Category: Sports

Hawks take 2nd at Districts, win opening game of  Tri-Districts

 

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The Tulalip Heritage Hawks basketball team demolished Shoreline Christian 70-39 and then ran away with a 67-46 victory over Grace Academy in their opening two games of the NW1B District Tournament. Those Ws set up the much anticipated third meeting between the undefeated Cedar Park Christian Lions and the Tulalip Hawks on February 7 for the NW1B Championship.

When they met the first time Cedar Park thumped the Hawks, but the second time they met it was a highly competitive, back and forth game Cedar Park narrowly won. The third matchup, to say the least, did not live up to the hype. The Hawks came out flat and were unable to raise their level of play to that of Cedar Park. After trailing 1-16 only three minutes into the game the Hawks looked on with desperation at the undefeated Lions out executed them at all phases of the game.

After the lopsided 37-81 game ended, the Hawks had suffered their worst defeat of the season; their defense gave up the most points they have all season combined with the lowest offensive showing on the season. It was a disappointing game, but the show must go on and the Hawks had finished 2nd place in their District.

With six days between games, the Hawks had plenty of time to practice and prep for their upcoming opponent, the Eagles from Pope John Paul II out of Lacey. The teams faced off in the opening round of the Tri-District game on Tuesday, February 13. Because of their high-seeding it was a home game for Heritage.

The Hawks came out executing their game plan to the tune of a 13-6 early lead they were able to extend to 22-12 midway through the 2nd quarter. With both teams full of quick, athletic guards the defense was showcased much more than offence. Both teams were forcing turnover left and right, but it was the Hawks were doing the better job of getting to their spots on offense.

Guards Josh Iukes, Isaac Comenote, Josh Miranda, and Sam Fryberg all connected on 3-point shots in the early going. With the ball continuing to move and no one player jacking up shots, Tulalip was playing their brand of basketball. As for senior center, Rodney Barber, he was having a block party and all the Pope John Paul II players were invited. He would finish with a career-high 9 blocks on the game.

While Rodney was patrolling the paint and contesting anything within his reach, the Hawks weren’t giving up any easy buckets. At one point their lead got cut down to only a single point, but they didn’t give in to the pressure and kept playing smart. Guard Jr. Shay who missed his first nine shots finally got into a rhythm in the 2nd half and scored 7 points in the 4th quarter.

To the home crowd’s delight, the Hawks took home a well-earned 50-44 win. Rodney finished with a near triple-double 12 points, 11 rebounds and 9 blocks, while Josh Iukes added 9 points. With the win, the Hawks now advance to the next round of the Tri-District Tournament where they will play the #2 ranked school in the state, Muckleshoot Tribal School.

Lady Hawks unable to sustain their rhythm in back-to-back playoff games

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks basketball team steamrolled their inner-league competition during the regular season, going a perfect 12-0 in those games. That momentum carried over in the first two rounds of the NW1B District Tournament when they crushed Cedar Park Christian 62-20 and Grace Academy 60-34.

Entering the NW1B Championship game versus the Mt. Vernon Christian Hurricanes, played at Lummi High School on February 7, the Tulalip girls had won an impressive four straight games by 25+ points. However, for the first time in a long while they’d be facing an opponent who had an equal amount of talent and athleticism.

Both teams played a well-matched 1st quarter that finished with a 7-7 tied ball game. The Hurricanes were double-teaming forward Deandra Grant early and often, which made it difficult to get her the ball in her usual spots. After taking a 17-11 lead in the 2nd quarter, Tulalip’s zone defense fell victim to hot outside shooting by the Hurricanes. With a little over three minutes left in the 3rd quarter the score was 20-19 Tulalip.

Senior guard Keryn Parks then did her best to take over the game. She was beating everyone down the court in transition and her teammates her throwing her half court passes she could gather and score off of. The strategy was working as the Lady Hawks ended the 3rd quarter on a 14-3, giving them a 34-22 lead.

In the 4th quarter, the Mt. Vernon Christian coaching staff made some crucial adjustments that changed the game completely. They started double-teaming the hot-handed Keryn even when she didn’t have the ball, basically forcing other Lady Hawk guards to handle the ball. They also implemented a full-court trap that caused the Lady Hawks to turn the ball over several times on errant passes. Add in Tulalip’s foul trouble and it was the perfect storm of doom and gloom that led to the Lady Hawk’s eventual collapse.

Tulalip’s once double digit lead in the 4th quarter gradually disappeared and with only thirty-five seconds remaining, the Hurricanes took their first lead of the game 41-40. The Lady Hawks were unable to regain the lead and lost 40-44, to take 2nd at the District Tournament.

Days later, the Lady Hawks returned to the court as their 2nd place showing at Districts gave them a Tri-District home game. Heritage hosted Clallam Bay at Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium on Tuesday, February 13.

The Tulalip girls jumped out to an early 6-0 lead before Clallam Bay fought back to tie the game at 11-11 going into the 2nd quarter. The offense was running their usual plays and getting the shots they wanted, but the ball just wouldn’t go through the hoop. In the 1st half the Lady Hawks shot an abysmal 8-38 from the floor.

Nearing the end of the 3rd quarter, the Lady Hawks were still struggling on the offensive end and saw their biggest deficit of the game, 32-44. Over the next five minutes of play Tulalip finally found their rhythm and knocked down shot after shot. They went on an impressive 17-3 run to take a 49-47 lead with only minutes remaining in the game. The long quiet home crown came alive and was cheering on their team.

But, the Lady Hawks tendency to pick up so many early fouls came back to haunt them in this game, similarly to what happened in their last game. Several Lady Hawks players found themselves in foul trouble early on and in the game’s closing minutes they were fouling out. Clallam Bay was knocking down their free-throws and in the end their 17 made free-throws proved a difference maker. Tulalip lost a heartbreaker, 55-63.

As a team the Lady Hawks shot 21-76 from the field, a 28% shooting percentage that is difficult for any team at this stage in the postseason to overcome. Keryn led her team in scoring with 23 points, while Deandra finished with 16 points and 23 rebounds.

Next up, the Lady Hawks play a loser-out game vs. Rainier Christian.

Two dominant playoff Ws give Hawks chance at 1B District crown

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The Tulalip Heritage Hawks basketball team ended the regular season with a (17-3) overall record, which included a (12-2) record in league play. Both those two inner-league losses came at the hands of a Cedar Park Christian team that finished their season undefeated. When the NW1B District playoff bracket was announced, many expected Tulalip and Cedar Park to meet in the Championship game.

Tulalip entered the tournament as the #2 seed, which allowed them to host an opening round game. Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium was jam packed with friends and family who came out to root on their team on February 1st, when then hosted Shoreline Christian.

These two teams had faced off twice during the regular season and in each the Hawks came away with 30+ point victories. Because of the lopsided nature of those wins, the Hawks started the game sluggish. The defensive rotations weren’t there and the boy just weren’t playing hard. At the end of the 1st quarter, the home team only led by 1 point, 17-16.

During intermission, the Hawks coaching staff lit a fire under the team to get them playing their usual brand of up-tempo, aggressive basketball. The whole squad responded, but none more so than senior guard, Jr. Shay. He was absolutely on fire in the 3rd quarter, scoring 18 points on 7/8 shooting. His intensity was contagious and defensively the Hawks only allowed 16 points the entire 2nd half.

Heritage ended up routing Shoreline 70-39 in front of a crowd of cheering fans. Jr. Shay led all scorers with 21 points, Alonzo Jones added 14 points, and Rodney Barber chipped in 12 points.

Moving onto the 2nd round of the tournament, the Hawks traveled to Lummi where they played the Grace Academy Eagles on February 3rd.  During the regular season Tulalip had defeated Grace by 20+ in both their matchup. This game would mirror those previous ones.

Grace had no answer for the length and athleticism of the Tulalip boys. Center Rodney Barber was corralling rebounds on both ends of the floor and scoring at the rim over the shorter Grace players. After the 1st quarter, the Hawks led 17-12 and would balloon their lead from there.

Hawks players continued to move the ball well offensively, leading to all five starters finding their groove and knocking down shots. Defensively, the Hawks hounded the Grace ball handlers into committing several turnovers. In the 2nd quarter Grace would only score 8 points because of the defensive pressure.

When the buzzer sounded signaling end of game, the Hawks had notched a 67-46 victory, advancing them to the Championship round. Rodney led the Hawks in scoring with 15 points, Nashone Whitebear added 14 points, and Alonzo chipped in 11 points.

Next up, the Hawks will face off against Cedar Park Christian tonight for the NW1B crown. The Hawks nearly beat them the last time they matched up and are looking to ride their recent momentum to an upset victory over the undefeated Cedar Park.

Lady Hawks firing on all cylinders to start postseason

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks basketball team finished the regular season with a (15-4) overall record, including a perfect (12-0) in league play. Going undefeated against league opponents earned them the #1 seed in the NW1B District playoffs.

Tulalip started the postseason by hosting the Lions from Cedar Park Christian in an opening round game played on February 1. It was obvious from the onset that Tulalip was the much more talented and all-around better team as they took a 5-0 lead, extending it to 13-0, before the Lions finally got on the board right before the end of the 1st quarter. After the first eight minutes of play Heritage led 15-3.

During the entire 1st half, senior guard Keryn Parks put the offense on her back by routinely attacking the basket, finishing through contact, and scoring bucket after bucket. In fact, Keryn scored an impressive 18 points in the first half, outscoring a Cedar Park team who only managed 7 points through the first two quarters.

In the 2nd half, forwards Deandra Grant and Krislyn Parks controlled the game by exploiting the smaller Cedar Park team in the paint. The Lady Hawks played through Deandra and Krislyn who were able to get quality looks from point-blank range.

It was a dominant performance from the Lady Hawks as they won 62-20. They were led in scoring by Keryn’s 26 points, while Deandra added 11 points and 18 rebounds, and Krislyn had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Two days later, Tulalip travelled to Lummi High School to play Grace Academy in a 2nd round playoff game. The 3-ball was falling early on with guards Georgie Randall and Loralei Eli knocking down multiple shots from deep. At the end of the 1st quarter, the Lady Hawks led 15-10.

In the 2nd quarter, the Lady Hawks were hit foul calls left and right, none bigger than Keryn getting her 3rd personal foul in the early going. Due to that foul trouble Keryn hit the bench and in her absence the team stepped up admirably. From that point on the team’s defense locked in and didn’t allow Grace Academy any easy looks. Meanwhile, the coaching staff adjusted their offense to run everything through Deandra in the post.

With Keryn on the bench, Deandra shouldered the offensive burden with ease. She was often double and even triple teamed, but it didn’t matter. She was just too big and too strong. Deandra scored 18 points from the 2nd quarter on. Combine her scoring with a Tulalip defense that was locked in, they held Grace to only 5 points in the 2nd quarter and then an astounding 1 point in the 3rd quarter, and Heritage ran away with a 60-34 victory.

Deadra led all players in scoring with 20 points, including double digits rebounds and blocks, while Georgie and Keryn both chipped in 11 points.

The 2-0 start to the postseason gives the Lady Hawks a berth in the NW1B Championship game where they will play Mt. Vernon Christian tonight at 5:00 p.m. at Lummi High School.

Hawks and Lady Hawks wrap up regular season

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

Lady Hawks on a 12-game win streak entering playoffs

The Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks wrapped up the regular season with a perfect (12-0) record within the NW1B league, which has earned them the #1 seed entering the 1B District Tournament.

During the 12-game league winning streak Heritage has outscored their opponents on average by a whopping 26 points per game. The defense has been solid, anchored by senior forward and rim protector, Deandra Grant. Helping to crash boards and becoming a rebounding machine down the stretch has been Freshman, Krislyn Parks

Offensively, this rendition of the Lady Hawks has led the league in offensive production. Senior guard, Keryn Parks, and her running mate Deandra have decimated teams with an inside-out game most teams have no answer for. Add in the surge in three-point shooting from Georgie Randall and Deachae Jones and it’s no wonder this time scores 58 points per game on average.

There has been much to celebrate with Heritage holding Senior Night the same day the Lady Hawks clinched the #1 seed for the upcoming playoffs.

Heritage will host a home game in the opening round scheduled for Thursday, February 1st vs. #8 Cedar Park Christian at 5:00p.m.

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Hawks wrap up regular season, look for deep playoff run

Coach Cyrus “Bubba” Fryberg and his coaching staff have molded the Heritage Hawks into an aggressive, up-tempo machine that can score with the best of them and lockdown on defense when necessary. The Hawks finished the regular season as by far the second best team in the NW1B, while tallying an impressive (17-3) overall record.

Their success has earned them the #2 seed entering the 1B District Tournament. With schools like Cedar Park, Lummi, and Mt. Vernon Christian on the opposite side, Heritage finds themselves in prime position to make it to the Championship game and take home the 1B crown.

During the regular season it seemed like every game had multiple players shine with big buckets or defensive prowess. The ball moves and the boys understand where there best spots are on the court. When everyone is locked in defensively, as a team they force many turnovers that get the transition game going.

Senior standouts Paul Shay, Jr., Josh Iukes, Rodney Barber, and Nashone Whitebear have all had excellent season and were recognized prior to the start of the final regular season home game. These four, along with the talented sharpshooters filling out the roster, will look to start off the postseason with a blowout victory when they host #7 Shoreline Christian on Thursday, February 1st at 6:30p.m.

Tulalip Boys and Girls Club teaches life fundamentals through basketball

By Kalvin Valdillez. Tulalip News 

“I always tell the kids, the number one thing you should do while you’re on the court is have fun,” expresses Tulalip Boys and Girls Club Athletic Director, JP Miranda. Currently in mid-season, the Boys and Girls Club athletic program is teaching the Tulalip youth the fundamentals of basketball. The Tulalip club participates in an eight-week long basketball season in which they compete in weekly games against nearby Boys and Girls Clubs such as Arlington, Granite Falls, Everett and Mukilteo.

The Tulalip league consists of eleven teams starting with a co-ed kindergarten team. With the exception of the kindergarten squad, every team is based on which grade the child is in. The teams begin with students who are in the first and second grade, a boys’ team and a girls’ team respectfully, and range all the way up to seventh and eighth grade teams. Due to popularity, there were enough participants this year for an additional team of boys first and second grade students as well as boys third and fourth graders.

“Kids are going through a lot, not just home and family, but at school. Bullying is a big issue right now,” says JP. “All children crave the most is support from their parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Right now there is a decline in sports for boys and girls, that cut off in participation is around fourth and sixth grade due to either a poor coaching experience or lack of support. But on the other side of that, some kids who play select sports are getting burned out and stop participating because they feel they didn’t have the time to just be kids. Also technology, phones, laptops, game consoles are really taking a lot away from their participation. When kids come into the gym and are looking at their phones I tell them to grab a basketball and start dribbling.”

Throughout the season the little ballers learn the basics of basketball. While the younger kids learn essential knowledge and skills such as shooting, passing, dribbling and rebounding, the older kids work on plays, footwork, screens and cuts. All the kids however, learn the importance of defense, communication and accountability by learning how to play as a team.

“It’s the fundamentals they have to know, even in the NBA they still practice the fundamentals,” states JP. “The biggest fundamental I stress is dribbling. If you’re not able to dribble, you’re not able to get the ball down the court the right way; you’re not going to be able to get set up, pass or shoot.

“The more you practice, the better you get,” he continues. “I like watching them grow and watching them excel on a team and realizing that being part of a team is fun. You have to be able to work as a team to get anywhere.

JP states that although attendance during home games is great, the kids would greatly appreciate more support at away games.

“Any volunteers are always helpful,” he expresses. “It’s amazing to see a child when one of their relatives comes in to volunteer. You hear the excitement when they introduce them, it seriously brightens up that child’s day. And it’s amazing to see a kid who’s out on the court and sees their aunt or uncle on the sideline, they start to play harder cause they know they’re there to watch them. I tell them all the time, when you’re out there on the court remember who you are, where you come from and what your family name means to you because that’s who you represent. You represent yourself, your culture, your tribe, your Native American background and you represent your family. Be proud of who you are and don’t act a fool on the court.”

For more information and to find out how to become a volunteer, please contact the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club at (360) 651-3400.

After suffering first L, Hawks bounce back with three Ws

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The Tulalip Heritage boys basketball team opened the season undefeated with a (9-0) record. As they powered through the NW1B league, so did league foe Cedar Park Christian (11-0). This set up a battle of the unbeaten on January 5 at Francy J. Sheldon gymnasium.

Cedar Park proved during the game that their bigger, stronger backcourt was able to keep Heritage off the boards and prevent them from attacking the basket. The Hawks had lots of difficulty manufacturing points in the 1st half and trailed 13-34 at halftime. In the 2nd half, the Hawks got back to running and playing their style, but their deficit was too large. Their winning streak was snapped with a 43-60 defeat.

Coming off their first loss of the season, the Hawks responded by putting up a season-high in points when they whooped Shoreline Christian, 87-53. They followed that up with a 70-32 blowout win over Providence Classical Christian.

Next up was rival Lummi Nation, in a home game played on Tuesday, January 16. With the gym packed full of fans for both sides, the environment was prime for a competitive game. Lummi came out with a solid game plan of slowing down the pace of play to throw the Hawks off their game. It worked over the first three quarters. The Hawks are so accustomed to playing up-tempo and using their combination of speed and athleticism to get transition buckets that Lummi’s slow, methodical pace gave them fits.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, the game was tied at 34-34. In the 4th quarter, the Hawks were finally able to bust the game open with their senior players leading the offensive charge. Josh Iukes hit two clutch 3-pointers and Nashone Whitebear scored 8 points in a four-minute frenzy, giving Tulalip the momentum to take home victory. Up by several baskets, Tulalip focused in on Lummi’s key scorer and prevented him from scoring down the stretch.

When the final game buzzer sounded, the Hawks had earned a hard fought 52-40 W. Josh led the Hawks in scoring with 13 points, while Nashone, Jr. Shay, and Rodney Barber each added 10 points.

The Hawks look to keep getting better in their half-court sets, as a looming matchup with Cedar Park on January 26 will surely go a long way to dictating who wins the NW1B crown. Next up for the Hawks is a road game at Lopez before returning home on Tuesday, January 23, for Senior Night versus Grace Academy.

Lady Hawks continue to soar

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The 3-game losing skid to begin the season has been all but forgotten for the Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks, who are currently in the midst of an impressive 10-game winning streak. During the streak, the Heritage squad has been employing a lethal two-pronged attack led by senior forward Deandra Grant owning the painted area and senior guard Keryn Parks attacking from the perimeter.

As the season has progressed, so have the shooting touches of guards Georgie Randall and Deachae Jones. With the role players accepting larger roles and knocking down clutch shots when Deandra and Keryn are double-teamed, the Lady Hawks have been dominant.

That dominance was on full display on January 5 when Heritage obliterated Cedar Park Christian, 68-9. The girls followed up with a 57-28 hammering of Shoreline Christian on January 9. Then archrival Lummi Nation came to town on Tuesday, January 16.

Lummi always plays Tulalip tough, and for a Lady Hawks team blowing out opponents left and right, a competitive game was much needed. In the 1st half, Lummi’s outside shooting took advantage of the Heritage zone defense and kept the game close. Leading by only 6 points at halftime, 32-26, the girls now had an opportune time to shift their game into the next gear.

In the 2nd half, Tulalip moved the ball exceptionally well and got lots of open looks from their key players. Deandra and Keryn did their work inside, while Georgie and Deachae knocked down big shots from long-distance. The team defense locked in on the Lummi shooters and did a much better job of contesting their jumpers. Heritage’s engaged play led to a 22-7 run spanning the final two quarters, allowing them to pull away for a 69-49 victory.

Keryn led all scorers with 21 points, Deandra added 20 points, and Georgie chipped in 18 points.

“At halftime, we talked about how Lummi was double teaming me and Keryn whenever we had the ball,” explained Deandra, who finished with a game-high 21 rebounds. “In the 2nd half, once we figured out how to play through those double teams by passing it around the perimeter, they couldn’t stop us. We picked up our pace and got more intense, too, which is how we want to play.”

“It’s always a rivalry with Lummi,” added Keryn. “They have some really good players who make us compete harder, which pushes me to do better. It’s been awesome seeing other girls raise their play, too. Georgie scoring 18 points was clutch for us. She’s a sharp shooter and the more we can get good looks for her, the better.”

The 20-point win over Lummi is just another in a series of blowouts the Lady Hawks have been notching during their 10-game winning streak. They will play one more home game on Tuesday, January 23, versus Grace Academy that will double as Senior Night.

She Got Game: Women Tribal Members Featured in College Hoops Matchup

Tulalip tribal members Adiya Jones (left) and Kanoa Enick (right) are matched up for the first time as collegiate adversaries.

By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

They’ve grown up together on the Tulalip Reservation playing more games of rez ball than can be remembered. Years and years of dribbling, rebounding, and hearing the net swish has created countless memories on the hardwood, but an all-new memory was created for Tulalip tribal members Adiya Jones and Kanoa Enick when they matched up for the first time as collegiate adversaries.

In her second year playing for Skagit Valley Community College, Adiya has stepped up and taken the reigns as the team’s unquestioned leader. She is the primary playmaker on offense while also anchoring the team’s defense.

“Adiya is our best player and there’s a reason why. She has a high basketball I.Q., she’s so smooth with the ball, has a great shooting touch, and she’s a willing passer; making her a tremendous asset to our team,” beams Steve Epperson, Skagit’s Athletic Director and Women’s Basketball Coach. “Over the last few games she’s rebounded the heck out of the basketball as well.

“I’m really proud of her as a student, too, because she’s doing really well in school and making great progress towards her degree.”

Meanwhile, Kanoa recently decided to test her medal at Northwest Indian College (NWIC) by enrolling in Winter quarter. Her appetite for getting buckets still strong, she walked onto the women’s basketball team and is quickly showing promise.

“She adds another dimension to our team. Kanoa is a good hustle player, she’s very long and is able to contest shots on the perimeter,” states Matthew Santa Cruz, NWIC’s Women’s Basketball Coach. “She’s also able to take it to the hole, get fouled, and make her free-throws. That’s a real asset in this game.”

And so the stage was set for the two home-grown college athletes to face-off for the first-time ever.

The historical moment took place at the Lummi High School gym, the home court for NWIC, on Friday, December 5. Adiya shined while leading her team with 24-points, but it was Kanoa’s NWIC team taking the W in a 64-61 nail biter.

The following day, the two team’s played once again, this time in Mt. Vernon, giving Adiya’s Skagit squad the opportunity for payback. There were several Tulalip fans in the crowd who journeyed to watch the matchup. Skagit came away with a convincing 66-35 W the second time around, giving both Tulalip women a victory over the other.

Following their second matchup in as many days, Adiya and Kanoa reflected on this new experience.

“I was nervous and excited when I realized we were about to play against each other,” said Kanoa. “It doesn’t come off like we know each other on the court because we’re both so focused on the game. It was really cool to see Tulalips in the stands rooting for us.”

“It was definitely fun. It hit me when I was warming up for our first game; I was thinking ‘this is so weird I’m about to play Kanoa’,” smiled Adiya. “For the younger generation at home in Tulalip, I hope they see this and realize they can attend college and play ball, too. Get outside your comfort zone because, honestly, once you try it you’ll realize how exciting new opportunities are.”