Federal Way’s Isiah Umipig falls out of bounds, as Cole Dickerson and Andre Barrington look for the loose ball at the start of the second half against Garfield at the Tacoma Dome, March 7, 2009.
Joe Barrentine/The News Tribune

Coach Keith Hennig

Courtney Johnson

Lindsey Moore

Federal Way’s Michael Hale, drives to the basket in the opening minutes at the Tacoma Dome, March 7, 2009.
Joe Barrentine/The News Tribune

By Doug Pacey
The News Tribune

Kentwood has conquered all.

The second-ranked Conquerors trounced No. 4 Snohomish, 60-47, in the finals of the Class 4A girls basketball state tournament on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. It is the first state championship in program history.

Kentwood put the Panthers away early in the fourth quarter. The Conquerors led, 46-38, going into the period and quickly extended their advantage. Moore’s fastbreak layin put Kentwood ahead 54-40 less than three minutes into the period, forcing Snohomish to call a timeout to regroup.

But the Panthers could not get closer than nine points the rest of the way.

Moore was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Genger was voted to the second team. The all-tournament teams are voted on by media members that covered all four days of the state tournament.

Snohomish’s Katie Benson and Emily Guthrie were named to the tournament’s first team.

Auburn Riverside’s Mercedes Wetmore and Moses Lake’s Jordan Loera were also selected to the first time. Other second-team members are: Jeneva Anderson, Lewis & Clark; Alexa Smith, Issaquah; Brittany Barrington, Federal Way; and Carly Noyes, Moses Lake.

The Conks are doing just enough to keep a nice little cushion. Snohomish started off the quarter with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 31-27, but KW immediately answered with a Jessie Genger 3-pointer. Every time Snohomish scores, Kentwood answers on the next possession.

The scoring slowed down significantly in the second quarter - as expected - with both teams tightening up a little defensively. Kentwood maintained its lead as Lindsay Moore banked in a big 3-pointer while Jessie Genger was fouled on a 3-point shot and made all three free throws.

For Kentwood: Moore has 10 points on 4-of-5 shots with three assists. Courtney Johnson has eight points inside and two rebounds.

For Snohomish: Katie Benson has eight points and seven rebounds, she also picked up her third foul with 16 seconds left in the half. Emily Guthrie pushed her tournament record to 15 3's on the weekend and has six points.

A high scoring first quarter in the girls championship game with the Conks rolling out to an early lead. Lindsey Moore has been aggressive going to the bucket, but she's also been unselfish dishing it off for a few easy buckets for teammates.

Snohomish's Emily Guthrie's 3-pointer two minutes into the first quarter broke the 4A tournament record for most in one tournament with 14

Kentwood’s Kylie Huerta drives past Snohomish’s Karley Lampman at the Tacoma Dome, March 7, 2009.
Joe Barrentine/The News Tribune

PLU student videographer Jon Wedell spent yesterday checking out the sounds that add so much to the tournament experience.

It was a frantic last 21/2 minutes, with each teams' stars sinking clutch shots, going back-and-forth in this game for third place.

Kentridge had just a little bit more in the end than its West Central District counterpart.

After LuQuam Thompson gave Foss its first lead on a putback of his own missed shot with 2:38 to go, the advantage lasted a whole seven seconds when Foss put Gary Bell on the free throw line on a grab during an inbounds play.

Bell sank both FTs, then added a circus-like 8-footer in the lane on Kentridge's next possession to give the Chargers the lead for good, 50-49, with 2:05 remaining.

The killer for Foss was Laron Daniels' corner 3-pointer during the Chargers' game-clinching 7-0 run in the final two minutes.

Thompson and DeAndre Sutton sank 3-pointers in the last 40 seconds, but the Chargers took care of their lead with FTs.

Bell had 17 points for Kentridge. Shaquielle McKissic added 14. Thompson led all scorers with 20.

The third-place finish was Kentridge's third-best behind a 1992 title, and a 2007 runner-up.

Foss is allowing Chargers guards Shaquille McKissic and Gary Bell to get to deep into the lane to make easy feeds or layins, and that was the difference in the third quarter.

Kentridge scored on four possessions in a row. McKissic scored half of them, and had a great pass inside to Colin Williamson on another bucket.

Foss went without a field goal (0-of-10) in the quarter, but made seven of 10 free throws to stay within earshot.

For much of the quarter, Kentridge looked ready to bust this game open after Gary Bell's 5-footer gave the Chargers a 25-17 lead with 1:44 to go.

But Foss scored on its final five trips, finally showing life around the basket. LuQuam Thompson had four of his six points in the final 50 seconds, including a key putback.

Nate Walker's free throw cut it to 27-25, but Shaquielle McKissic was fouled hard on the other end for Kentridge, and he split FTs to give the Chargers a three-point lead.

Foss was 5-of-15 on 3-point shooting, including two apiece from Jonathan Payne and DeAndre Sutton. Bell led Kentridge with nine points.

Kentridge is attacking at any opportunity. Foss is settling for jump shots, and missing.

Aside from a three-trip, back-to-back-to-back made 3-pointers in a 1:03 span, the Falcons aren't really moving the ball around.

For the second consecutive game, Gonzaga Prep's Sean Fischer was scoreless at halftime.

And in back-to-back occasions, the guard promptly heated up after that.

Fischer scored 21 points, and his 3-pointer to start overtime gave the Bulldogs the lead for good in collecting fourth place in the Class 4A state tournament.

Gonzaga Prep also went 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the extra session.

With the game in hand, a scary moment happened when Inglemoor's Tom Dougherty, a reserve, nearly clocked Gonzaga Prep's David Stockton with a arm near the head. Dougherty was whistled for an intentional foul, and Stockton was OK.

In fact, Stockton – the son of ex-NBA star John Stockton – lead all scorers with 22 points. Ryan Nicholas added 16 for the Bulldogs.

Adam McElwee scored 18 for the Vikings, who went 3-of-11 from the floor in OT after rallying to tie it in the final seconds of regulation. Todd Campbell tipped in Benji Bryant's miss in the final five seconds to tie at 57.

Auburn Riverside’s Kara Jenkins, left, and Issaqah’s Dominique Mendezona wrestle for the ball at the Tacoma Dome, March 7, 2009.
Joe Barrentine/The News Tribune

Todd Campbell's putback bucket for Inglemoor tied it at 57 with five seconds to go, and Sean Fischer's long 3-pointer for the Bulldogs from the right side fell short.

Benji Bryant squired in the lane for the Vikings, but his 10-footer took two bounces around the rim. Campbell was in the right place at the right time for the game-tying shot.

Gonzaga Prep's Sean Fischer started the quarter strong – eight points, two 3-pointers – to hand the Bulldogs a lead.

And Inglemoor's Benji Bryant grabbed it right back, hitting a top-of-the-arc 3-pointer with 2:02 to go int he quarter to break a 36-36 tie, and later added a difficult runner in the lane.

A close game, one with a little flair. Bulldogs forward Travis Long didn't agree with a charge call at the end of the half, and was assessed a technical foul, which aided the Vikings' narrow lead.

Inglemoor shot 52 percent in the first half (11-of-21), getting a team-high nine points from Adam McElwee (including a pair of 3-pointers), and seven from Todd Campbell.

David Stockton, the son of ex-NBA star John Stockton, paces Gonzaga Prep with 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

Redmond outlasted Lake Stevens, winning 70-64 in double-overtime. The Mustangs claimed the fifth-place trophy, while the Vikings received eighth.

Redmond guard Chris Harrington sent the game into the second overtime when he hit a pair of free throws that tied the game at the end of the first extra period.

Lake Stevens' Sean Stickney fouled out in the second overtime and Redmond took control from there, outscoring the Vikings 8-2 in the four-minute period. Stickney has been one of the top players at the tournament this week and posted his third double-double, this time scoring 27 points and puling down 10 rebounds.

Harrington led all players with 34 points.

Bellarmine Prep’s Sarah Hartwell sails past Lewis & Clark’s Megan Bech on her way to the basket at the Tacoma Dome, March 7, 2009.
Joe Barrentine/The News Tribune

From the 4A state tournament

Boys

Tony Wroten, Garfield
24 points, 9 rebounds

Andre Barrington, Federal Way
22 points, 8-for-10 FGs

Sean Stickney, Lake Stevens
25 points, 13 rebounds

Cole Dickerson, Federal Way
10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists

Jeffrey Forbes, Federal Way
16 points

Shaquielle McKissic, Kentridge
13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals

Gary Bell, Kentridge
16 points, 4 assists

Todd Campbell, Inglemoor
20 points, 11 rebounds

Benji Bryant, Inglemoor
22 points

Chris Harrington, Remond
22 points, 7 rebounds

James Lopez, Eisenhower
17 points

Adam McElwee, Inglemoor
16 points, 3 assists

Ryan Nicholas, Gonzaga Prep
10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks

Girls

Mercedes Wetmore, Auburn Riverside
27 points, 6 assists, 2 steals

Brittany Barrington, Federal Way
17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals

Jessie Genger, Kentwood
16 points, 4 rebounds

Kathleen Cooper, Auburn Riverside
15 points, 15 rebounds

Jeneva Anderson, Lewis & Clark
19 points, 7 rebounds

Alyssa Charlston, Eastlake
12 points, 15 rebounds

Shaunice Robinson, Garfield
17 points, 6 rebounds

De Aundreney Dillard-Brown, Garfield
14 points, 9 rebounds

Shalece Butler-Woods, Bellarmine Prep
12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals