Prep notebook: Locals honored by county basketball officials

Monroe High School senior Efton Chism III and Jackson sophomore Mack Konig were recognized for their excellence on the hardwood by the Snohomish County Basketball Officials Association last week.

Chism, a 5-foot-11 guard, was named male player of the year and Konig, a 5-foot-8 guard, female player of the year by the association after stellar 2019-2020 campaigns.

Chism helped lead Monroe to a 9-12 record and was a second-team All-Wesco 4A selection. The Bearcats’ multi-sport standout has signed to play football at Eastern Washington University.

Konig was a scoring machine for Jackson during a sensational sophomore season.

She averaged 24.5 points, five rebounds, 4.5 assists and four steals per game for a Timberwolves squad that finished 14-8 and made it to the Class 4A Wes-King Bi-District Tournament. Her 47-point outburst against Kamiak on Jan. 4 set a school record and is one of the highest point totals for a girls basketball player in Snohomish County history. Konig was named to The Herald’s All-Area first team and was first-team All-Wesco 4A selection.

Monroe boys basketball coach Justin Prohn and Meadowdale girls basketball coach Arie Mahler received coach of the year honors from the officials association.

In his first season with Monroe, Prohn helped the Bearcats to a five-game improvement in the wins column, which included a signature road victory over 1A state runner-up Lynden Christian.

Mahler and the Mavericks went 17-8 this season on their way to a second consecutive winning campaign and a second straight berth to the regional round of the 3A state tournament. In his second year at the helm, Mahler has helped turn around a Meadowdale program that had suffered five straight losing campaigns before his arrival.

Grace Academy and Cedarcrest were also recognized by Snohomish County basketball officials.

Grace Academy was named host school of the year, and Cedarcrest earned score table of the year, with officials specifically citing the work of Red Wolves senior Hayden Whetten.

Christianson, Abram sign with Lewis-Clark State men’s basketball

Mountlake Terrace senior Mason Christianson and Arlington senior Will Abram have found a home on the hardwood next winter.

Christianson, a 6-foot guard, and Abram, a 6-9 post, have signed National Letters on Intent to play men’s basketball at NAIA Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.

Christianson earned second-team All-Wesco 3A/2A honors his senior season as a part of Mountlake Terrace’s 2A Hardwood Classic-qualifying team. A three-year starter for the Hawks, Christianson averaged 9.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game as a senior. He was named to the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association’s 2A all-state team.

“We are very excited to add Mason to our program here at LC State,” Lewis-Clark State coach Austin Johnson said in a press release from the Mountlake Terrace boys basketball team. “He comes from a great high school program that will help him with the transition to college basketball. We love Mason’s toughness and high IQ and think he’s a great fit for what we are looking for in high school recruits.”

Abram was a Wesco 3A/2A honorable mention, averaging seven points, seven rebounds and three blocks per game. He helped Arlington to the regional round of the 3A state tournament as a junior in 2019.

“Will is a tremendous physical talent that has a chance to blossom into a special player as he continues to put in the work required to improve,” Johnson said in a press release from Lewis-Clark State. “He’s a high level shot blocker and defensive presence already and we are confident he will really grow his game over the next few years. He cares about his teammates and gets excited for their success which is a huge part of what we’re about here at LC.”