Wrapup: Franklin, Kennedy cruise to 3A state titles

TACOMA — Simply the best.

Led by hounding pressure-defense, the top-ranked Franklin boys basketball team swept through the Class 3A state tournament, culminating with a 51-34 championship-game win over unranked Columbia River of Vancouver late Saturday night.

The Quakers came into the tournament as the prohibitive favorite to win their sixth title in program history; they flexed their muscles early with a game-clinching 21-0 run in the first quarter to take an insurmountable 23-5 lead.

Franklin senior and tournament MVP Peyton Siva had 10 points, four steals, three assists and a pair of rim-rattling dunks in his last game before heading to Louisville. Freddy Wilson, a 6-foot-3 senior, had 12 points and five assists, both team highs.

Vonchae Richardson, a 6-foot Quakers guard, joined Siva on the All-Tournament first team. Chris Holmes, a 6-foot-3 senior, was a second-team pick.

Franklin coach Jason Kerr commended the leadership of his seniors, who finished their final season 28-1.

"They really made a strong commitment to play basketball the right way," said Kerr, who won 4A titles with the Quakers in 2006 and 2003.

Columbia River senior Steven Bjornstad, a 6-foot-10 post, scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. Bjornstad, an all-tournament first-team pick and Nevada recruit, shot 7 of 9 from the field and had seven rebounds. Kyle Thurston, the Chieftains' starting point-guard, left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury, but was named to the second team.

After the game, Columbia River coach David Long, whose team set a school-best finish with second place, was in awe of the Quakers.

"Just a superior basketball team," Long said. "We've played some good basketball teams this year, but there's no question these guys [Franklin] stand way above the rest. ... It's not even close."

Franklin's win clinched the eighth straight 3A championship for the Sea-King District. Rainier Beach (2008, 2003-02) and O'Dea (2007, 2005-04) have each won three titles since 2002. Seattle Prep won in 2006.

Kennedy girls 50, Shadle Park 43

Lancers junior and tournament MVP Yaz Fuller scored a game-high 20 points and converted a driving layup with 30 seconds left to clinch the Class 3A girls title for top-ranked Kennedy.

The Lancers (28-0) took a 3-2 lead in the first quarter on a three-pointer by Fuller and never trailed the rest of the way. The fifth-ranked Highlanders tied the score at 29 in the third quarter and pulled to within 46-43 in the fourth, but could never break through.

Kennedy senior Daidra Brown had nine points, seven rebounds, four steals and joined Fuller on the all-tournament first team.

Bianca Pope, also an all tournament first-team selection, had 10 points and nine rebounds to lead the Highlanders (22-7).