Kingco Championships: February 16 (Sat): Game 1) Redmond (16-5) 60 Juanita (14-7) 38 @Roosevelt 6PM Game 2) Roosevelt (20-1) 63 Woodinville (10-10) 38 @Roosevelt 8PM Game 3) Garfield (17-4) 79 Bothell (9-12) 51 at LW 6PM   Game 4) Lake Washington (15-6) 44 Inglemoor (6-15) 37 at LW 8PM February 20 (Wed): Game 5) Juanita (15-7) 64 Woodinville (10-11) 61 OT (loser out)  Game 7) Roosevelt (20-1) 54 Redmond (16-6) 44 @Roosevelt 8PM Game 6) Inglemoor (7-15) 39 Bothell (9-13) 32 (loser out) at LW 6PM  Game 8) Garfield (18-4) 40 LW (15-7) 31 at LW 8PM February 23 (Sat): Game 9): LW (16-7) 57 Juanita (15-8) 42 (loser out) @Inglemoor 6PM Game 10): Redmond (17-6) 55 Inglemoor (7-16) 44 (loser out) @Inglemoor 8PM March 1 (Fri):  Game 11): Redmond (18-6) 51 LW (16-8) 42 (loser out) @Inglemoor 8PM Game 12): Roosevelt (22-1) 75  Garfield (18-5) 46 @BCC 6PM (winner Kingco Champ,to State) March 2 (Sat): Game 13): Redmond (19-6) 66 Garfield (18-6) 65 @BCC 8PM (winner to State, loser out)

Redmond - Heitlauf, Gillum 3, Garis 10, Pallansch 6, DeYoung 13, Tosti 2, Henderson, Edwards 10, Graham 16, Leach.
Juanita - Clinkingbeard, White 7, Hancock 3, Ensign 2, Walters 4, Clapp 6, Hager 15, O'Neal.

Redmond          18 11 25  6 - 60
Juanita           9  6  9 13 - 37

Game 2: Roosevelt 54 Redmond 44 -- The Roosevelt-Redmond girls basketball rivalry is turning into one of the state's best, and last night was another piece of supporting evidence.  The Roughriders won 54-44 at home in a Sea-King 4A District semifinal game loaded with playoff intensity and suspense.  "We play them so often, and each time it's more intense," said Roosevelt junior Shannon Costello. "It's so much fun to play them with the atmosphere in here. I love it. I've never been so excited as when we play Redmond."

Redmond's downfall last night was three-point shooting.  "I think we shot one for Wednesday," cracked Mustangs Coach Coach Pat Bangasser. He was right, but the precise total was 1 for 16.  Poor marksmanship, yes. But defensive pressure was applied. Redmond entered the game averaging a solid 37 percent on three-point attempts. The triumph wasn't secure for Roosevelt until the final minute.

After being held to a season-low eight points in the second quarter, Roosevelt led 27-21 at halftime. Redmond closed to 30-29 on a layup by Jenny DeYoung with 5:42 left in the third quarter. Roosevelt never surrendered the lead but never could pull away comfortably. Two free throws by Redmond's Jamie Edwards with 3:18 to play reduced the margin to 42-38.

Roosevelt's Johanne Hase nailed a baseline jumper and Darnellia Russell got free for a layup at 2:13 for a 46-38 lead. Matters didn't feel settled until Hillary Seidel stole a pass and drove the length of the floor for a layup and a 52-42 lead with 34 seconds left.  Russell led the fourth-ranked Roughriders (21-1) with 14 points. DeYoung led Redmond (16-6) with 13.

Roosevelt has more than a week off before the winner-to-state KingCo title game against Garfield on Friday, March 1, at Bellevue Community College. Garfield beat Lake Washington 40-31 in the other district semifinal.  Redmond, the defending KingCo champion and No. 2 finisher at state last year, must win three straight games for a return trip to state March 6-9 in Tacoma. The Mustangs play Inglemoor at 8 p.m. Saturday at Inglemoor in a loser-out game

(From the Eastside Journal): SEATTLE -- Pardon Hillary Seidel for not jumping up and down and celebrating after Roosevelt's 54-44 victory over Redmond last night. Sure, the win put the Roughriders in the championship game of the 4A Kingco girls basketball tournament and one game away from a state berth. But for Seidel, who will play in her third Kingco title game in the past four years, this is all old hat. ``It's kind of weird,'' said Seidel, who had a key steal and layup with 39 seconds left to help secure the game. ``The Kingco championship is usually against Redmond or when we play them it's just as big. ``I'm sure whoever we play next will be good, but Redmond is always our biggest obstacle.''

Roosevelt (21-1) will play Garfield (18-4) for the Kingco title and a trip to state at 6 p.m. next Friday at Bellevue Community College. Redmond (16-6) will face Inglemoor (7-15) in a loser-out game at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Inglemoor High School.The Roughriders, who went undefeated at home this season, survived one of their worst shooting performances of the year to defeat the Mustangs for the third straight time. Roosevelt junior guard Darnellia Russell, who led all scorers with 14 points, and Johanna Hase, who had 11 points and nine rebounds, were the only Roughriders in double digits. Roosevelt scored just eight points in the second quarter--its lowest total of the year.  But the Roughriders struggled even more in the third, shooting 2-for-12 from the field.

``There was a lid on the hoop tonight,'' Roosevelt coach Bill Resler said. ``I was proud of how they weathered that. They didn't get down.'' Redmond couldn't take advantage of Roosevelt's shooting woes. The Mustangs were 4-for-15 in the third quarter and scored just eight points. The Mustangs kept the game close and trailed 46-41 with 1:59 after Jenny DeYoung converted a 3-point play. But the Roughriders pulled away late with Jennie Wild going 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute. DeYoung led Redmond with 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Autumn Garis had 11 points and Ashley Graham chipped in eight.

Redmond coach Pat Bangasser was pleased with his team's defensive play tonight and said his team is closing the gap between the two teams. ``We feel like we are,'' Redmond coach Pat Bangasser said. ``I thought we played well in every category except shooting.'' Now the Roughriders are off for nine days until the championship game. Resler said his players aren't pleased with the long layoff, but will be ready for the Bulldogs, the only team to beat the Roughriders this year. ``We're headed back where we belong,'' he said.

Redmond - Heitlauf 2, Gillum, Garis 11, Pallansch 1, DeYoung 13, Tosti 2, Henderson 2, Edwards 5, Graham 8.
Roosevelt - Leddo 3, Costello 7, Seidel 4, Hase 11, Russell 16, Harris 3, Khastou 4, Wild 6.

Redmond          12  9 10 13 - 44
Roosevelt        19  8  8 19 - 54

Game 3: Redmond 55, Inglemoor 44 (loser out) — Jenny DeYoung scored 20 points to help keep the Mustangs' state-tournament hopes alive. DeYoung, a 5-10 senior forward, made 9 of 14 shots from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Redmond (17-6) will play Lake Washington in a loser-out game at 8 p.m. Friday at Inglemoor.  The Mustangs led 24-21 at halftime but outscored the Vikings 14-7 in the third quarter to pull away.

Redmond had a decided advantage on the boards as the Mustangs outrebounded Inglemoor 43-22. Redmond sophomore Claire Pallansch had a team-high 11 rebounds to go with her 11 points. Junior point guard Ashley Graham added nine points and seven assists for the Mustangs.  Junior Emily Boscacci led Inglemoor (7-16) with 17 points.

(From the Eastside Journal): KENMORE -- Redmond's Claire Pallansch admits she was a little nervous last night. But the 6-foot-1 sophomore, making her first varsity start, didn't waver a bit as she led the Mustangs to a 55-44 victory over Inglemoor in a loser-out game in the 4A Kingco girls basketball tournament at Inglemoor High School.

``I was pretty nervous,'' said Pallansch, who scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. ``I just wanted to play my hardest and see what I came up with.'' Pallansch scored the first six points of the game for Redmond (17-6), which advances to play Lake Washington (16-7) in a loser-out game at 8 p.m. on Friday at Inglemoor. Inglemoor ends its season at 7-16. Pallansch had 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half as the Mustangs held a 24-21 lead at halftime. ``She really made a difference in the first half,'' Redmond coach Pat Bangasser said. ``She really came to play. She has that potential and every once in awhile it pops out.''

The Mustangs also received an offensive spark from senior Jenny DeYoung, who scored a season-high 20 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds. Redmond started the game a little sluggish and struggled to get quality shots in the first half. After a short talk at halftime, the Mustangs came out in the third quarter and outscored the Vikings 14-7. ``We weren't taking care of the ball, everything was a little frantic,'' DeYoung said. ``We wanted to win by 30 right away instead of taking our time.''

Redmond extended its lead when Ashley Graham scored on three straight possessions to give the Mustangs a 12-point lead. Graham finished with nine points and seven assists. Katie Henderson had 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Redmond outrebounded Inglemoor 42-25 in the game. Emily Boscacci kept the Vikings close in the first half. She finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Katie Cooney also had 10 points.

Inglemoor - Wyman, Sarro 6, Corey 2, Buck 7, Boscacci 17, Patton 1, Colleran 1, Cooney 10.
Redmond - Heitlauf, Gillum, Garis 5, Pallansch 11, DeYoung 20, Tosti, Henderson 10, Edwards, Graham 9.

Inglemoor        10 11  7 16 - 44
Redmond          12 12 14 17 - 55

Game 4: Redmond 51, Lake Washington 42 (loser out) — At Inglemoor, the Mustangs (18-6) scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 42-19 lead and distance themselves from the relentless Kangs (16-8).  Lake Washington edged to an 11-point deficit with 2:35 remaining but could cut the lead only to nine on a buzzer-beater to end the game by junior Lindsey VanNostrand.  Junior shooting guard Jamie Edwards scored 12 points, and Autumn Garis and Claire Pallansch added 11 and 10 for Redmond, which built early momentum by connecting on eight of its first 12 field goals for a 20-8 first-quarter lead.  Sophomore Sarah Dennehy totaled 12 points and VanNostrand added 10 for the Kangaroos.

(From the Eastside Journal): KENMORE -- A state tournament finalist last year, the Redmond girls basketball team wasn't about to let this season end yet. The Mustangs opened both halves with 8-0 runs and defeated Lake Washington 51-42 in a 4A Kingco Conference tournament loser-out game last night at Inglemoor High School. Redmond (18-6) advances to play Garfield (18-5) for the league's No. 2 state berth at 8 p.m. today at Bellevue Community College.

``We wanted this game,'' said junior guard Jamie Edwards, who scored a team-high 12 points. ``We didn't look past this game and we put our hearts into it.'' Edwards said the Mustangs took the floor inspired after seniors spoke in the locker room before the game. She said Jenny DeYoung did most of the talking. And the sophomores and juniors didn't want to let the seniors, or themselves, down. Sophomore post Claire Pallansch showed Redmond was ready early as she rebounded the game's first five missed shots. She finished with a team-high 10 rebounds and added 10 points. ``Rebounding is what I love to do the most,'' Pallansch said. ``That's where I feel I can help the team the most.''

The Mustangs built a 42-19 lead early in the third quarter and held a double-digit the lead until the game's final basket. Edwards drove to the hoop with several spinning, twisting moves. Point guard Ashley Graham added the highlight play of the night, a behind-the-back pass to Edwards in the corner for a 3-pointer. Autumn Garis chipped in 11 points along with a couple of timely offensive rebounds, and DeYoung finished with nine points and seven rebounds.

Afterward, Redmond players said they're ready for Garfield. The Mustangs have won two of three against the Bulldogs this season-- all three games decided in the fourth quarter. ``We're very excited for this opportunity,'' Pallansch said. ``We want to go to state.'' Edwards said the Mustangs have regrouped since their loss to Roosevelt in the conference semifinals. Since the loss, they've won two straight when facing elimination. ``We got our heads together at a team sleepover,'' Edwards said. ``We have confidence again.'' Sophomore point guard Sara Dennehy led the Kangaroos with 12 points. Lake Washington's solid season ended at 16-8. ``I'm proud of the kids,'' Kangaroos coach Roger Hansen said. ``We're disappointed now, but they had a fabulous year.''

Lake Washington - Burnett, Dennehy 12, Frame 4, Sonneborn 6, Vannostrand 10, Hooper 2, Thomas 4, Keeslar 4.
Redmond - Heitlauf, Trieselmann, Petrie, Gillum 2, Garis 11, West, Pallansch 10, Mansoori, Carpenter, DeYoung 9, Tosti, Henderson 5, Edwards 12, Graham 2, Leach.

Lake Washington   8 11 10 13 - 42
Redmond          20 14 10  7 - 51

Game 5: Redmond 66 Garfield 65 -- Ashley Graham was out of dribbles, out of passing options and her Redmond girls basketball team was almost out of time.  So Graham shot from 5 feet behind the three-point line. The fourth-quarter buzzer sounded as her shot snapped through the net and extended Redmond's season with a 66-65 victory over Garfield yesterday at Bellevue Community College. "It wasn't like I could dribble again," Graham said. "I just had to shoot from there."

Graham scored 22 points and made a season-high six three-pointers, three in the fourth quarter. The final one provided the thrilling end to the most thrilling game of the season for Redmond and the most important because it decided the second and final state berth from the Sea-King 4A District tournament. Neither team led by more than four points in the final period and there were five lead changes in the final two minutes.

(From the Eastside Journal): BELLEVUE -- She wasn't even supposed to take the shot. But with 3.5 seconds remaining in the game, Ashley Graham took the fate of the Redmond Mustangs' season in her hands and launched an NBA-length 3-pointer that found its way through the hoop as time expired to give the Mustangs a 66-65 victory over Garfield in a winner-to-state 4A Kingco girls basketball game last night at Bellevue Community College.

``I looked at the clock and there was only one second left so I thought, `I guess I have to shoot it,''' said Graham who scored 22 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers. Redmond (19-6) returns to the state tournament after finishing second last year. The Bulldogs, who were one game away last year, ended their season at 18-6. Graham was supposed to receive the inbounds pass in the backcourt and then find Jenny DeYoung who would be cutting across the key for a layup. But DeYoung was covered and Graham had given up her dribble.

So the left-handed junior heaved a desperation shot knowing the result would either send Redmond to the state tournament or end its season. Graham said she didn't know if she had made it when it left her hands. ``I was just hoping,'' she said. Graham was tackled by teammates and coaches as the BCC gym exploded with cheering. On the other side of the court, Bulldogs players fell to their knees, overcome with disappointment. ``I feel horrible,'' said Garfield senior post Kanika Rogers, who had 12 points and 12 rebounds. ``Keasha had a heck of a game. We all played well. We could have done some things better, but you can't rewind what's done.''

The dramatic finish capped off an unbelievable fourth quarter by both teams. Garfield led by four heading into the final period. DeYoung's basket with 1:02 remaining gave the Mustangs a 61-60 advantage. Keasha Beard, who scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, gave the Bulldogs the lead back with 22.7 seconds left. Graham answered with a 3-pointer with 14 seconds to tie the game. Freshman Malia O'Neal, who had 16 points, hit two free throws to give Garfield a two-point lead with 3.5 seconds remaining. ``This was important. We knew we had to get to state,'' Graham said. ``(Garfield) was basket for basket with us the whole game. They just kept coming back.''

Redmond held a 27-25 lead at halftime despite committing 13 fouls in the first half. Twenty-one fouls were called in the first half. Redmond's Katie Henderson had five points and seven rebounds. Jamie Edwards paced the Mustangs in the second half, scoring 11 points.

Redmond - Heitlauf, Gillum 1, Garis 3,Pallansch 3, DeYoung 13, Tosti 6, Henderson 5, Edwards 11, Graham 22, Leach 2.
Garfield - Conway 13, Williams, Beard 24, Simpson, O'Neal 16, Washington, Underwood, Atchinson, Rogers 12, Underwood.

Redmond          11 16 17 22 - 66
Garfield         11 14 21 19 - 65