Category Archives: Basketball

WIAA executive board makes changes to state hoops format, using RPI

On Monday the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Executive Board voted to increase the number of teams at each state basketball championship site from eight to 12 and approved the use of a Rating Percentage Index (RPI).

The updated format, which will go into effect for the 2016-17 season, will keep regional sites for the first round. Final tournament sites are staying the same with 4A and 3A at the Tacoma Dome, 1A/2A at the Yakima Valley SunDome and 2B/1B at Spokane.

The RPI system will be used to seed the 16 teams that qualify for the first round (regionals). The system will not be used in the qualification to regional sites, only for seeding purposes after the qualifying teams are in place. The State Basketball Format Committee will continue to refine the details of the RPI system, the WIAA said in the release.

The WIAA said each district will continue to control its respective tournaments to determine the 16 teams for each classification.

You can find an example of the new 16-team bracket here.

The board voted on the changes after garnering feedback from administrators and coaches around the state via an online survey, and from different communities. The format chosen was the most popular with 71 percent in favor of using an RPI to seed tournaments.

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Former Bremerton hoops standout Kluge headed to D2 University of Mary

Sawyer Kluge, a Bremerton High product who played basketball for two years at Umpqua College in Oregon will head to Division II University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, this fall.

Kluge, a 5-foot-10 guard was named a two-time WBCA All-American and was named to the first team as a sophomore and honorable mention as a freshman. Kluge finished third all-time at Umpqua in scoring with 1,164 points and seventh in rebounding with 472. An NWAC All-Star, she averaged 21 points per game, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists in 33 games with 14 double-doubles and one triple-double for the Riverhawks.

Kluge was also a member of the Umpqua dean’s list and presidential list and plans on majoring in nursing at UM. The Marauders play in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

“Sawyer is a very talented player that fills an immediate need for us at multiple perimeter positions,” said Marauders head coach Rick Neumann. “She had a tremendous career at Umpqua Community College culminating in being named a WBCA All-American. She can shoot the three, put it on the floor and post up at times. She is also a tremendous rebounder at 5-10. We are very excited to have her join our program.”

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Two Kitsap athletes sign with OC

The Rangers announced their newest signings via Twitter:

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South Kitsap’s Wattree headed to Hawaii-Hilo

South Kitsap senior Eric Wattree won’t be playing basketball at Eastern Washington after all.

Wattree, who committed to play for the Eagles in January, will play at the University of Hawaii-Hilo next season. He signed with the NCAA Division II program Tuesday.

“Man, it’s paradise, going from Port Orchard to Hawaii,” Wattree said. “How many people can say they can do that?”

How did Eastern Washington fall out of the picture?

Well, Wattree was ready to sign his national letter of intent in February, but described having a falling out with Eastern coach Jim Hayford. Wattree didn’t want to go into details, but mentioned “having to stand up for myself and my family.” Wattree also said there were financial considerations that made decommitting from Eastern necessary.

“It was best for me to go in a different direction,” he said. “It’s about where you can play at a high level and where you can enjoy it.”

Wattree received a full-scholarship offer from Hawaii-Hilo, which finished 9-15 last season.

Wattree will be reunited with former South Kitsap teammate Ryley Callaghan, who is headed to Hawaii-Hilo after playing two seasons at Peninsula College. Wattree was a sophomore and Callaghan a senior when South Kitsap made it to the Class 4A state tournament in 2014. The Wolves finished 18-8 that season.

“I’ve always looked up to Ryley,” Wattree said.

Even though signing day didn’t turn out to be one of the highlights of his high school career, Wattree feels he’s in a great situation moving forward.

“It definitely was a challenging day for me,” Wattree said. “Since that day ended, I felt like I’ve grown a lot. … I’m going to look at this as a blessing.”

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Lindberg returns to Bremerton as athletic director

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Casey Lindberg is coming back to Bremerton.

Lindberg will be taking over the athletic director’s job, he learned Monday.

Lindberg, who played, coached and taught at Bremerton, has been gone six years working as a vice principal in the Peninsula School District.

“I’m excited to be wearing blue and gold again,” said Lindberg, who will also teach social studies.

Lindberg replaces Jeff Barton, who has been AD since 2011.

He was a standout basketball player at Bremerton before graduating in 1989. The gym at Bremerton High is named after his stepfather, Les Eathorne.

Lindberg returned to teach at his alma mater after college. He became head coach of the Knights for the 1998-99 season, leading the team to a fifth-place finish at state thanks to the play of current coach Miah Davis.

Lindberg was also coach when Marvin Williams was playing to All-American honors in 2004. He stepped down following that season.
He returned after just one season away and coached until 2010, when he lead the Knights to state behind the play of Jarell Flora. He has a 132-114 record at Bremerton.

He’s spent the past five years as a volunteer assistant coach for Scott McMinds at Central Kitsap.

Lindberg feels that the administrative experience he’s gained the last six years will be beneficial.
Plus, it will be nice to be home.

“There’s just something about working with kids, Bremerton kids, and working in that building,” Lindberg said.

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