Knights awaiting first test of season

SHORELINE — The search for suitable opposition continues for the undefeated and yet-to-be-tested King’s girls basketball team.

The Knights began their first Class 2A season fully expecting to be challenged by an ambitious non-conference schedule that featured four consecutive contests against 4A and 3A foes.

No such luck.

The larger schools provided little competition for the fourth-ranked Knights, who graduated just one senior and brought back all of the key figures from last year’s 1A state tournament team.

“We’ve been real aggressive, especially offensively with the tempo and getting the ball up the floor,” King’s coach Eric Rasmussen said. “Our experience has helped. The kids know what we expect and they’re pretty committed to trying to go as far as they can. It’s a talented senior class that knows that this is their last chance.”

Going into next week’s Surf ‘n Slam holiday showcase in San Diego, the Knights are putting up 67 points per game on 44 percent field-goal shooting and won their first six outings by an average margin of 28 points.

The victory that seemed to gain King’s overnight notoriety was last week’s surprising 69-40 thrashing of a previously unbeaten Kennedy squad predicted to contend for the Seamount League King Division crown.

The Knights (1-0 league, 6-0 overall) are trying to take any extra attention triggered by their sizzling start — and the Kennedy rout in particular — in stride.

“We’re not getting cocky or anything. But it feels nice to win some big games,” junior point guard Sara Mosiman said. “We love playing bigger schools. We like the competition. It helps us get better as a team.”

King’s outscored the Lancers 41-18 during the second and third quarters to break open a one-point game. Mosiman delivered 21 of her game-high 25 points in the first half to go with eight steals, four assists and four rebounds

“It was really our defense. We kind of stuffed them,” Mosiman said. “Everyone on our team scored. A lot of our shots were dropping.”

The Knights scored 30 points off 26 Kennedy turnovers and padded their lead as the Lancers shot just 20 percent from the floor in the second half.

“That may have been our best game from a transition standpoint,” Rasmussen said. “We were able to get out and put pressure on them. We may have worn them down with the pace we were playing at.”

Two nights later it was more of the same as King’s sped by Sultan 67-33 in the Cascade Conference opener for both teams Dec. 17 at Mike Martin Gym. The lopsided homecoming win was the third blowout in five days for the Knights, who manhandled Mount Rainier 67-41 to start the week.

Mosiman sparked a 15-0 run to open the game with a pair of layups and the Knights held Sultan scoreless for the first 7:30. Sophomore forward Danielle Clauson contributed six points during an 11-0 second-quarter spurt that boosted the King’s advantage to 34-13.

The lead topped 30 points on Sara Strand’s jumper at the 5:43 mark of the fourth period and the sophomore post capped a 7-0 run to close the game with back-to-back baskets.

Mosiman led four Knights in double figures with 15 points and added five rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Hayley Zevenbergen had 14 points, 15 boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

Clauson and Chira Louie chipped in 10 points apiece and Strand finished with nine points on 4 of 5 shooting and four assists off the bench.

“It really has been a team effort,” Rasmussen said. “This may be as strong as we’ve been one through 10. We feel like we can put a lot of kids in and they can do a lot of good things for us. That’s been fun and the kids have enjoyed that.

“We’ve been playing a lot of kids in the 14- to 16-minute range. Kids are getting a lot of time and game experience against good teams. I think their confidence is continuing to build as we play well as a unit.”

Rasmussen has used three slightly different starting lineups and every player has logged at least nine minutes in all six games.

“We don’t have to worry about one of our players coming out because there’s always someone coming in with talent,” Mosiman said. “We all have different features and it works well together.”

Zevenbergen is averaging a double-double of 12.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and Mosiman has also been a catalyst on both ends. The 5-foot-9 standout is averaging 17.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 steals and three assists in approximately 21 minutes per game.

“She gets us going in our break,” Rasmussen said. “She helps set tempo. She’s such a good ball handler and passer and she sees the floor so well. Our kids know if they get out and run, she’ll get them the ball. We’re best when we can get up and down the floor and she allows us to do it at the pace we’d like to do it.”

That full throttle pace has spawned a balanced attack and some staggering point spreads that are quickly putting the Knights on the 2A map.

“I do think the scores may be a little bit deceiving. It’s not like those teams aren’t good teams,” Rasmussen said.

“We’re pretty competitive and we’re playing well early in the year. That’s been encouraging. I don’t think we’ve peaked and I don’t want to this early. We can continue to improve and the kids are committed to that.”