Sports

BOYS BASKETBALL: Hartnett-led Kentlake slips past Kent-Meridian, 56-53

The Kentlake High boys basketball team needed a big-time performance Friday night at the ShoWare Center to stay in the playoff hunt. Senior forward Sean Hartnett provided exactly that, scoring a season-high 24 points to lift the Falcons past Kent-Meridian 56-53 in the Les Scwhab Kent Shootout. The Falcons (5-7 in league, 8-8 overall) were in dire need of a performance exactly like the one Harnett served up as they remain on the outside looking in on the playoff race.

  • Jan 29, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Kentwood roughs up Kentridge, 66-22

Momentum is on the side of the Kentwood High girls basketball team. Behind their usual three-pronged attack of Kylie Huerta, Liz Mills and Courtney Johnson, the Conquerors dispatched Kentridge 66-22 Friday night at the ShoWare Center in the Les Schwab Kent Shootout. Mills delivered a team-high 16 points, Huerta added 15 and Johnson powered her way to 13.

  • Jan 29, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
The Kentwood High cheer team won its 7th and 8th state titles last weekend at the state championships at Everett's Comcast Arena. (Top row

CHEERLEADING: Kentwood snags two more state titles

The names and faces have changed through the years for the Kentwood High cheer team. The success, however, has remained largely the same.

  • Jan 27, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
The Kentwood High cheer team won its 7th and 8th state titles last weekend at the state championships at Everett's Comcast Arena. (Top row

LES SCHWAB SHOOTOUT IN KENT: Admission, schedule

Les Schwab Shootout in Kent• WHAT: Les Schwab Kent Shootout.• WHERE: ShoWare Center.• WHEN: Friday. Games begin at 2 p.m.• ADMISSION: Tickets are $8 for… Continue reading

  • Jan 26, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Jason Boyce's all-around play this winter has helped Kentwood remain in contention for the SPSL North title.

LES SCHWAB SHOOTOUT IN KENT: Eight players to keep an eye on

Eight players to keep an eye on at the 2011 Les Schwab Shootout in Kent at the ShoWare Center

  • Jan 26, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Jason Boyce's all-around play this winter has helped Kentwood remain in contention for the SPSL North title.
Gary Bell and the Kentridge High boys basketball team will take on Kentwood at 8:30 p.m. Friday night in the feature game of the Les Schwab Shootout in Kent at the ShoWare Center. Bell

LES SCHWAB SHOOTOUT IN KENT: Kentwood, Kentridge boys game highlights schedule

After hitting a small bump in the road, urgency has returned to the Kentwood High boys basketball team. With star guard Gary Bell and Kentridge on the horizon in the featured game of Friday night’s third-annual Les Schwab Shootout in Kent at the ShoWare Center, the Conquerors could not have picked a better time to right the ship. “We weren’t playing well,” admitted first-year coach Brian Davis, pointing to a stretch of games in which Kentwood dropped 3 of 5 contests. “We hit a little lull. Guys weren’t playing with urgency, weren’t playing with passion, weren’t playing with joy.” Suffice to say, the Conquerors (8-3 in league, 11-4 overall) are playing with joy again.

  • Jan 26, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Gary Bell and the Kentridge High boys basketball team will take on Kentwood at 8:30 p.m. Friday night in the feature game of the Les Schwab Shootout in Kent at the ShoWare Center. Bell
Kentlake junior Jaron Heck has kicked his game up a notch this winter. An All-SPSL North honorable mention selection last year

BOYS BASKETBALL: Heck of an evolution at Kentlake

The Kentlake High boys basketball team needed a front-line scorer when the season began. A program that has been knocking on the door of the South Puget Sound League playoffs for the last couple of years, the Falcons have been consistently good, a competitive bunch that has generally played with anybody. The Falcons just haven’t quite been good enough to get over the playoff hump. This winter, the Falcons are showing that they just might be good enough. After two straight years of barely missing the playoffs, Kentlake entered the week very much in a battle for one of the five playoff berths out of the rigorous SPSL North. And they owe much of their success to 6-foot-2 standout Jaron Heck, who has blossomed into one of the season’s nicest surprises.

  • Jan 26, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kentlake junior Jaron Heck has kicked his game up a notch this winter. An All-SPSL North honorable mention selection last year

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Kentridge upends Kent-Meridian 51-37

Josie Paznokas knew she had to relax. The Kentridge High freshman guard has struggled with her shot the last few weeks and was in need of some confidence. That confidence finally came on Friday, Jan. 21, when Paznokas poured in a season-high 16 points to lead the Chargers past Kent-Meridian 51-37 in a South Puget Sound League North Division game.

  • Jan 25, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kent-Meridian quarterback David Jones hasn't yet decided on where he'll play in college next year

FOOTBALL: Kent-Meridian’s Jones still unsettled on college choice; Harris verbals to Central Washington

The clock is ticking on Kent-Meridian quarterback David Jones. With the Feb. 2 National Signing Day just around the corner, the Kent-Meridian star is still waffling on colleges.

  • Jan 24, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kent-Meridian quarterback David Jones hasn't yet decided on where he'll play in college next year

PREPS OF THE WEEK: Jan. 21 edition

JARON HECK, KentlakeGrade: Junior.Sport: Basketball.Accomplishment: Heck has been one of the SPSL North’s steadiest players. He entered the week having scored 10 or more points… Continue reading

  • Jan 21, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Thunderbirds’ Player of the Week is Erik Fleming

Thunderbirds' Player of the Week Erik Fleming

  • Jan 21, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

AUTO RACING: O’Reilly named title-rights sponsor of NHRA Northwest Nationals

One of the largest specialty retailers of aftermarket automotive parts has been named title-rights sponsor of the Northwest’s premier motorsports event: the newly-named O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals.

  • Jan 20, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

BOYS SWIMMING: Kentridge stops Mount Rainier, closes in on SPSL North crown

Chase Bublitz was in fourth grade the last time the Kentridge High boys swim team lost a South Puget Sound League North Division dual meet.Now… Continue reading

  • Jan 19, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kentwood's Ruben Navejas (right) explodes off the whistle in the 119-pound bout against Kentlake's Jeff Harjehausen. Navejas won the match 12-0 to improve to 22-0 this season.

WRESTLING: Kentwood handles Kentlake on mat

The beat went on for the Kentwood High wrestling team Thursday night at Kentlake High. Behind pins from Scott Willis, Dalton Meyers, Austin Torres and Josh Boekelman along with a pivotal victory by decision from Matthew Scott, the Conquerors turned back the Falcons 40-29 in a South Puget Sound League North Division dual meet.

  • Jan 14, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kentwood's Ruben Navejas (right) explodes off the whistle in the 119-pound bout against Kentlake's Jeff Harjehausen. Navejas won the match 12-0 to improve to 22-0 this season.

PREPS OF THE WEEK: Jan. 14 edition

NATHAN MEEKS, Kentlake Grade: Senior. Sport: Wrestling. Accomplishment: Meeks served up the quickest pin of the night last week against Auburn Riverside, needing just 45 seconds to dispatch Larkin Williams in a 46-17 victory on Jan. 6. Favorite class: Auto shop.

  • Jan 14, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kentlake baseball coach Jason Evans turned in his resignation on Tuesday

BASEBALL: Kentlake’s Evans steps down after five years

The Kentlake High baseball program suffered a major shakeup Tuesday morning, when head coach Jason Evans stepped down. Evans, who does not teach, pointed to a work conflict as the lone reason for his resignation.

  • Jan 13, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Kentlake baseball coach Jason Evans turned in his resignation on Tuesday

Thunderbirds’ Player of the Week is Chance Lund

Left wing Chance Lund is the Kent Reporter's Thunderbird of the Week.

  • Jan 13, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
At 5-foot-6

BOYS BASKETBALL: Kent-Meridian enjoying reversal of fortunes

This is their chance. For the first time in a long time, the Kent-Meridian High boys basketball team is starting to believe. Believe in themselves. Believe in each other. And, finally, believe a playoff berth isn’t just possible, but expected. After five downright difficult seasons in which the Royals won a combined 7 games in the South Puget Sound League North Division, the worm has turned in K-M’s favor. One doesn’t need to look any further for evidence than last week’s 47-42 upset of previously third-ranked Kentwood.

  • Jan 12, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
At 5-foot-6

Thunderbirds Jan. 14 game to be broadcast regionally on FSN

The Thunderbirds' Friday, Jan. 14 hockey matchup against the Everett Silvertips will be broadcast regionally on FSN. It is the first of 10 U.S. Division games that will be broadcast by FSN this season.

  • Jan 12, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Thunderbirds Jan. 14 game to be broadcast regionally on FSN

The Thunderbirds' Friday, Jan. 14 hockey matchup against the Everett Silvertips will be broadcast regionally on FSN. It is the first of 10 U.S. Division games that will be broadcast by FSN this season.

  • Jan 12, 2011
  • BY Wire Service