U-Hi coach: ‘Four years of really great kids’

What a ride it’s been for University High School girls basketball and coaching staff.

Four years, 100 wins, four state trips, three state places and a trunk full of memories.

“You look at the numbers and the trophies and all those things are wonderful,” said Titans coach Mark Stinson. “But it’s been about four years of really great kids.”

Stinson has been inundated by text messages from former players on teams past and has memories of alumnae who have come to games to remain part of U-Hi’s successes and heartaches.

One, Alissa Lanker, who played on the first two state teams, called her dad late Friday night, said Stinson, and begged a ride to Tacoma to watch Saturday’s state final.

Teams rode each year with the same bus driver and stayed at the same motel, where staff knew them by name.

“That kind of deal makes you think, ‘Wow! This is bigger than basketball,’ ” Stinson said. “In the long run what you strive for is to build relationships.”

Last weekend University completed its fourth straight 4A State tournament with a second-place finish, highest in school history. The Titans lost to Lewis and Clark 39-34 in the championship game.

It was the fifth meeting between GSL powers this year and victory by the Tigers broke a tie for wins in 15 games between the teams during that four-year span.

Angie Bjorklund and Leah Archibald were there for every tournament. Dara Zack and junior Riki Schiermeister have been part of three successive journeys to the state semifinals, where the Titans finished sixth, third and this year made their first finals appearance.

Prior to 2004 the Titans had made just one state trip, also reaching the semifinals and placing sixth in 1990. Today some two dozen other players have experienced the tournament for a team that has gone 100-16 during that time.

The first year U-Hi was 1-2 in state, losing by six points to eventual finalist Garfield and GSL rival Central Valley. In 2005, a semifinal loss came to Snohomish, also by six points and 47-45 to LC in the game for third and sixth.

“To get sixth place and lose to a league foe on a controversial call was hard,” said Stinson. “But you get over that.”

Last year the Titans reached the semifinals again, losing to Prairie 59-56 before finishing third.

Last week the Titans weren’t to be denied a title appearance. They won 53-43 over Lake Stevens, 60-22 over Bothell and defeated Prairie 56-47 on Bjorklund’s 34-point effort. Once again the Tigers proved a nemesis.

“The LC losses were most disappointing, and losing that last game is never easy,” said Stinson. “But a couple days later to know you are second place you’re pretty ecstatic.”

But now comes the time to say goodbye to four more of the 17 seniors who have experienced the journey to state.

Bjorklund completed her career with a Greater Spokane League record 2,113 points, including 721 this year. Now it’s off to national all-star games and the University of Tennessee.

“We’ll remember a lot of the basketball stuff, but she’s such a quality person, that’s what we’re gong to miss,” said Stinson.

Zack, one of the top three state tourney rebounders and U-Hi’s second leading scorer, Archibald and Jill Mickelson are the others who will say goodbye.

“You look back on the kids who graduated and just enjoy them,” said Stinson. “And you just try to foster that family atmosphere.”

Firsts for Knights

East Valley’s basketball team made its first State 3A trip a memorable one by also earning its first victory and just missing out on a state trophy.

The Knights rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit on day two of the tournament to defeat Kennedy in a loser-out contest, 48-47, but in turn were beaten 48-47 by Issaquah.

The hard-luck Friday morning loss denied them a chance to play today for fifth or eighth places.

EV (11-16) was outscored 18-5 in the second quarter and trailed 22-12 at half against Kennedy. The Knights rallied in the third quarter with a 19-6 outburst to regain the lead and hung on.

The outside shooting of Kylee Williamson and sophomore Kelsi Jacobson did the trick. The two combined for seven 3-pointers and a total of 28 points in pacing the win.

EV had lost its tournament opener 49-31 to Hudson’s Bay after leading 23-15 at halftime. But the team was outscored 34-8 in the second half. No player scored more than six points.

Eagles season ends

West Valley’s State 2A boys basketball tournament was abbreviated. The Eagles were eliminated in two games.

The Eagles lost 44-36 to Mt. Baker and 62-58 to Grandview in Tacoma.

A bad fourth quarter on day one and second quarter on day two ended West Valley’s season with a 19-5 overall record.

Only two of the team’s eight regulars were seniors.

Season scoring leader Bryan Peterson and point guard Parker Flynn, both juniors, led the offense during state. Flynn scored 14 points in the opener and added 10 on Thursday.

Peterson scored 10 against Mt. Baker and paced the team with 19 against Grandview.

WV led Mt. Baker by a basket at half and was ahead 31-30 after three quarters before struggling against a zone defense and being outscored 14-5 in the final period.

The Eagles were outscored 19-10 in the second quarter the next day and trailed 33-25 at halftime. They outscored Grandview in each of the final two quarters, but couldn’t catch up.

Four WV players finished in double figures, including sophomore Jordan Lupfer-Graham and Glenn Akers.