Prep notebook

The Friday night lights may soon be shining at Archbishop Thomas Murphy High School.

Right now, approximately 90 lights are lying in the grass near the corner of the northwest end zone. Several 85-foot poles sit on the south side of the football field awaiting installation.

Archbishop Murphy football coach Terry Ennis said he expects the lights to be ready for the 2004 football season.

“In many ways we enjoy Saturday afternoons,” said Ennis, whose team has played 1 p.m. Saturday home games for the past three seasons. “There’s a real carnival atmosphere on Saturdays. But, this will give us some options.”

The lights were donated to the school after Fort Dent, a park located in Tukwila, was remodeled. New lights can cost in the neighborhood of $250,000.

“That’s not something we could have done,” Ennis said.

Archbishop Murphy is also in the midst of building a two-story press box behind the stands.

Ennis said the Wildcats likely will continue to play Saturday games when teams such as Orcas Island and Friday Harbor visit. Lights are generally required to host state playoff games. Ennis said another benefit would be the ability to hold junior-varsity games on Monday nights.

BREWE HEADED TO SPU: Meadowdale senior forward Quinn Brewe has given her oral commitment to play women’s basketball at Seattle Pacific University.

The 6-foot-1 post player missed five weeks of Meadowdale’s 26-1 season, but returned in time to lead the Mavericks to a fourth-place finish at the 2003 Class 3A state tournament.

Brewe, an aspiring lawyer, said she likes SPU’s mix of academics and athletics. SPU finished last season 29-1.

“I was looking all over the map,” said Brewe, who plans to sign an NCAA letter of intent when the early signing period begins on Nov. 12. “It just so happened that it’s close to home and it had all those components. I’m really excited, and I feel it’s a great fit.”

Brewe suffered a partial meniscus tear and sprained her medial collateral ligament in her left knee during a collision under the basket in a game in January. The injury did not require surgery, and Brewe has been able to play all summer without a brace.

The Mavericks return much of a team that was ranked No. 1 virtually all season, and will be considered a championship contender again this year.

“I’m pumped,” said Brewe, whose parents both played college basketball. “We’ve got a good returning core.”

Aaron Coe writes for The Herald in Everett.