Team finally at top of league

By Dean Wong

It has taken five season in KingCo for the Ballard Beavers to climb to the top of the league and now the team is looking towards the playoffs and a possible berth at state.

The team is an impressive 9-1 in KingCo and 14 and 1 overall. Ballard is riding the momentum of winning the Surf N' Slam championship during the holidays in San Diego.

"We have a long road ahead of us. It will be tough come playoff time.," said head coach Karen Blair. The top two KingCo teams will advance to state.

Several players have been ill lately. The Beavers must get healthy, continue to work and peak at the right time with four games left and the KingCo playoffs ahead of them.

Ballard's only blemish on their record is a 47-44 loss to Inglemoor on Jan. 4. Since then, the team has continued it's winning ways over: Franklin 51-39; Eastlake, 57-53; Garfield, 61-44; and Lake Washington, 60-51.

The Beavers have led with a balanced attack. In the Lake Washington game, Kayla Williams, Madeleine Maguire, Jeanette Hansen and Evangeline Spracklin all scored in double figures.

Although Yordanos Kasahun was second in scoring with 13 points in the Garfield contest, she was the spark plug that ignited the Beavers.

"She is a gifted athlete on the team. She rebounds, finishes well and is focused," said Blair.

As they march towards the post season, Ballard is trailed by Roosevelt in the Mountain Division with its 8-2-league record. Redmond is third at 6-4.

Inglemoor has been the class of the Lake Division with a 9-1 record. Eastlake and Franklin are a distant second with 6-4 records.

Ballard takes on Juanita at home on Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m., are on the road at Woodinville (Feb.1, 6:30 p.m.) and Roosevelt (Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.) and then host Redmond (Feb. 8, 5:30 p.m.), in the final regular season game.

Dean Wong may be contacted at 783.1244 or deanw@robinsonnews.com