A perfect season for Ferris boys, LC girls
So Ferris and Lewis and Clark – what will you do for an encore?
“We’re going to do it again,” Saxons coach Don Van Lierop said light-heartedly in the celebration’s aftermath in the Tacoma Dome Saturday night. “That’s why we brought over a whole bunch of young guys, and we have a point guard in waiting.”
What the Saxons did was cut down the nets as undefeated State 4A boys high school basketball champions for the second straight year, a habit any coach wouldn’t want to break.
Two hours later, the LC Tigers wrapped up their third successive state title finishing undefeated for the first time.
And don’t bet against them next year. LC brings back seven players, most of them integral to this year’s title. Coach Jim Redmon pointed out, ominously, that the junior varsity is now 60-0 over the last three seasons, and there’s a strong incoming freshman class on the horizon.
“We’ve created a monster, and no one wants to be on the team that lets it go,” Redmon said.
Combined the two South Side schools have won an incredible 91 games in a row and five state championships dating back to 2006.
Ferris has the hot hand
Ferris had the most complete team in Spokane memory with five double-figures scorers – all right, technically four, point guard Shawn Stockton falling a point short (“I couldn’t shoot at all tonight,” said Stockton, who only tried three. “But I can live with that as long as we’re state champions.”).
The Saxons could beat you outside or inside, fast-paced or slow, and no one in Tacoma was prepared for the matchup zone defense that Van Lierop said he learned from Ferris legendary coach Wayne Gilman and remains the Saxons staple.
They had three legitimate tourney MVP contenders – Jared Karstetter, DeAngelo Casto and Jeff Minnerly – and arguably the tournament’s best defender in Erick Cheadle (who as an afterthought merely made nine 3-pointers in two of the wins).
All five and fellow seniors Beau Brett and Evan Ewing and junior Pat Maher were members of this history-making event. Russell Hart was a first-year senior. Returnees Maher and three others, junior Justin Stewart, sophomore Jason Bates (who’s father, Rick, played on a Cheney state runner-up) and freshman Jordan Tonani will be joined by new faces.
If there is one regret, it was that for four of the five starters they were a goal-line fumble away from potentially being state football champions as well.
“I hope this will ease the pain,” said Minnerly, the football quarterback. “I wanted to win in football so bad. But we got this one and that’s all we could control after that.”
LC pulls through in clutch
Lewis and Clark’s title was a matter of players making big plays at absolutely vital times. It didn’t matter if they came from long range by senior Kiki January, junior Emily Travis or sophomore Daisy Burke, or inside by junior 6-footers Jeneva Anderson, Sarah Kliewer or senior Kelsey Baker, who Redmon called the “glue” on this team.
And, of course, the Tigers could always rely on “The Clamp.” That is the nickname for Brittany Kennedy who after four years will leave for Oregon State University with three state championships and a third-place finish on her resume.
What Kennedy did best is latch onto her opponents defensively and never let go. So relentless is her play that she wore out two pairs of shoes and was working on a third in Tacoma.
LC forced an average of 30 turnovers per game during the four days, Kennedy had 17 steals.
The gifted Anderson had huge efforts down the stretch in both against Snohomish in the quarterfinals and Moses Lake for the championship. January, an outside shooter normally, went inside twice late in the game to fend off Prairie in the semifinal. Kliewer went outside for two key 3-pointers in the title game and pulled down offensive rebounds at the end to preserve the lead.
“They were backups who got into the starting lineup this year and how they did was incredible,” Redmon said.
Travis made six 3-pointers in the tourney, three against Snohomish. Burke scored a dozen against Prairie.
“We told them after the tournament was over that they took a role, and every time they came in they gave us a spark,” Redmon said.
Senior Ashley Woodruff, sophomores Mary Blevins and Faith Proctor all were part of a deep roster that contributed during the year. Senior Kristen Santos and sophomore Megan Bech rounded out the team.
“One thing this group showed me, more than anything was they are gritty,” said Redmon. “Whatever was thrown at them they were able to adjust to.
“I think basketball is a great team sport and don’t know of a greater feeling than when you have 12 players who decide and elect to play as one. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
A third-straight state title offers ample evidence why.