Don’t hold back, even for a second.
That’s the mentality it takes to win a state basketball championship, Marelle Moehrle and Cassie Kosmides said.
They would know. Moehrle and Kosmides were freshmen on the Meadowdale High School girls hoops team that won the Class 3A title in 2004.
Now highly experienced seniors, Moehrle and Kosmides yearn to cap their prep careers with another championship this week as unbeaten Meadowdale competes in the 3A state tourney, which takes place today through Saturday in Seattle. The Mavericks (24-0) play a first-round game against Kennedy of Burien (18-8) at 2 p.m. today at KeyArena.
Meadowdale’s 2004 title team featured standouts like Quinn Brewe, Anne Martin and Ashley Fenimore. Moehrle, a guard/forward, averaged about seven points that season, while Kosmides was a rarely used reserve. Though they clearly were not focal points of that team, Moehrle and Kosmides soaked up valuable lessons.
No. 1: Go all-out all the time.
“Everybody stayed focused and pushed for four solid days and just gave their all because they knew that that was it afterwards,” said Moehrle, Meadowdale’s top scorer (18.4 points per game) and rebounder (6.1 per game) this season.
“Now that I’m a senior,” she added, “I know exactly how they were feeling and how much they wanted it because I want it so bad.”
Kosmides, a center who averages 3.8 points and 5.4 rebounds, said she hopes Meadowdale’s effort and time commitment once again result in the ultimate prize: “I just want the big reward.”
Making its 12th consecutive state tourney trip, Meadowdale is the only undefeated squad among the 16-team field. But there’s plenty of competition. The most obvious challengers are Auburn Riverside (23-2) and Chief Sealth (22-3).
Auburn Riverside, which could meet Meadowdale in the semifinals, has piled up 14 straight victories. The Ravens are led by guards Stephanie Wilber (20.1 ppg, 13.0 rpg), a 6-foot-1 Arizona State University recruit, and junior Katie Grad (16.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg), who committed to Washington State.
Meanwhile, a trio of NCAA Division-I recruits fuels Chief Sealth. Guard Nia Jackson (18.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 8.0 assists per game) is headed to Oregon; UCLA-bound posts Regina Rogers and Christina Nzekwe, both 6-3, combine for about 26 points, 24 boards and 10 blocks per outing.
At 5-11, Kosmides is Meadowdale’s tallest player by 2 inches. A height deficit could hurt the Mavericks against premier competition, but Kosmides said speed, quickness and fundamental skills (like blocking out larger players) help them make up for vertical limitations.
“I’m not even worried about height right now. I think that if we just play how we’ve been playing all season, we’ll be fine,” said Meadowdale point guard Eryn Jones, a junior averaging 17.6 points and 4.4 assists.
Coach Karen Blair, now coaching at Ballard, guided Meadowdale to its first two state crowns in 2000 and 2004. Second-year Meadowdale coach Dan Taylor hopes to add a third championship to the remarkably consistent program’s ever-growing list of achievements.
The leadership of Moehrle and Kosmides, Meadowdale’s links to the 2004 triumph, will be crucial, Taylor said: “They know what type of focus, intensity and overall perspective that you need.
“We have a lot of youth on our squad,” added Taylor. “The first couple of games (at state) I think nervousness and jitters are gonna set in and we’ll have to eliminate it quick. (Moehrle and Kosmides’) experience being in the state tournament four years in a row is gonna help a lot.”
Moehrle trusts all of her teammates, upper- and underclassmen. “If you put anybody on this team out there, they’ll perform,” she said.
If Meadowdale performs well, it could cap this season the same way it did in 2004: with a state title.
In that case, take cover or put on a rain poncho. In 2004 the Mavericks celebrated their championship by dousing each other in the locker room with sparkling cider, in lieu of the more traditional champagne.
“Everybody got sprayed,” Kosmides recalled happily.
“I was just so excited,” said Moehrle, the volume and pitch of her voice soaring as she remembered the celebration.
Added Kosmides, “Cutting down the net, all the adrenaline, the bus ride home – it was all amazing.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
