Class 4A state boys basketball preview

Published 1:29 pm Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Semifinalists

Mariner, Federal Way, Eisenhower, Garfield

Championship

Federal Way 58, Garfield 54

Dark horse

Mariner is not ranked in the top 10 but has several seniors who went to state in 2007 and 2008. Still, the Marauders’ first-round matchup against No. 7 Kentridge is a big hurdle.

Must-see first-round game

Gonzaga Prep (23-3) vs. Decatur (21-4), 7 p.m. Wednesday

This one features two highly ranked teams: No. 4 Decatur and No. 6 Gonzaga Prep. Decatur, which placed sixth last year, pushed top-ranked Federal Way (24-2) to double overtime on Feb. 14.

Curtis Vikings

Record: 19-7 | Coach: Tim Kelly (2nd year) Last appearance: 2007 (did not place) Key players: F Chad Rasmussen, 6-7, sr. (12.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.3 apg); G Darnell Williams, 5-10, sr. (11.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 1.7 rpg); F Stan Langlow, 6-4, sr. (10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.8 spg)

Decatur Golden Gators

Record: 21-4 | Coach: Kevin Olson (9th year) Last appearance: 2008 (sixth) Key players: G Marcus Tibbs, 6-1, sr. (16.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.5 apg); G Jerron Smith, 6-3, so. (15.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg); F Cam Schilling, 6-5, sr. (9.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg); F Jordan McCloud, 6-6, jr. (13.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg)

Eisenhower Cadets

Record: 25-1 | Coach: Pat Fitterer (6th year) Last appearance: 2007 (fourth) Key players: G Taylor Elmo, 6-5, sr. (16 ppg); G Jordan Gaut, 6-1, sr. (12 ppg); F Robert Bonzer, 6-5, jr. (10 ppg); G James Lopez, 6-0, jr. (10 ppg)

Federal Way Eagles

Record: 24-2 | Coach: Jerome Collins (25th year) Last appearance: 2008 (second) Key players: F Cole Dickerson, 6-7, jr. (18 ppg, 9 rpg, 4 bpg); G Mike Hale, 5-10, sr. (15 ppg, 8 apg); G Jeff Forbes, 5-10, sr. (14 ppg)

Foss Falcons

Record: 20-5 | Coach: Mike Cocke (1st year) Last appearance: 2008 (did not place) Key players: G LuQuam Thompson, 5-10, sr. (14 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg); F DeAndre Sutton, 6-3, sr. (11 ppg, 6 rpg); F Nate Walker, 6-5, sr. (9 ppg, 9 rpg)

Garfield Bulldogs

Record: 20-3 | Coach: Ed Haskins (1st year) Last appearance: 2008 (did not place) Key players: G Tony Wroten, 6-5, soph. (18.6 ppg); G DeAndre Taylor, 6-1, sr. (14.6 ppg); G Glenn Brooks, 6-1, soph. (7.9 ppg); F Christian Blanks, 6-4, sr. (6.7 ppg)

Gonzaga Prep Bullpups

Record: 23-3 | Coach: Mike Haugen (15th year) Last appearance: 2005 (did not place) Key players: F Ryan Nicholas, 6-7, jr. (15 ppg, 7 rpg); G Sean Fischer, 6-1, sr. (14 ppg); G David Stockton, 5-11, sr. (11 ppg, 5.9 apg); F Travis Long, 6-5, sr. (9 ppg)

Inglemoor Vikings

Record: 17-6 | Coach: Greg Lowell (21st year) Last appearance: 2006 (eighth) Key players: F Todd Campbell, 6-5, sr. (12 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg, 3 bpg); G Benji Bryant, 6-1, sr. (17 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 spg); F Adam McElwee, 6-3, sr. (14 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg)

Lake Stevens Vikings

Record: 20-4 | Coach: Mark Hein (6th year) Last appearance: 1982 (third, Class 3A) Key players: F Shane Kaska, 6-3, jr. (15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg); C Sean Stickney, 6-4, sr. (14.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg); G Ryan Legg, 6-2, sr. (5.5 ppg, 3 rpb)

Mariner Marauders

Record: 19-4 | Coach: Dexter Griffen (11th year) Last appearance: 2008 (did not place) Key players: G Michael Minor, 6-0, sr. (12.9 ppg); G Tevin Dillon, 6-3, sr. (11.4 ppg, 5 apg); F Damascus Purnell, 6-4, sr. (9.3 ppg, 8 rpg)

Mountlake Terrace Hawks

Record: 17-6 | Coach: Nalin Sood (9th year) Last appearance: 2005 (third) Key players: F Karsten Strieby, 6-7, sr. (15 ppg, 8 rpg); F Tyler Stracener, 6-8, sr. (8 ppg, 7 rpg); G Ryan Sells, 6-2, sr. (13 ppg, 3 rpg)

Kentridge Chargers

Record: 17-8 | Coach: Dave Jamison (9th year) Last appearance: 2008 (did not place) Key players: G Gary Bell, 6-1, so. (19 ppg, 3 apg); G Shaquille McKissic, 6-3, sr. (16 ppg, 5 rpg); G Laron Daniels, 6-1, sr. (10 ppg, 4 rpg)

Redmond Mustangs

Record: 16-9 | Coach: Jeff Larson (5th year) Last appearance: 2007 (did not place) Key players: G Chris Harrington, 6-2, sr. (14.1 ppg); F Justin Alexander, 6-5, sr. (11.0 ppg); G Will Ellis, 5-9, sr. (5.6 ppg); F Phil Leland, 6-2, sr. (5.7 ppg)

Roosevelt Rough Riders

Record: 14-11 | Coach: Bart Brandenburg (5th year) Last appearance: 2005 (did not place) Key players: G River Voorhees, 6-1, sr. (12 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg); W Kai Hoyt, 6-4, jr. (12 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 bpg); PG Gus Hohlbein, 5-9, sr. (6 ppg, 5 apg, 2 spg)

Todd Beamer Titans

Record: 10-10 | Coach: Brent Brilhante Last appearance: 1st appearance Key players: G Vlad Aficiuc, 5-10, jr. (16.8 ppg); P Kevin Davis, 6-8, sr. (16.7 ppg), G Napa Mefi, 5-9, so. (15 ppg)

Walla Walla Blue Devils

Record: 19-7 | Coach: John Golden Last appearance: 2004 (seventh) Key players: G Michael Weisner, 6-7, jr. (16 ppg); G Gary Winston, 6-0, sr. (15 ppg); P Spencer Hessler, 6-2, sr. (9 ppg)