Girls notebook: Recruiters already watch super sophs

TACOMA — Call them the super sophomores.

Two of the tallest players at the tournament, Monroe's 6-foot-6 Kirsten Thompson and Oak Harbor's 6-2 Heidi McNeill, lead a class that has drawn intense recruiting interest.

Washington State Coach Sherri Murrell and Oregon Coach Bev Smith attended the tournament yesterday, and Washington June Daugherty was in the stands for the opening day Wednesday. "There's an incredible sophomore class," Murrell said of the state talent pool.

Coaches aren't allowed to comment on individual players, but it's obvious that Thompson and McNeill are two of the prime recruits and are being watched closely. Sophomore guard Malia O'Neal of Garfield also should get early attention.

Thompson and McNeill made quick exits, however, as both players' teams lost their first two games. Thompson, after getting into early foul trouble in Wednesday's opening loss to No. 6 Kennewick, had 18 points and 15 rebounds yesterday against No. 4 Kentlake. The Bearcats still came up short, 48-45, and were eliminated.

McNeill had 23 points and seven rebounds in Oak Harbor's first-day loss to No. 5 Enumclaw. She had 14 points and 10 rebounds yesterday as the Wildcats fell 59-52 to Puyallup.

Puyallup rebounds

If the tournament awarded a bounce-back award, it probably would go to Puyallup. But the Vikings probably wouldn't win a history-appreciation award.

Puyallup rebounded from its overtime 56-51 loss to unbeaten Redmond Wednesday by eliminating Oak Harbor, 59-52.

"We're actually the first Puyallup team to make it to the third day at state," said senior Allison Ampe, who scored 16 points in yesterday's win.

That's not true, although it might seem that way for Puyallup fans. Yesterday's win snapped a nine-game losing streak at state for Puyallup, which played three games in 1992 — opening with a win over Wenatchee then losing to Lake Washington and Central Valley of Spokane. The Vikings entered this year's tournament with a tournament record of 7-23, according to the tournament program. They have placed four times, most recently in 1987, when they were sixth.

It was the first win at state for seventh-year Puyallup Coach Collette Stewart, who admitted she was a bit hazy on the school's hoops history.

Stewart said in her pregame talk she told her players "they had played a great game last night (against Redmond) and we had to get beyond it." She called the win over Oak Harbor "healing our wounds."

Berg bowing out in style

Steve Berg is bowing out in style.

The Lake Stevens coach told his players at the beginning of the season this would be his last. He has been the Vikings' head coach for 25 years after a three-year stint at Omak.

After starting the season 6-4, Lake Stevens has been on a tear, winning 13 of 15 before losing last night's quarterfinal game to Garfield, 41-33. That included Wednesday's first-round 58-46 victory over Central Kitsap of Silverdale. The Vikings from Snohomish County are making their first state appearance since 1987 and Berg is enjoying every minute.

"You never expect this," he said.

The Idaho connection

It's easy to trace the pipeline between Kennewick High School and the University of Idaho. Her name is Debbie Roueche.

Roueche coached the Lions to their lone state title in 2000, capping a 29-0 season. Shortly thereafter, she resigned to become an assistant at Idaho. When Leilani Mitchell committed to the Vandals last fall, she became the fourth Kennewick grad to follow Roueche's trail. She joins Emily Faurholt, Autumn Fielding and Heather Thoelke. Two other Big Nine players are among this year's recruits: Emily Halliday of Pasco and Karly Felton from Eisenhower of Yakima.

It's not just a Big Nine thing, either. Ticey Westbrooks of Prairie has signed with Idaho, too.

Mitchell's magic not enough

Nothing Leilani Mitchell does surprises anyone anymore.

Central Valley Coach Dale Poffenroth could only wince when the Kennewick guard nailed a clutch three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation to send yesterday's quarterfinal game into overtime.

"She can carry that team on her back all by herself," Poffenroth said. "She's just that kind of kid."

Mitchell, a 5-5 guard, carried Kennewick to a 67-63 victory over Central Valley in the Eastern Regional semifinals last week, which ended the Bears' 56-game winning streak. Her motivation was simple. If Central Valley had made it 57 in a row, it would have set a state record. Kennewick and Lakeside of Seattle both have a share of the 56-game record.

Mitchell was a freshman when Kennewick went 29-0 to win the state title in 2000 and helped them string the streak to 56 the following season as the Lions reached the state semis before losing to Redmond. Mitchell didn't want Kennewick's name erased from the record book.

"We worked hard for that streak," she said. "I didn't want anyone to beat it."

Notes

• The Dairy Farmers of Washington are the title sponsor of state championships, and this year they are selling their product at the Tacoma Dome. Milk vending machines have been installed in the Tacoma Dome for the 3A and 4A tournaments and offer a variety of flavored milk, such as chocolate and strawberry.

• Central Kitsap girls wrote WEQ "45" on their right shoulders. It stood for "win every quarter." The "45" was a tribute to Rudy of the Notre Dame movie fame. The team had watched the film at the home of Coach Denise Baxter.

• Lewis and Clark of Spokane's girls have one shoelace black and one orange. Several LC players also wore one knee-length sock and one ankle-length sock.

• Is this a great country or what? Some paper-towel dispensers in the Tacoma Dome restrooms are now "motion activated" and issue a towel when they detect a hand moving in front of them.

• It's easy to knock the Tacoma Dome as a basketball venue, but fans sitting in the middle of the facility late Wednesday night weren't complaining when they could watch two overtime games at once. Prairie beat the Mountlake Terrace on the boys court and Redmond outlasted Puyallup on the girls court.

"My head was going back and forth," one fan said. "It was great."

• Central Valley of suburban Spokane didn't have a band or cheerleaders at the tournament yesterday because of final exams at the school, which is on trimesters.

• Strangest score of the tournament: Central Valley 5, Kennewick 1 after the first quarter.

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