCORES
4A NPSL
Decatur 63, Mount Rainier 27
3A NPSL
Auburn Mountainview 38, Todd Beamer 22
Kentlake 61, Franklin Pierce 10
Auburn 80, Kent-Meridian 28
Auburn Riverside 62, Thomas Jefferson 26
WEDNESDAY (JAN. 10)
BOYS BASKETBALL
4A
Graham-Kapowsin 69, Rogers (Puyallup) 59
Eagles sophomore Elijah Gillespie dropped a game-high 26 points and sank nine clutch free throws in the fourth quarter that ensured Graham-Kapowsin’s fourth straight win.
Gillespie delivered 20 second-half points and drilled five three-pointers. He was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line in crunch time, crucial shots that kept Graham-Kapowsin (4-4, 7-8) in sole second place of the 4A SPSL South.
Eagles senior Isaiah Norris dropped nine of his 14 points in the first quarter. Junior Isaac Norris added nine.
Rogers (4-4, 7-8) was without starting guards Kyree Grays (senior) and Treyshawn Witherspoon (junior). Rams guards Dylan Gilderhus and Ja’Keem Richardson paced Rogers with 18 points apiece.
BOX SCORE
GK: 19-16-16-18–69
R: 15-14-12-18–59
2A
Tumwater 54, W.F. West 40
Tumwater guard Clay Morgan sank five triples in the first-half – a sharpshooting display that lifted the T-Birds (4-1, 6-6) to a rivalry win on Wednesday night.
Morgan’s five three-pointers and game-high 21 points helped build Tumwater’s lead to double digits by halftime, handing W.F. West (5-1, 8-4) its first loss in 2A Evergreen competition.
Tumwater’s Bryce Morgan added 10 points and delivered a game-high seven points in the second quarter. The T-Birds are winners of two straight after dropping five consecutive games from Dec. 19 to Jan. 5.
Wednesday night marked Tumwater head coach Josh Wilson’s 100th career win at the helm of the program.
W.F. West guard Tyler Klatush paced the Bearcats with 11 points. Senior forward Parker Eiswald (nine points) contributed the entirety of W.F. West’s seven points in the fourth quarter.
BOX SCORE
WFW: 9-10-14-7–40
T: 15-17-8-14–54
MORE SCORES
4A SPSL
Olympia 56, Bethel 46
Curtis 60, South Kitsap 46
Sumner 50, Emerald Ridge 45
2A EvCo
Shelton 59, Rochester 37
GIRLS BASKETBALL
3A
Gig Harbor 53, Peninsula 51 (OT)
Gig Harbor’s Taylor Schwab (28 points) and Peninsula’s Kaylia Heidelberg (26 points) dueled in a blow-for-blow scoring spree, but the Tides narrowly prevailed in overtime to defeat its crosstown rival on Wednesday night.
Tides guard Kaliyah Miller sank a crucial, overtime trey that proved the difference, and Gig Harbor escaped Peninsula High School with a road win in the first installment of their bi-annual meeting. The Seahawks and Tides conclude their regular seasons with a rematch at Gig Harbor on Feb. 1.
Schwab dropped 10 points in the first quarter, including a pair of three-pointers that jump-started Gig Harbor in the opening minutes.
Heidelberg went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line and poured in 20 of her 26 points in the second half. Seahawks guard Grace Richardson added 12 points.
BOX SCORE
GH: 10-11-10-15-7–53
P: 15-4-12-15-5–51
2A
White River 63, Enumclaw 42
White River’s Josie Jacobs and Maggee Schmitz poured in 18 points apiece – a two-headed scoring machine that guided the Hornets over Enumclaw and into sole first place in the 2A SPSL.
White River ended the first quarter on a 13-2 run, and Jacobs drilled a trio of three-pointers in the second quarter to provide an early advantage over a fierce, cross-town rival.
“I was proud of the kids,” White River head coach Chris Gibson said. “They work really hard. Enumclaw’s tough. They’re a good club.”
Jacobs and Schmitz’s 18 points each co-led the home win at White River High School. Schmitz dropped 17 of her 18 points in the second half.
The win hands White River (5-0, 9-2) control of the 2A SPSL, the last remaining unbeaten program in league play. Enumclaw (6-1, 8-4) fell one game back; Wednesday night was a battle for first place.
White River guard Dakota Sprouse posted eight points. Senior forward Ava Bright dropped six points; Lexie Banks and Ally Green added five apiece.
Enumclaw junior Kalee Swanson dropped a team-high 11 points.
Enumclaw’s Bella Firnkoess (senior) and Kaidyn Johnson (freshman) added eight.
BOX SCORE
E: 6-11-11-14–42
WR: 14-18-18-13–63
MORE SCORES
2A SPSL
Clover Park 66, Orting 24
TUESDAY (JAN. 9)
BOYS BASKETBALL
3A
Lakes 74, Lincoln 64
Lakes guard E’lijah McChristian (16 points) powered the Lancers in a fourth-quarter rally over league-rival Lincoln on Tuesday night.
Tied through three quarters at Lakes High School, McChristian delivered eight points and went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the fourth – part of a team-wide surge (23 points) that ensured the program’s fifth win in six games.
Lakes sank all seven of its free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter.
Lakes guard Jalen Boone posted 14 points (6-12 FG). Junior guard Kaleb Chisolm scored 13 points (4-7 FG) and junior forward Exavier McChristian added 11.
Lincoln forward Omarion Boston dropped a game-high 25 points (9-14 FG) and went 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Freshman guard Trey Collier added 11.
The win propels Lakes (4-2, 8-3) into second place in the 3A PCL standings, behind only undefeated Stadium (6-0, 11-1).
BOX SCORE
LN: 16-21-14-13–64
LK: 20-15-16-23–74
Mount Tahoma 69, Silas 65
Mount Tahoma began Tuesday night’s contest on an 18-4 run and denied a late rally for a road win at Silas High School.
The victory is Mount Tahoma’s third in four games, as well as an immediate response from last Friday’s narrow, two-point loss to undefeated Stadium.
Silas guard Tyson Parker dropped a team-high 21 points. Senior forward Albert Kopec posted 17 points and sophomore center Antione Vallarde-Larkins added 15.
It was another nail-biter, but Silas (0-5, 5-7) has dropped each of its five 3A-PCL contests by a combined 20 points. The Rams lost consecutive games to Stadium and Lakes by two points each in early December, and dropped a double-overtime heartbreaker to Lincoln by one, 74-73, on Jan. 5.
“If you look at all of the top teams in our league… every game has been less than a four-point loss,” Silas head coach Eric Overgaard said. “We’re a young team. We start three sophomores, a junior, and a senior.
“We’re a young team. But we fight.”
2A
White River 51, Enumclaw 46
White River’s Logan Senon erupted for 11 points in the third quarter, helping complete a second-half comeback and statement road win over rival Enumclaw on Tuesday night.
Behind by seven at halftime, Senon and White River rolled via a 26-9 run in the third at Enumclaw High School – a defining rally that kept the Hornets undefeated in league competition.
Senon, a sophomore guard, dropped a team-high 16 points (two triples) and was 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. White River forward Colin Schmidtke delivered 14 points.
Enumclaw’s Liam Leonard posted 19 points and four three-pointers, both game-highs.
White River (8-0, 9-2) remains solely atop the 2A SPSL standings, ahead of Foss (7-1, 8-4) by a single game.
BOX SCORE
WR: 8-10-26-7–51
E: 11-14-9-12–46
MORE SCORES
3A PCL
Stadium 96, Bonney Lake 40
GIRLS BASKETBALL
2A
W.F. West 57, Tumwater 36
A battle between contenders in a competitive 2A Evergreen, W.F. West pulled away in the third quarter and took home bragging rights in Tuesday night’s rivalry win over Tumwater.
Winners of three straight, the first-place Bearcats (6-0, 11-2) are the 2A Evergreen’s lone-remaining unbeaten program.
Tumwater forward Elsa Schreck paced the T-Birds with 16 points. Junior guard Sydney Sumrok added 15.
BOX SCORE
T: 8-11-11-6–36
WFW: 8-14-19-16–57
MORE SCORES
2A EvCo
Black Hills 61, Centralia 34
Rochester 53, Shelton 42
This story was originally published January 9, 2024 at 9:24 PM.
