McPhee named state's best
Brittany McPhee of Mount Rainier High School was named as the state's girls basketball Player of the Year by the Seattle Times last week.
McPhee is only a junior and she led the Lady Rams to a third-place state Class 3A finish.
Association honors Walters
The United States Tennis Association\Pacific Northwest Section announced its final men's open tennis rankings for 2012. Seattle's Rick Kovacevich and Normandy Park's Steve Walters were named co-No. 1 ranked in men's open doubles in 2012. It is the third time they have held or shared the No. 1 men's doubles ranking in the PNW section. They were also ranked No. 1 in 2002 and 2007. Kovacevich and Walters won PNW circuit stops in Yakima and Seattle and took runners-up finishes in Bellevue and Vancouver in 2012.
Lupus Walk scheduled for May
The annual Lupus Walk held to raise funds for the fight against the Lupus disease has been scheduled for Saturday, May 25 at Liberty Park in Renton.
See sistersagainstlupus.org for more information.
Highline hires Asailiai
Asosa Asailiai had been named as the new head football coach at Highline High School.
Cooper not retained
Saint Martin's University has decided that it will not retain men's basketball coach Keith Cooper for next season, director of athletics Bob Grisham annouced last week.
Cooper -- a former head coach at Decatur High School -- finished the 2012-13 season with an 82-71 victory over Central Washington University, closing out 10 seasons as the Saint Martin's head coach.
"We sincerely appreciate Keith's contributions to the university and to our basketball program over the past decade," said Grisham. "After considerable evaluation, we have resolved to make a change in leadership with the goal of moving our men's basketball program forward."
"Keith's commitment to his players has never wavered," added Grisham. "The perseverance and integrity of the many young men CKeith has coached over the years are a reflection of his values. We wish Keith every success in his future."
Cooper was hired as Saint Martin's head coach in 2003 and compiled a record of 116-158 (.423) during his 10 seasons. He came to Saint Martin's after one season as an assistant coach at Seattle Pacific University and, prior to that, two seasons as an assistant coach at Central Washington University.
"I want to thank the Saint Martin's community, especially Bob Grisham, Saint Martin's Abbey members, students, boosters, faculty and alumni for their support of Saints basketball during my time here," Cooper said. "It's been an honor to coach such talented, dedicated student-athletes season after season, and to see those young men succeed on and off the court."
The search for a new men's basketball coach at Saint Martin's will begin immediately.
Conger clobbers M's pitchers
Federal Way native Hank Conger hit 3-for-3 with two runs and five RBI for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in their 9-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Monday, March 4. The catcher's effort included a three-run home run.
Ishikawa with Orioles
Travis Ishikawa, a graduate of Federal Way High School, was signed as a free agent by the Baltimore Orioles this past winter and is now with their spring training camp in Florida.
Ishikawa, a slick-fielding first baseman, started for the Milwaukee Brewers last year after starting off his Major League Baseball career with the San Francisco Giants.
