Originally published Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Sea-King 3A Boys Basketball | W. Seattle ends O'Dea reign
West Seattle's Wildcats gave coach Bob Wilzen a great parting gift. In his seventh and final year as boys basketball coach, Wilzen's team...
Special to The Seattle Times
Scores & stats
Schedule/results
Standings
Leaders
Teams
Rankings
More sports: Golf | Tennis | Swimming | Cross-country
West Seattle's Wildcats gave coach Bob Wilzen a great parting gift.
In his seventh and final year as boys basketball coach, Wilzen's team stunned perennial state power O'Dea 39-37 Tuesday at Ingraham High School in the first round of the Sea-King 3A District tournament.
The loss ended the season for the Irish and gave Wilzen and West Seattle at least two more games.
"This is something I'll keep with me," Wilzen said.
West Seattle (11-13) plays ninth-ranked Bellevue at Bellevue Community College on Thursday, when the tournament becomes double-elimination.
The Irish (16-7) won last year's state championship and three of the last four. They had gone to state in 14 of the previous 15 seasons.
"It feels real good," said Wildcats senior guard Darnell Gross after the victory. "It feels like heaven. It feels so sweet right now."
Neither team led by more than five, but West Seattle opened a 34-30 lead with about four minutes to play.
O'Dea went on a 7-2 run for a 37-36 lead with just under a minute left. But Malcholm Love's two free throws at 34.9 seconds gave the Wildcats a one-point lead.
After West Seattle made a defensive stop, T.J. Lee was fouled and made one of two free throws with 18.1 seconds to go for the final margin. O'Dea got a few decent last looks, but was unable to score and return to state for a sixth straight year.
"We can't win it every year," said Irish coach Phil Lumpkin.
On Dec. 7, O'Dea skimmed by West Seattle 58-57. Based on that close game and the Wildcats having won three of four entering Tuesday's game, they knew they could knock off the defending champs.
![]()
"We were very confident and had a good feeling about it," said Love, who scored 16 points.
Wilzen's retirement will be delayed, which is fine with him.
"The kids gave me a great gift," he said.
Other games
Issaquah 75,
Bishop Blanchet 58 (loser out)
At Sammamish High School, All-KingCo guards Matt Lapasin and Bren Hobzek scored 27 and 20 points, respectively, as the Eagles (17-8) eliminated the Braves (8-16). Issaquah faces sixth-ranked Seattle Prep Friday at BCC. Blanchet trailed 19-6 after one quarter but had cut the lead to 34-32 early in the third period. The Eagles then went on an 11-0 run. Issaquah shot 53 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free-throw line (19 for 23). Brian Matous scored 24 and Stephen Reinhart 16 for Blanchet.
Cleveland 83, Newport 58 (loser out)
At Sammamish, Cedric Clarington scored 22 as the Eagles used their speed to end the Knights' season. Michael Crudup scored 14 for Cleveland (14-7), which plays fourth-ranked Mercer Island Friday night at BCC. Richard Woodworth and Collin Bennett each scored 16 for Newport (10-13).
Skyline 69, Bainbridge 50 (loser out)
At Ingraham, Skyline led 34-32 before going on a 19-2 run. Nick Crossan scored 15 for the Spartans (15-9), who play Rainier Beach Thursday at BCC. Nick Fling scored 19 for Bainbridge (14-10), last year's Class 3A state runner-up.
Times staff reporter Craig Smith
contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Prep Soccer | 4A: Skyline keeps state title, beats Issaquah 2-1
UPDATE - 10:20 PM
Prep Football | 3A: Bellevue rolls past Glacier Peak, 34-7
Prep Football | 3A: Meadowdale flattened by Union, 49-7
NEW - 10:37 PM
Prep Football | 4A: Skyline crushes Curtis, 49-14
Prep Soccer | 3A: Columbia River tops Mercer Island 2-1 for title

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Real Salt Lake is handed the 2009 MLS Cup trophy at Qwest Field, November 22, 2009.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Senate vote clears hurdle
239 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
133 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
123 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
123 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
122 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
90 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
74 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
62 - Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
53
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors





