By Nathan Joyce
MaxPreps.com
The Auburn-Riverside Ravens just finished a grueling girls basketball tournament, and now they're off to host their own.
The Ravens, the defending Class 3A state champions, went 1-3 at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Ariz., and finished eighth.
All three losses came against teams ranked in ESPN's preseason national Top 25.
"It's disappointing to end up 1-3, especially when we're used to coming out on top, but I think this whole tournament was a good lesson for us," Katie Grad, a Washington State recruit, told theTacoma News Tribune. "And now we have games against some of the best teams in Washington, and now that's what we've got to focus on."
Grad averaged 22.5 points per game in the tourney and scored a school-record 37 in a loss to No. 25 Sequoyah (Tahlequah, Okla.).
The Ravens (4-3) also lost to the nation's No. 1 team (according to ESPN and USA Today), Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg, Va.) and the No. 5 team Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). They opened the tourney with a win over No. 17 Shelbyville (Tenn.).
The Ravens' own tournament, the Riverside Invitational, tips off Thursday.
Boys Basketball: Rainier Beach Wins Cali Tourney
Reggie Moore had 22 points and 11 assists as the Rainier Beach Vikings (8-1 and the top-ranked Class 3A team) beat Richwood (Monroe, La.) 77-67 in the championship game of the Mission Prep Christmas Classic in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
In other pre-Christmas Tournaments: Aaron Bright scored 21 points as Bellevue (8-1) beat Friendship Academy (of Washington D.C.) 61-49 in the title game of the Maui Christmas Classic in Lahaina, Hawaii.
Football: AP Tabs Forgerson as State's Best
O'Dea running back Johri Fogerson, who rushed for 2,545 yards and 36 touchdowns leading the Fighting Irish to the Class 3A state title game, was named the Associated Press football player of the year.
The AP, in a vote of statewide sports writers, announced the awards in conjunction with their All-State teams.
The Washington recruit edged out future college teammate Cody Bruns of Prosser. Bruns, whose Mustangs won the Class 2A title, finished his career with 310 catches for 5,177yards and 72 touchdowns. His catches and yards are second all-time nationally; his TDs are third. Bruns was the Class 2A player of the year.
Alex Shaw, of Lewis and Clark of Spokane, and Tony Heard of Edmonds-Woodway shared the Class 4A honors. Connell quarterback Brett Clyde won the Class 1A award; DeSales QB Kevin Baffney won the Class 2B award, and Tri-Cities prep sophomore quarterback Will Hoppes won the Class 1B award.
Football: Another Recruit Stays Home
Kennedy lineman Everrette Thompson, considered the top recruit in the state who hadn't committed to a school, has committed to the University of Washington, according to several online recruiting sites.
Scout.com lists the 6-foot-6, 255-pound tightend/defensive end as the 15th best defensive lineman in the nation. Washington, which has landed just about every big-name recruit in the state, has the 15th-best recruiting class in the nation, according to Scout.com.
