1/20/2025
(Kent, WA) The annual Martin Luther King Jr Basketball Showcase was held once again in the Kent ShoWare Center. 8 games with 5 boys match-ups and 3 girls games. Organizer Steve Turcotte began this annual event shortly after the ShoWare center opened in 2010 and says it’s just such a fun event and at the same time gives us time to honor a true hero important to so many people.
The is highlighted with 2 breaks honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with music, speeches and video presentation. Turcotte has worked with several different schools over the years to create the presentations.
Below is our coverage of each game with game in the order they were played with stories, pictures and video highlights.
Game 1 Seattle Academy vs Kent Meridian (boys)
Kent Meridian 39, Seattle Academy 34
The Royals of Kent Meridian battled the Seattle Academy Cardinals in the 9am opener. As usual these early games are usually not offensive showcases but better defense and those who can get themselves into the game faster than the other with such an early start time.
Kent Meridian’s Muhammad Secca hit 6 and that’s all the Royals could get but the Cardinals had just 5 with Malachi Dickey hitting a 3 and Miles Struss with 2 and K-M led after 1 6-5.
The Royals matched that with another 6 in the 2nd while S-A answered with a 10 point quarter taking the lead late in the half and leading 15-12 after 16 minutes. The Royals came up big with 19 in the 3rd quarter and holding the Cardinalas to 7. Alijah Townsel had missed his 1st 6 free throws and had 0 points in the 1st half but came out red hot hitting for 6 of his final 10, Secca had 5 and reserve Keelan Dollente had 4. For the Cards Struss had 4.
In the 4th S-A made a big run behind Jalani Clemmons who had 10 of his 15 points including a bucket and free throw late in the game to give the Cardinals a 34-33 lead. It looked like the Cards would pull away especially when Secca fouled out for K-M.
But Townsel would step up with Dollente each with 4 points in the 4th scoring 6 of those in the last 2 minutes to pull out the win. Christian Mortimer grabbed 8 boards in the game anbd helped the Royals with strong inside play.
Kent Meridian improves to 4-9 on the year and travels to Decatur Tuesday. Seattle Academy played all their players in this one and drops to 6-9 on the season and hosts Chief Sealth on Tuesday.
Our Thorbeckes MVP goes to the winning team and the discussion was between Alijah Townsel, Keelan Dollente, Muhammad Secca and JB Boquilon. We ended up with the full game effort of Secca as our choice. Secca was the high scorer with 13 and had 3 rebounds and was 3-4 from the line. Had S-A pulled out the win it would have been Jalani Clemmons with 15 points to lead all scorers and a double-double with 14 boards.
Scoring
Kent Meridian: Muhammad Secca 13, Alijah Townsel 10, Keelan Dollente 8, JB Boquilon 4, Christian Mortimer 2, Raymond Wong 2
Seattle Academy: Jalani Clemmons 15, Miles Strussn9, Tate Lonergon 3, Malachi Dickey 3, Losel Choegyal 2, Charlie Constable 2
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
K-M’s Muhammad Secca scores early to pace the Royals
Seattle Academy takes a late lead from Jalani Clemmons
The Royals Christian Mortimer with the clincher
Game 2 King’s vs Lynden (girls)
Lynden 54, King’s 27
The Lynden Lions led start to finish and just kept pulling away from the King’s Knights for the comfortable win. The Knights kept it close in the 1st trailing 14-9 with a big 3 ball as time expired from Kaitlin Cramer. But shooting was an issue for the Knights as they went 8 for 33 for the game or 24%.
The Lions had 3 in double figures led by the 19 of Finley Parcher. Parcher had a huge 2nd half with 13 points. Payton Mills sunk 17 going 2 for 3 from deep and Lexi Hermanutz had a dozen and led with 5 rebounds.
In the 2nd half the Knights simply couldn’t keep pace with the undefeated Lions who shot 46% from the floor and 43% from behind the arc.
Lynden’s Finely Parcher was the game’s Thorbeckes MVP winner with the 19 points and 4 rebounds. Mills and Hermnutz were considered but Parcher’s domoinance in the 2nd half gave her the edge. For the Knights we would have likely gone with Kaleo Anderson who led King’s with 9 points and 8 boards.
Lynden is now 16-0 for the season and will host Meridian on Tuesday night. King’s drops to 9-6 on the season and will be at home on Thursday against Shorewood.
Scoring
Lynden: Finley Parcher 19, Payton Mills 17, Lexi Hermanutz 12, Kiki York 3, Jules Slayton 2, Reese Nyhoff 1
King’s: Kaleo Anderson 9, Kaitlin Cramer 8, Cat Ellard 6, Adeline Cox 4
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
A scoring surge at the end of the 1st quarter
Lynden’s Finley Parcher gets started on a big 2nd half
Game 3 King’s vs Lynden (boys)
Lynden 52, King’s 41
The King’s Knights came out in the 1st quarter and went toe-to-toe with the Lions of Lynden and in fact led 15-9 holding the potent Lion offense to single digits. Dozie Asinobi and Colton Adams each had 5 to lead the King’s offense and each with a 3-ball.
But then came the 2nd quarter with a combination of cold shooting and a suffocating Lynden defense to hold the Knights to just 2 2nd quarter points. Lynden also found their offense knocking down 16, their highest scoring quarter and went into the break with a 25-17 lead. A lead the Knights could never overcome. The Lions Brant Heppner and Spencer Adams each scored 7 in what turned out to be the game winning run.
In the 2nd half Lynden outscored King’s 14-13 and 13-11. However, King’s outscored Lynden 39-36 in the 1st, 3rd and 4th quarters but the catestrophic 2nd quarter was their undoing.
Heppner led the Lions with 24 points and 6 rebounds and the team shot 49% from the field. Malachi Koenen led the defense with 4 steals. Lynden shot 5 for 15 from behind the arc and 7 of 10 from the line. For his efforts Heppner was named our Thorbeckes MVP.
King’s had 3 in double figures, Asinobo, Adams and Andrew Gerberg. Asinobi led the rebounding with 5 while Adams and Zaphie Cooper each had 3 assists.
Lynden is now 15-0 on the season and they play at Meridian on Tuesday. King’s falls to 10-4 for the year and travels to Eastside Prep on Wednesday.
Scoring
Lynden: Brant Heppner 24, Spencer Adams 9, Malachi Bowman 6, Ty Jorgenson 6, Malachin Koenen 5, Gordy Bedlington 2
King’s: Dozie Asinobi, Andrew Gerberg 11, Colton Adams 10, Zaphie Cooper 3, Max McGowan 3
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
King’s hits a long ball early to stretch their lead
Lynden takes the lead for good on this 3 shot
Game 4 Bellarmine Prep vs Clackamas (Ore) (girls)
Clackamas 74, Bellarmine Prep 32
The Clackamas Cavaliers were supposed to be in this showcase last year but ice and snow made it impossible for them to make the trip and they had to cancel late. No such issues this year and they showed why they are the #2 ranked 6A school in Oregon with a wire-to-wire win over Bellarmine Prep.
The Lions were missing 2 starters but the Cav’s shot 62% from behind the arc in the 1st half and 67% from the floor while racking up 53 points. So regardless the Lions were facing an uphill battle to begin with. Clackamas finished shooting from the floor at 57% and 48% from the 3 point line and oddly were 100% from the line but they only shot 1 free throw.
It was the Jazzy Davidson show for Clackamas as she dropped 36 points and was 5 of 7 from behind the arc and 10 of 13 from the floor. She filled up the stat line with 8 boards, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots and 2 steals. Sara Barhoum had 19 and Reyce Mogel grabbed 8 boards to lead the Cavalier attack. Our Thorbeckes MVP went to Jazzy Davidson.
The Lions despite the big deficit never gave in and played hard. Kyla Frazier led B-Prep with 11 with a pair of rebounds and assists and 5 steals. Melina Petramalo added 9 and was the Lions leading rebounder with 5.
Clackamas improves to 11-2 for the season and faces Gresham on Tuesday. Bellarmine Prep drops to 12-4 and travels to Central Kitsap Tuesday night.
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
Clackamas goes up by 7 but B Prep answers
Clackamas with a pair of fast breaks
Game 5 Mount Si vs Tualatin (Ore) (boys)
Tualatin 74, Mount Si 41
The visiting Tualatin Timberwolves were supposed to play here last year like the Clackamas girls team but ice and snow cancelled those plans. No problem getting here this year and the 6A Oregon State Champs from 2022 and 2023 and taking 3rd last year were ready to take on the Washington 4A defending Champions Mount Si in the MLK showcase.
The two teams battled with each other early but in the final 3 minutes the T-Wolves eased out to an 18-11 lead by the end of the 1st quarter. Tualatin never let that momentum get away and pushed their lead at the break to 35-19 on a 17-8 2nd quarter run. Two of the Timberwolves hit twin figures in the 1st half with Pat Vialva Jr scoring 12 of his 17 total points and Nolan Keeney scoring all 10 of his game points in the 1st 16 minutes.
The Wildcats tried to make a run in the 3rd quarter with an 18 point quarter, their highest scoring quarter but the T-Wolves matched it with their high mark of 21 and added to their lead. Mount Si then went ice cold trying to hit outside shots and were outscored 18-4 in the final quarter for thge 74-41 end.
Tualatin shot 48% from the floor and 30% going 6-20 from behind the 3-point line. They were also blistering hot at the charity stripe hitting 18 of 20 shooting 90%. For the T-Wolves Jamai Lake scored 17 of his 24 in the 2nd half, he added 4 boards and 3 steals. Vialva Jr ended with 17 and 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, Javier Diaz scored 12 and Keeney 10. Tualatin out rebounded Mount Si 37-27 led by Keeney’s 9 boards.
The Wildcats got 18 from Brady Hennig along with 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a blocked shot. Latt Ford had 15 and 8 rebounds in a solid effort. The Wildcats struggled from the floor shooting 34% and just 2 of 18 from deep for and 11% 3-point rate and didn’t fair well at the line either going 7-18 or 39% from the line.
Jamai Lake earned our Thorbeckes Fitness Center MVP award while leading the Timberwolves to the win as they improve to 12-4 for the season. Tualatin faces Lake Oswego on Tuesday. Mount Si drops to 9-5 overall and are off until Saturday with a game against 2A Renton.
Scoring
Tualatin: Jamai Lake 24, Pat Vialva Jr 17, Javier Diaz 12, Nolan Keeney 10, Damari Fields 4, Elijah Casey 3, Carter Lemon 2, Daniel Hailey IV 2
Mount Si: Brady Hennig 18, Latt Ford 15, Drendan Knaevelsrud 4, Jake Bonnofsky 3, Jimmy Pratapas 1
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
Mt Si’s Latt Ford drains a 3 bomb
Lake hits from deep to lead the T-Wolves
Game 6 Puyallup vs Lake Washington (boys)
Puyallup 66, Lake Washington 56
Lake Washington hopped out to a good start scoring 20 and taking a 7 point lead over the Puyallup Vikings but that was the pinnacle for the Kangaroos. They battled but lost ground each quarter after that as the Viks began to grind away at that deficit.
The Vikings confidence grew and adjustments made both on offense and defense with the result being their best quarter of the game outscoring Lake Washington 21-11 and taking command of the game. The Kangaroos went cold at the wrong time and the Viks took full advantage to post the win.
The game was one of opposites with L-W shooting 50% from the field in the 1st half and 32% in the 2nd half while the Vikings hit 39% in the 1st half and 48% in the 2nd. Puyallup was led by Jones with 21 points and 7 rebounds while Nasinec finished with 20, 5 boards and 2 steals. Nasinec was an blistering 7 of 8 from the floor shooting 88% and 6 of 7 from the linen at 86%. For that effort the crew named Nasinec the Thorbeckes MVP for the game. Mason Sonntag had a solid 8 and 8 game for the Viks as well.
Lake Washington was led by Jayden Hunt’s 17 points and the 16 of Mateo Cummings and team high 5 rebounds. The Kangs drop to 10-4 on the year and host Mercer Island on Wednesday. Puyallup is now 14-3 for the season and are home on Wednesday against Sumner.
Scoring
Puyallup: Drew Jones 21, Will Nasinec 20, Porter Richardson 9, Mason Sonntag 8, Lawson Looker 3, Bennett Hedman, Christian Thomas 2
Lake Washington: Jaydon Hunt 17, Mateo Cummings 16, Matthew Adeeb 8, Matei Olteanu 7, Omer Ziklik 3, Julien Deblieck 3, Ajay Ikeda 2
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
Lake Washington’s Mateo Cummings drains a long ball
Puyallup’s Will Nasinec with a tough inside hoop +1
Game 7 Glacier Peak vs Kentwood (boys)
Kentwood 52, Glacier Peak 51
The Kentwood Conquerers got off to a slow start to say the least trailing Glacier Peak 21-9 after the 1st quarter. The Grizzlies had everything working for them and hitting all their shots while holding Kentwood to single digits.
It would have been easy for the Conks to throw in the towel in this non-league showcase game but instead they refused to give in and it was the game of the day when the final buzzer sounded. Neither team could get the ball through the net in the 2nd quarter but G-P kept the pressure on adding 2 to their lead with a 9-7 quarter and headed to the locker room with a solid 30-16 lead.
G-P outshot Kentwood 55% to just 24% with Reed Nagel and Jayce Nelson leading the Grizz offense with 10 each at the break while Brandon Tagle had 7 for K-W.
The Conks would begin to turn things around with a nice run in the 3rd, 17-11, over the Grizzlies and trimmed the deficit to 8, 41-33. Kentwood would need to continue the pressure and kept digging pulling within 51-50 with 20 seconds to play and they had the ball.
After a time-out and quick foul by Glacier Peak the Conquerers had 17 seconds to play with and Brandon Tagle brought the ball up broke to the hoop between defenders and pulled a defender off Corey Tita who Tagle then flipped the ball too and Tita laid it up and in and Kentwood led 52-51 with 9 seconds to play.
The Grizzlies quickly got the ball to Josiah Lee and he had a good look and launched a shot with 1 second remaining but it hit the front of the rim and off and K-W completed the comeback with the exciting 1 point win.
Kentwood was led by Tita with 17 had 4 rebounds and 3 assists and for his effort was named our Thorbeckes Fitness Centers MVP of the game. Tagle had a solid game finishing with 13, 2 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists including the game winning dish. Also in double figures was Mason St Louis with 14 including a huge 3 pointer late in the 4th quarter.
Nagel led G-P with 16 and 6 rebounds, Jayce Nelson finished with 14 and Josiah Lee had 12 while Paulos Lulugeta led them in rebounding with 7. G-P finished shooting 46% for the game down from 55% in the 1st half, while K-W ended at 42% after that disasterous 24% 1st half. The Conks also were red hot at the line going 11 for 12 or 92% from the line.
Kentwood is now 12-4 for the year and play at Auburn Riverside Tuesday night. Glacier Peak suffers their 2nd loss of the year and drops to 13-2. The Grizzlies next host Lake Stevens on Friday night.
Scoring
Kentwood: Corey Tita 17, Mason St Louis 14, Brandon Tagle 13, Aaron Ton 3, Caleb Ross 3, Jaevieon Jamerson 2
Glacier Peak: Reed Nagel 16, Jayce Nelson 14, Josiah Lee 12, Paulos Mulugeta 5, Luke Posey 3, Jack Taylor 1
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
Glacier Peak’s Jayce Nelson hits a big 3 to push their early lead
Kentwood’s Corey Tita with the game winner
Game 8 Auburn vs Woodinville (girls)
Woodinville 49, Auburn 44
The Auburn Trojans trailed through the 1st half but kept close trailing 15-10 after the 1st and 25-21 at the break. Much of that due to Avery Hansen who scored all 12 of her points in the 1st half. Kaleesa Howard added 7. The Trojans also had 9 more shots than the Falcons going 8 for 31 but just shooting 26%.
Woodinville made better use of their shot selection hitting 10 of 22 at a 46% rate. Woodinville also spread their offense with 6 players getting in the book to just 3 for Auburn. Hailey Quiggle led with 8 and Kamryn Wille added 7.
Auburn felt a little momentum building and came out of the break on fire and put up their best quarter so far with 18 while surrendering just 11 and took lead after 3 quarters 39-36. The Trojans were looking to continue that run and put the Falcons away but an icy storm hit the Trojans and they suddenly couldn’t make a shot. They would be held to just 3 points for most of the quarter but hit a late bucket when they trailed by 7 and finished with just 5 points in the 4th.
The Falcons were steady and consistent scoring 15 then 10 then 11 and finished with a 13 point 4th to pull away for the 5 point win. Again no one player took the game over for Woodinville with Quiggle leading the scoring with 14, Wille finishing with 9 and Jazzy Wilkerson dropping 11 2nd half points for a total of 12. Wilkerson added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots and 4 steals which earned her our Thorbeckes MVP award for the game.
Auburn was led by the 14 of Ari Deloney who had just 2 in the 1st half, Howard finished with 13 and Hansen got shut out in the 2nd half to finish with 12 but she did her work inside grabbing 7 rebounds.
Woodinville improves to 14-0 on the year and will host Eastlake Wednesday night. Auburn is now 10-5 for the season and returns to action Tuesday night at Kennedy Catholic.
Scoring
Woodinville: Hailey Quiggle 14, Jazlyn Wilkerson 12, Kamryn Wille 9, Sammy Harris 6, Sienna Bieler 5, Tanvi Angarwal 3
Auburn: Ari Deloney 14, Keleesa Howard 13, Avery Hansen 12, Sophie Christensen 3, Morgan Richardson 2
Link to watch the full game replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)
Video Highlights
Auburn’s Ari Deloney drains a 3 to give the Trojans a lead
Jazzy Wilkerson drains a huge 3 late in the game
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