Thursday’s highlights

Fourteen state-qualifying marks were turned in when North Thurston and River Ridge got together for a girls swim meet. River Ridge’s Shannell Sullenberger and Kiana Sullenberger and North Thurston’s Arriya Hagen recorded two a piece.

Beamer’s Rachel Kim swam state-qualifying times in the 500 free (5:15.36) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.23), but the Titans fell to Curtis, 104-80.

Decatur’s girls golf team handed Enumclaw its first league loss in years, winning 139-129. The Gators’ Amanda Beyke and the Hornets’ Kelly Sweeney shared medalist honors, shooting 3-over 39 at Twin Lakes.
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No. 3 Auburn (4-0 league, 4-0 overall) vs. No. 8 Kentwood (3-0, 4-0), 7 tonight at French Field

The lowdown: The game of the year in the SPSL North, Auburn and Kentwood are two eerily similar teams. The Trojans and Conquerors rank first and second in the SPSL in rushing attacks and total defense. Auburn moves the ball almost exclusively via the run. Running backs Alphonse Wade and Austin Embody – both are averaging more than 100 yards per game – spearhead the ground game. The Trojans have attempted the second-fewest passes in the league, completing 13 of 27 attempts for 188 yards. Kentwood’s offense is slightly more balanced, but still run-heavy. RB Mikell Everette has run wild, picking up 11.3 yards per attempt. QB Shane Green has been incredibly efficient, completing 21 of 32 passes for 401 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Auburn, winner of the last two SPSL North crowns, has won 28 straight regular season games, the longest such winning streak in Class 4A.

TNT pick: Auburn 21, Kentwood 17
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The 37th Annual Sunfair Invite, one of the largest and most competitive regular season high school cross country meets in the state, will go off on Saturday in Yakima.

Here’s a link to the official Sunfair site. And here are the most current state cross country rankings.

We’ll have a recap of the meet and how South Sound schools fared this weekend.

Video: A look at the 4-0 Spartans

Here is the Week 5 Associated Press poll.

Class 4A
1, Skyline (7), 3-1, 96
2, Curtis (1), 4-0, 88
3, Auburn (2), 4-0, 82
4, Bothell, 3-1, 64
5, Ferris, 4-0, 55
6, Gonzaga Prep, 3-1, 52
7, Richland, 4-0, 43 Read more »

According to the Spokane Spokesman-Review, the South Sound will be hopping with first-round state basketball tournament action. Eleven area schools will host first round games.

The first-round games will be played Feb. 25-26. Winning teams will then advance to the Tacoma Dome (4A and 3A), Yakima SunDome (2A and 1A) or Spokane Arena (2B and 1B).

In 4A, the sites are: Jackson High School, Bellevue Community College, Puyallup HS, Rogers (Puyallup) HS and Richland HS (for Greater Spokane League and Columbia Basin Big Nine).

In 3A, the sites are: Marysville HS, Juanita HS, Inglemoor HS, Auburn HS, Auburn Mountainview HS, Spokane Falls CC (for GSL and CBBN) and Shadle Park HS (for GSL and CBBN).
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Rankings are done by the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association.

Class 4A
1. Richland
2. Mead (Spokane)
3. Jackson (Mill Creek)
4. Puyallup
5. Olympia
6. Issaquah
7. Woodinville Read more »