Overlake girls advance in 1A state basketball tournament

League champs continue journey in Yakima.

By Andy Nystrom • February 25, 2019 11:30 am

Overlake’s girls continued their epic basketball journey, from local games to lengthy road trips to Yakima in the 1A state tournament.

The Owls defeated Granger, 44-30, on Feb. 22 in the first round of state at Davis High in Yakima, and they’ll return to that city’s Sun Dome for the top-12 tourney on Feb. 27 with a game against Elma at 12:15 p.m.

Overlake (18-4 overall) received 16 points and eight rebounds from Kaku Cosmos, 11 points and 10 rebounds from Eliza Friend and six points and seven rebounds from Annabelle Wiley against Granger.

In Emerald City League action, the Owls ran the table with a 14-0 record and first-place finish.

Head coach John Augustavo said the team is right where it wants to be at state.

“The girls are starting to play better together, a little more relaxed, finding out what their roles are. Add it up, it makes for a pretty good team,” he said. “The final 16 teams, they’re all good teams. You gotta show up and you gotta be ready to play.”

Augustavo noted that the Owls have been working their 2-3 zone defense well this season. They’re packing the inside and making teams try to beat them on the edge.

“So far, so good,” the coach said of their defensive success.

BOYS

Overlake’s boys also qualified for the 1A state tournament, ending their season with a 71-52 loss to King’s Way Christian on Feb. 23 at Battle Ground High.

For the Owls (15-7 overall), Trey Rudolph had 21 points and nine rebounds and Zach Foster had 12 points (four-of-seven from 3-point range), three rebounds and three assists.

The senior guards both played four years of “tremendous” varsity ball at Overlake and amassed a 66-23 overall record, said head coach David Bigelow.

“I was really impressed with our senior guards, they were awesome to have,” the coach said. “We had some pretty good development with some of our young guys.”

Highlights this season for Bigelow were his team beating Meridian, 69-50, to qualify for state and defeating rival Bear Creek twice and state squad Bellevue Christian.

Bigelow was Overlake’s assistant for two years before taking the head-coaching reins this season. The players and coaching staff meshed well this year and Bigelow said he was fortunate to have such a good group of guys on his side.

“They made the experience really positive and helped me out during my first year,” he said.

Next up for Rudolph is the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association all-state game, which will pit 1A and 2A squads against each other at 4 p.m. March 23 at Curtis High in University Place. Rudolph was the only Emerald City League player selected to participate in the game, which features the best seniors in the state.

Also on the bill at Curtis will be the 1B/2B game at 2 p.m. and the 3A/4A game at 6 p.m.