The first Associated Press high school state basketball polls of the season were released this week.
Two-time defending state champion King’s was one of three Chinook League teams ranked in the Class A top 10. The Knights are listed fourth — two spots behind reigning league champ Seattle Christian and five spots ahead of Bellevue Christian.
The King’s girls are ranked second behind perennial power Brewster, the 2000 and 2001 Class A state champion. The Knights edged Brewster by three points in the semifinals of last year’s state championships.
Northwest A League girls favorite Archbishop Murphy won its first three league games by an average of 38.3 points and is a close third to King’s. The teams could meet at next month’s Tri-district tournament.
Shoreline Christian earned a No. 10 ranking in the Class B boys poll.
WOMEN IN SPORTS: The sixth annual women in sports conference is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Shoreline Center. The conference runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and features several sessions on issues of athleticism as it relates directly to young women.
Registration is $20 for adults and $16 for students if pre-registered on or before Jan. 31. After Jan. 31, registration fees increase $5.
Covered topics include: building character through athletics; history of women’s athletics; NCAA clearinghouse issues; sports medicine for the female athlete; current health issues for the female athlete; and marketing yourself for college.
Registration forms are available at www.wiaa.com.
BABY KNIGHTS: King’s girls basketball coach Eric Rasmussen missed two games last week following the birth of his third child with wife Sheryl.
Annie Ruth Rasmussen was born at 1:40 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10.
“All three of our kids have been basketball babies,” Rasmussen said. “I guess it is kind of fitting.”
Rasmussen found out his wife was pregnant with their first child (Ellie, 8) following a near-upset of top-ranked East Valley at the 1994 Class A state championships.
“I called my wife to tell her about the game and completely forgot to ask about her test results,” Rasmussen said.
The couple’s second child (Emma, 6) was born the night of a loser-out district playoff game in Mount Vernon.
“I got a call as we walked out to the court that I’d better leave,” Rasmussen said. “I made it to the hospital with about an hour to spare.”
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