* PRESEASON ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM

Brittany McPhee Mount Rainier F 6-0 Junior
A charging bull to the basket (22.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg); SPSL North MVP.
Kelsey Moos Reardan F 6-0 Senior
Small-school star with big-time scoring punch; Arizona State signee at wing.
Brooke Pahukoa Lake Stevens G 5-10 Senior
Straight from YMCA basketball to one of best guards around; Wesco MVP.
Chandler Smith Brewster G 6-1 Junior
Scored 35 points in last year’s ‘2B’ title game; top 2014 point guard recruit
Laura Stockton Gonzaga Prep G 5-6 Sophomore
…

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Contrary to cyberspace rumor, yours truly did not collapse in a ditch following all the state football playoffs. Been in a few gymnasiums this week, and on the phone constantly talking to coaches and other reporters around the state to get a feel for basketball season expectations.

Probably should have just asked y’all.

So, the Prep Blog went dark a few days – my apologies. We are a tad behind in basketball previews, but I did learn a few things since Sunday:

* Rainier Beach boys are easily the best team in the state.

* When Lynden’s football players get …

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Folks in Tacoma waited 14 years for another early-December night like Saturday night – when one of their own schools played for the Class 4A state football championship.

But what – or in particular, whom – will be talked about for decades is the talented teenager who finished up his storied career in style at Skyline High School.

Yeah, quarterback Max Browne was kind of an out-of-town party-crasher in his own right at the Tacoma Dome, but he wasn’t about to let the hometown Bellarmine Prep Lions go out as the kings of the classification in their first attempt.

Browne …

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It’s a pitch play freshman John Lesser and Liberty Christian will never forget.

The first-ranked Patriots (14-0) put their title hopes on the line on one run play – and cashed in when Lesser dashed in on a 1-yard run for the game-winning score as time expired.

Liberty Christian won its first Class 1B title – 34-28 over defending champion Neah Bay.

“(Lesser) is an incredible of a freshman,” Liberty Christian quarterback Mike Olson said. “I was just happy we could pull through and that was a great run by him.”

The win gave Liberty Christian coach Mike Olson his …

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Christian Cummings exited the Tumwater locker room at the Tacoma Dome, cradling his pads and jersey, already determined for the 2013 season.

“I’m looking forward to next year and see what happens there,” the junior halfback said.

Fourth-ranked Tumwater’s season ended with a thud – a 41-7 loss at the hands of No. 2 Lynden in the Tacoma on Saturday afternoon.

As the Thunderbirds’ 2012 season progressed, racking up victories week after week following its Week 1 loss to Class 3A Shelton by three touchdowns, they began to silence the doubters – even some in its own team – …

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As the Montesano Bulldogs rattled off one big play after another, they left no doubt about this being a team of true destiny.

Fueled by the outpouring of support of an entire community behind them and several big plays at critical junctures, unranked Montesano upset second-ranked Royal, 43-28, in the Class 1A championship game Saturday morning at the Tacoma Dome.

After two early defeats and the loss of their home-field grandstands to fire, the Bulldogs erased any feelings of remorse with a dominant performance in capturing their first state title since 1994.

“There was just a motivation (after the …

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Terry Jensen had three options.

Trailing 21-16, Montesano had just stopped No. 2 Royal at the Kinghts’ 41-yard-line. Three seconds remained in the first half.

Taking a knee and going to the locker room down at half never crossed Jensen’s mind.

He signaled in “80 Idaho Tip” – a Hail Mary tip play that ended up resulting in a 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matthew Jensen to receiver Richard Smith.

“We work on it during every pre-game,” Matthew Jensen said.

The Bulldogs went on to win the game – and 1A title – 43-28 in the Tacoma Dome.

Terry Jensen …

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