Prep Notebook | Garfield reopens search for boys basketball coach

A day after a search committee selected its top candidate, Garfield High School has reopened its boys-basketball coaching position.

On Monday night, the committee chose Tavio Hobson from a group of four finalists, but principal Ted Howard said he decided Tuesday morning to take another look at other applicants. Howard said he had a "pretty candid conversation" with Hobson on Tuesday morning, in which he asked Hobson to reapply.

"He interviewed great and he's a great candidate," Howard said. "I want all parties to be involved in our interview process and make sure we select the right candidate."

Hobson, 24, declined to comment.

Howard said Garfield is welcoming new applicants, in addition to the 40 from its original pool.

"It's open to everyone to apply," Howard said.

Howard said two players, an outgoing senior and a junior, will be added to the search committee.

Garfield has also opened its girls-basketball coaching position, held last season by Craig Jackson, whom Howard said was coaching on an interim basis.

Jackson took over when Joyce Walker, coach of the 2005 state-title team, left the program last May because of substance-abuse problems.

Tuesday's highlights

• Shane Elliott hit a home run in each of the first three innings and drove in eight runs to power Federal Way to a 15-4, SPSL North baseball win over Tahoma. He hit two two-run homers and a grand slam.

• Devan McComb pitched her way out of a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the seventh, allowing Woodinville to hold on for a 4-3 win against Lake Washington in a KingCo 4A fastpitch game. McComb, who pitched a complete game and struck out nine, got a strikeout and a ground out with runners on second and third to end it. Maggie Wagner scored three runs for the Falcons. Rogin Hardy hit a two-run homer for the Kangaroos.

• Colby Sokol had two home runs, a double and five runs batted in to lead Emerald Ridge to a 10-0 win over Spanaway Lake in an SPSL 4A South baseball game.

• Paul Clingan hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning and drove in all of Mountlake Terrace's runs in a 4-3, WesCo South baseball win over Meadowdale.

• Evan Fassler three goals and two assists in Cedarcrest's 5-2 win over South Whidbey in Cascade Conference boys soccer.

• Karli Merlich threw her third no-hitter of the year, helping Kennedy beat Tyee 13-0 in five innings in a Seamount fastpitch game. She struck out 10 and improved to 6-0. She also went 2 for 2 with an RBI.

• Chris Hashimoto had a three-run home run and five RBI to lead Lake Washington to a 10-3 win over Bothell in a KingCo 4A baseball game.

Tom Wyrwich: 206-515-5653 or twyrwich@seattletimes.com