How safe is Spanaway Lake? - My High School Journalism

Sports 7
ON GUARD FEBRUARY
Win over Rogers propels Sentinel basketball to best record in three years
By: Todd Keister
Staff Adviser
With 2:59 left, the crowd began to feel
it and became electric.
“My fi rst thought was ‘keep the clock
running.’ For the fi nal few minutes, we
needed to have the longest possessions of
the season,” said Spanaway Lake coach,
Rob Smith.
As the fi nal buzzer sounded in Friday’s
boys basketball match up with Rogers,
Spanaway Lake was gasping for air with
a hard fought victory, 54-52 over the
Rams from Puyallup.
“Throughout the season, we had
problems keeping possession,” said
Smith. “(Friday) we hardly turned the
ball over, especially down the stretch.”
For the fi rst time in almost fi ve years,
the Sentinels stole a win from one of
the charter members of the league and
playoff-bound Rogers, and the few
hundred people in the crowd could not
have been more excited.
Most of the people who were in
attendance had already witnessed the JV
team’s thrilling 74-71 victory in a game
which, like the varsity, was led by the
Wrestling starts rough
By: Kailey McArthur
Reporter
The Spanaway Lake High School’s
wrestling season started off a little
rocky this season with a brand new
coachs, but pulled it together.
This season Spanaway Lake
invited two brand new coaches to
the wrestling team. Dan Pitsch and
assistant coach Kenny Pewitt are
directly out of college and attempting
to continue building on a successful
program.
The Sentinels ended their season
without a victory. Their closest
contest was a 59-35 loss to Puyallup.
Pitsch and Pewett and both very
proud of the effort that their team
put forth. “The season started off a
little rough, but the kids we have are
doing well,” said Pitsch.
Pewitt was also very proud of
the entire team, but was impressed
with an individual who progressed
throughout the season.
Chris Newby, was the most
improved player on the team. As a
fi rst year wrestler,“I started out not
knowing what I was doing,” said
Newby. “I was very frustrated for
the fi rst couple of months. Then,
after winning my fi rst match against
Emerald Ridge, I was very happy.”
Sentinels from the very beginning. In
the last three minutes, though, the JV
team lost a 12-point lead and had to
play an up-tempo game to secure their
victory.
This victory had the crowd abuzz and
little did people know that the best was
yet to come.
The Sentinel fans were in attendance
to witness the fi nal game for six seniors
who had put forth a valiant effort
during the course of the regular season.
With wins over Washington, Cascade
Christian, Sumner, and two victories
over the Eagles of Graham-Kapowsin,
the Sentinels were poised to have their
best season in almost four years.
Leading the charge all year long was
senior point guard, Kai Pedro. Pedro
averaged 15 points a game and it was
only fi tting that the fate of this fi nal
game was left in his hands.
Over the course of the season, Rogers
had given teams fi ts from outside and
on this night, they had gone cold.
Senior guard CJ Shula, the team’s
leading scorer, was given free reign in
the fourth quarter to try and stage a
late-quarter comeback.
The game rested in the hands of each
team’s stars. Spanaway Lake’s interior
defense and ball control set the tempo for
the last few minutes of the game. The Rams
did not get many baselines and were forced
to shoot the ball from 15 feet or further
out. With the cold streak still intact, and
Spanaway controlling the boards, the
Sentinels eventually regained the lead with
under a minute left.
As the Sentinels came down the fl oor,
they lost control of the ball with 0:45 left on
the clock and a one-point lead.
Rogers inbounded the ball to their
center, who bobbled the ball in his hands
and stepped out of bounds.
At this point, the crowd of about 150
came unglued.
The Sentinels gained possession of the
ball with under thirty seconds and only had
to get the ball inbounds and wait for Rogers
to foul. The Rams had only 4 team fouls,
so they would have to waste three to get
the Sentinels to the free-throw line in an
attempt to get the ball back.
After the seventh foul was issued and
fi fteen seconds had ticked off the clock,
senior Kai Pedro was put to the line to shoot
a one-and-one bonus. If Pedro hit the fi rst,
the team would be up by two and he would
gain another free throw. If he missed the
Lady Sentinels season ends with only one win
The Sentinels defeated Franklin Pierce in overtime
By: Pamela Kouassi
A&E Editor
When football was over “the
ballers” at our school had wide smiles
on their faces. Especially the girls
who love playing basketball because
that meant that once again people
will pay to come see them play.
The Lady Sentinels had high
expectations for themselves Although
their record says otherwise, the girls
have a lot to be happy about.
The year started out with Chris
Ferrier being hired as Brooke
Wilkinson’s replacement. Wilkinson
was becoming a mother again and
was due during the season. Ferrier
is very proud of the way the girls
handled themselves throughout the
season. He believes that practice
makes better and said that “the girls
worked really hard and everyone on
the team improved throughout the
season.”
During the season, Ferrier
appointed seniors Brittany Young
and Courtnie Martin as captains.
Both girls worked really hard to
provide leadership and to build
a program that has had previous
successes.
The fi rst and only win that the
Lady Sentinels celebrated was against
Franklin Pierce, 67-60. The game
went into overtime after Martin
was called for a lane violation. The
Sentinels took advantage of their fi rst
lead of the season and came out strong
in overtime to take the win.
One of the most intense games
the girls played was against Bethel.
Although they tried very hard the
Sentinels lost the game, 41-29. The
fi rst quarter did not look so good for
the girls but they redeemed themselves
in the second quarter with 15 points.
Everyone on the team did their
part, however Martin and Young were
the team’s leading scorers. Martin
averaging 10.2 points per game, and
Young had 7.9.
“This year was the beginning of a
fresh start for the basketball program.
With consistency in the coaching staff,
the girls will continue to have good
seasons,” said Martin, No matter what,
we are there for each other.”
The returners for next year’s team
are confi dent in themselves and with
Ferrier as the varsity coach, the sky will
be the limit for our Lady Sentinels.
fi rst, Rogers had a chance to rebound the
ball and attempt to win the game.
Pedro’s fi rst free throw rattled in and he
missed the back end of the one-and-one.
Rogers recovered the rebound and gave
the ball to Shula. Down two, the Rams
needed a last-second miracle by their
senior guard.
“When Shula got the ball, I can
remember telling my team ‘no fouls!’ and
secretly I was pleading for him to not make
it,” said Smith. “He was the absolute last
guy that we wanted to have the ball in that
situation..”
Shula put up a weak three, which
banged off the front of the rim, right down
into Pedro’s hands, who in turn scurried
up the court as the buzzer sounded. As he
reached half court, Pedro threw the ball in
the air to signify a hard fought victory and
was immediately mobbed by the student
section as they “stormed the court.”
“I think that the crowd handled
themselves well,” said Smith. “I wished
my men would have been a little quicker
to shake their opponents hands, but all in
all it was a well-played out celebration and
I think the excitement was appropriate.”
It was a special night for all in
attendance.
Pedro excels all around
By: Carmalene Samana
Reporter
Spanaway Lake
starting point guard
Kai Pedro (Senior) has
shown himself to be a
phenomenal basketball
player. Averaging 15
points a game, and
scoring 293 points
during the whole
season, he place tenth
in the league in scoring.
Although he has done an incredible job this season, one
of Kai’s goals when it comes to basketball is to just “get
better”.
“Basketball does not affect me academically,” said
Pedro.
Keeping up with sports, and work from classes can be
a lot of work for some to handle. Kai is able to manage
his time wisely, and still have time for basketball,
bowling, friends, and homework. As for colleges, he’s
interested in Central, Saint Martins, and still has a few
others in mind. Wanting to make it in the successful
athletic world, Kai is also interested in becoming an
engineer.
Although Kai is an outstanding athlete and student,
he believes there is always room for improvement.
Improving as an athlete, a student, or just a friend,
Kai has shown to be one who will indeed improve.
Whether he was on or off the court, his positive attitude
was always in play. Kai has shown himself to be an
outstanding student, athlete, and overall person.