The highs, the lows, the just plain odd from the past year
Incredible performances
• Isaiah Thomas of Curtis broke the state-tournament scoring record with 51 points against Franklin in an 80-76 semifinal loss in the 4A tournament. Thomas, a future Washington Husky, broke the record of 48 set in 1955 by Walla Walla's Bob Beckel, who went on to become a decorated Air Force general.
• Joel Dahmen, a senior from Clarkston High School and a UW recruit, shot a course-record 11-under 61 at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane.
• O'Dea sophomore Cory Mehl shot 10-under 60 at Jefferson Park in the Metro League golf championships.
• Mount Spokane runner Megan O'Reilly broke the all-time state record for 3,200 meters (1.98 miles) at the 4A state meet. Her time was 10:05.81. The old record of 10:08 was set in 1982 by Patty Matava of Bellevue.
• Brenden Gent, senior third baseman for Bainbridge, hit two grand slams in one inning against Eastside Catholic.
• Bremerton senior swimmer Nathan Adrian broke the state 200-yard freestyle record set in 1991 by Newport's Ugur Taner, who later swam in the Olympic Games. Adrian's time was 1:37.17. Swimming World called him the best under-18 American sprinter.
• Prosser junior quarterback Kellen Moore completed 317 passes for 4,600 yards and 66 touchdowns during the season, all state records.
• Katelan Redman of Spokane's Lewis & Clark was 8 for 8 from the floor in the first half of her team's 66-44 basketball victory over Prairie in the state 4A title game.
Victory of the year
Bellevue High School invited storied Long Beach Poly's football team to Qwest Field in September and beat the California powerhouse 30-16.
Quote of the year
Ferndale linebacker Jonathan Le to a reporter on the team bus as it entered the jubilant town with a police escort after beating Liberty 19-8 in a state 3A football quarterfinal.
"Welcome to Ferndale, Texas."
Ambidextrous pitcher
Tony Polis, a junior at Mark Morris High School in Longview, made Cowlitz County history on April 21 when he recorded three strikeouts while pitching left-handed, then switched gloves and struck out a batter throwing right-handed in a 10-0 victory over Washougal.
100th meeting
The 100th game between Aberdeen and Hoquiam. It drew an estimated 8,500 at Olympic stadium. Aberdeen won 24-7, though the game was almost an afterthought to the pageantry.
Scandal of the year
The recruiting by Chief Sealth girls basketball coaches that included phony rent receipts to show Seattle residency. Sealth won its second straight 3A state title, but the WIAA is reviewing the matter.
Worst sportsmanship
Chief Sealth girls 87, West Seattle 3.
Best sportsmanship
Yelm senior Beth Stonecypher disqualified herself from the 3A girls state golf tournament when she realized she had signed an incorrect scorecard after the first round.
"I was sitting in my hotel room, and it hit me," she told a reporter. She had marked herself for a six and an 18-hole score of 72 when she actually shot a seven on the 18th hole after an out-of-bounds drive.
Her action in DQ'ing herself won't surprise golfers because such self-reporting is part of the code of conduct.
Golf legend Bobby Jones was lavishly praised once when he called a penalty on himself. As a golfer, the praise struck him as patronizing and silly.
"You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank," he said.
Team of the year
Jackson High School of Mill Creek won the 4A baseball title and finished 27-0. The Timberwolves are ranked No. 2 by Baseball America and made a case that they might be the best high-school baseball team in state history.
Best idea
The WIAA held the 3A and 4A baseball Final Fours at Safeco Field. With Jackson the marquee draw and well-supported Newport winning the 3A title, the two-day crowd total was 13,601.
Resignation of the year
Sehome girls basketball coach Colin Cushman, citing problems with parents, resigned after his team finished third at state. Cashman is the school's athletic director, so he obviously had the administration's support.
Soccer power
Seven 4A boys soccer teams were ranked in the national top 20 this spring in the poll conducted by the national coaches association. Snohomish was No. 1 at one point. The Panthers lost that ranking after losing to Lake Stevens but won the 4A state title.
Wild game
Shorecrest's 69-60 football victory over Mariner was one for the record books. Shorecrest's Jesse Hoffman set school records with 291 yards and seven touchdowns, and wasn't even the game's leading rusher. Mariner's Raymond Fry, a 5-8, 170-pound senior, had a school-record 338 yards on 28 carries and scored three touchdowns. Shorecrest junior fullback Grady Small rushed for 224 and scooted for a 68-yard TD on a screen pass.
Coaching record
Sid Otton of Tumwater High School became the winningest football coach in state history when his team beat Elma for his 273rd victory. As the record approached, Otton downplayed the impending accomplishment, saying, "I don't recall making a block or tackle for this football team."
Otton has coached 32 of his 38 years at Tumwater.
Most-watched athlete
Quarterback Jake Locker led Ferndale to the 3A championship. The UW recruit and designated savior of Husky football kept purple-and-gold fans in suspense over whether he might opt for pro baseball. In mid-May, he announced he would play football.
Chant of the year
Mount Si students needled the private-school kids from Seattle Prep by chanting, "Daddy's Money! Daddy's Money!" late in a boys 3A state-tournament basketball game.
Evenly matched
Overlake and University Prep tied 1-1 and 0-0 in boys soccer in the regular season. When they met for the 1A state championship, the game remained tied 1-1 through two extra periods. It went to a shootout and the first six shots by each team were good. It wasn't until Overlake missed the next three shots that the game was decided.
Phantom basket
In Franklin's 4A state-tournament win over Spokane's Ferris, the three-man officiating crew gave Franklin credit for a basket that never went through the hoop.
No-fun administration
Renton students weren't allowed to go to the 9 a.m. opening game of the state 3A boys basketball tournament unless they had a 3.3 grade-point average. With only a couple dozen students watching, top-ranked Renton lost and was eliminated the next day.
Streakers
• Sedro-Woolley won its fifth straight 3A wrestling title and Bellingham won its fifth straight 3A girls golf title.
• Lacrosse-Washtucna won its fourth straight B-8 football title and 48th straight game, tying the state record of 48 set by 11-man Toledo from 1965 to 1970.
• DeSales of Walla Walla won its seventh straight Class B baseball title.
• The 1A Brewster baseball team repeated as state champ and extended its unbeaten streak to 51 games (two ties included).
• Tiny North River High School (enrollment 26), between Aberdeen and Raymond, went the winter without winning a boys or girls basketball game. The boys have lost 35 consecutive games since resuming varsity play. The girls are on a 27-game losing streak.
• Whitney Hooks of Cascade became the first 4A athlete to win a track-and-field event four years in a row when she won the shot put.
• Jane Larson of Cedar Park Christian in Bothell won the 3,200 and 1,600 at the 1A state meet for the fourth straight year. She set a meet record (5:01.61) in the 1,600.
Historic wrestler
Brandon Sitch of Kelso became the fourth wrestler to win a Washington state title all four years. He took the 3A title at 160 pounds.
Nice improvement
Two years ago, Lynnwood went 1-19 in boys basketball. This year, the Royals made the 3A state tournament with a 16-7 record, and most of those wins were over 4A schools.
Retirement
Baseball coach Dave Johnson of Ephrata retired after 36 seasons and a state-record 686 victories.
Suspension of the year
West Valley of Spokane was among the favorites to win the boys 3A basketball title until E.J. Richardson, the team's inside 6-6 strongman and No. 2 scorer, was suspended by the Spokane School District.
"This messes up a lot of dreams for a lot of players, I know that," said West Valley coach Jamie Nillis, who said he wasn't allowed to disclose the violation. "One guy's lack of judgment will have a huge ripple effect through the program and the community."
West Valley finished eighth.
CATCHING UP : Add Herman Brix, Stadium '24, to the list of Hollywood actors who were high-school athletes in this state. Brix was a track athlete at UW and won a silver medal in the shot put in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. After a stint as Tarzan, he wanted a new professional identity and changed his name to Bruce Bennett. His best-known film is "The Treasure of Sierra Madre" with Humphrey Bogart. Also add Casey Sander, Hale '73, to the list. He played football and baseball and has appeared in TV shows and films.
UPDATE : Voters this month approved construction of a new high school to replace the facility built in 1937 after tiny Willapa Valley stunned the state by winning the 1936 basketball title. When we wrote about this Washington "Hoosiers" story during basketball season, a surviving teammate of Stanley Domin said Domin died in the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, a relative contacted us to say Domin died when the Japanese attacked Clark Field in the Philippines the day after Pearl Harbor.
Have a question about high-school sports? Craig Smith will find the answer every Tuesday in The Times. Ask your question in one of the following ways: Voice mail (206-464-8279), snail mail (Craig Smith, Seattle Times Sports, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111) or e-mail csmith@seattletimes.com