High School Basketball in Washington State
High school basketball is a popular sport in Washington State, with a long and successful history of producing notable players and championship teams. Every year, teams from across the state compete in tournaments and regular season play to determine who will be crowned the state champions. This year, the state tournament was held at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington from March 4th-7th. In this article, we will take a look at who won state for high school basketball in Washington and how they achieved their success.
Competition at the State Tournament
The state tournament featured 32 teams from across the state, divided into four regions. These regions were the West Central District, the Greater Spokane League, the Columbia Basin Big Nine, and the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference. The teams were competing for the chance to advance to the championship game and win the state title.
The Final Four
The four teams that made it to the Final Four of the state tournament were:
- Lakeside High School from Seattle, WA
- Mount Rainier High School from Des Moines, WA
- Eastlake High School from Sammamish, WA
- Arlington High School from Arlington, WA
These four teams battled it out in the semifinal round to determine who would move on to the championship game. In the end, Lakeside and Mount Rainier emerged victorious, setting up an exciting championship showdown between two of the top teams in the state.
The Championship Game
The championship game between Lakeside and Mount Rainier was an epic battle. Both teams played a physical, aggressive style of basketball and the game was back and forth throughout. In the end, Lakeside managed to secure a narrow victory, winning by a score of 58-57.
Lakeside’s Road to the Title
The Lakeside Lions were the top-ranked team in the state going into the tournament, and they proved why with their performance at the state tournament. They started off the tournament with a convincing win over the Columbia Basin Big Nine champions, Eastmont High School. They followed that up with another strong win over the Greater Spokane League champions, Lewis and Clark High School.
In the quarterfinals, the Lions faced off against the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference champions, Central Valley High School. This game was a nail-biter, with Lakeside ultimately prevailing in double overtime. The semifinal game was another close contest, but the Lions managed to pull out a victory over Arlington High School to advance to the championship game.
A Championship Team
The Lakeside Lions were led by a strong group of seniors, including guard Casey Adams, forward Ryan Smith, and center Kyle Buell. Adams was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points per game during the season. Smith was the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 8.2 rebounds per game. Buell was the team’s defensive anchor, anchoring the defense with his shot-blocking and rebounding ability.
The team was also bolstered by a deep bench, featuring players such as guards Marcus Johnson and Sam Ortiz, and forwards Trevor Johnson and Nick Lewis. All of these players made important contributions throughout the season and during the state tournament.
The Championship Celebration
After the final buzzer sounded, the Lakeside Lions celebrated their hard-fought victory. They were the first team from Seattle to win the state championship since 2011, and the first team from the West Central District to do so since 2016. The team was honored at a ceremony at the Tacoma Dome, where they received their championship trophy and medals.
Recognition for the Team
The Lakeside Lions received a lot of recognition for their championship run. They were featured on the cover of the Seattle Times, and their story was highlighted in newspapers and television stations across the state. ESPN even featured them in a segment on their SportsCenter program.
The team also received personal recognition from a number of influential people. Washington Governor Jay Inslee tweeted his congratulations to the team, and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan sent them a letter of recognition.
A Bright Future
The Lakeside Lions are poised for more success in the future. All five of their senior starters will be graduating this year, but they have a strong group of underclassmen that will be returning next season. They will be looking to continue the team’s winning tradition and make another run at the state title.
Conclusion
The Lakeside Lions won the 2020 Washington State High School Basketball Championship, proving that they were the best team in the state. They had a talented roster of seniors, led by Casey Adams, Ryan Smith, and Kyle Buell, and a deep bench of underclassmen that made key contributions throughout the season. They have a bright future ahead of them, and they will be looking to make another run at the state title next year.