West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
Thanks for the photos! Above, Jim Spraker‘s view of the sunset; below, Lynn Hall‘s look at The Brothers in the sunshine, and JayDee’s wider morning view of the Olympics.
With clearing skies, temperatures are already into the 30s, and the forecast warns of a “chance of rain and snow showers in the morning.”
36-27 WSHS with 4 mins left in game. Video: #23 Anthony Giomi basket. pic.twitter.com/7vymr1jrPW
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 11, 2018
(4th-quarter basket by WSHS #23 Anthony Giomi)
FIRST REPORT, 6:25 PM: In the second of two district-playoff games this afternoon/evening at West Seattle High School, the WSHS boys have just defeated Lake Washington, 46-36. Photos and details to be added later. With the win, the WSHS boys will play Rainier Beach at 5 pm Tuesday (February 13th) at Sammamish HS in Bellevue, right after the Wildcat girls’ 3:30 pm game vs. Seattle Prep.
ADDED 11:11 PM: Here’s how the game unfolded for head coach Keffrey Fazio and his team – far more defense than offense, as you can tell from the score. #1 Marcus Collins, West Seattle’s top scorer in the game with 8 points, got the team’s first basket.
That tied things at 2-2. And after a bit of lead-swapping, they were tied again when the first quarter ended, 7-7. Overall, the Wildcats were having an off-day on the boards. Things got a little better in the second quarter, starting with #23 Anthony Giomi (7 points) opening a three-point lead with a basket and foul shot.
#3 Kendall Green followed with a three-pointer on an assist by #32 Maar Rambang, and suddenly WSHS was up by six. A couple of baskets by #5 Abdullahi Mohamed (8 points) in the ensuing minutes helped the Wildcats keep the lead despite a Lake Washington three-pointer shortly before halftime taking the score to 19-15.
A somewhat sloppy start to the second half gave way to a strong scoring run including back-to-back baskets by Collins, and then one by #2 Elijah Nnanabu, giving WSHS a 12-point lead. The Wildcats held a 9-point lead over the Kangaroos by the end of the third quarter, and then it was a matter of digging in to stay ahead. Lake Washington got to within six points at midpoint in the final quarter – 36 to 30 – and a three-pointer a few minutes later made it a five-point margin, 38-33. The Kangaroos tried the time-honored tactic of fouling their opponents, repeatedly, to see if they could make some magic happen, but the resulting WSHS foul shots just widened the Wildcats’ lead, and time ran out for Lake Washington, losing 46-36. As mentioned above, West Seattle’s Tuesday opponent is Rainier Beach, and that’ll be the third Wildcats-Vikings faceoff this season.
At halftime, West Seattle HS girls 31, Mercer Island 22. (Video: WSHS #11 Gayles basket in final minute of half) pic.twitter.com/BtJOcYGL3S
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 10, 2018
(West Seattle’s top scorer today, #11 Jasmine Gayles, with an end-of-first-half basket)
FIRST REPORT, 4:28 PM: Just concluded at West Seattle High School, the girls’ first game in district basketball playoffs, and it was a victory – 67-55 over Mercer Island. Photos and details later. The Wildcat girls now advance to the next round, with a game at 3:30 pm Tuesday (February 13th) at Sammamish High School (100 140th Ave SE in Bellevue), against Seattle Prep.
ADDED 10:03 PM: Head coach Darnell Taylor and his team had a lot of strategizing to do to keep this one in the W corner. Twice, they pulled out to a sizable lead, only to have the Islanders recover.
First time was fairly early on – the Wildcats were ahead 11-2 by midway through the first quarter, but that lead was down to three points as the second quarter began, 15-12. In the second quarter, Mercer Island fought to a 20-17 lead after two 3-pointers, with 5 minutes to go until halftime. But the Westsiders didn’t give up, and after baskets by #20 Grace Sarver (12 points) and #11 Jasmine Gayles, (17 points) they had the lead back, 21-20. They kept building on that and were out to a 31-22 lead at halftime.
The Wildcats dominated the early minutes of the second half, expanding their lead to 16 points before Mercer Island started their second comeback attempt – with 11 unanswered points before the end of the third quarter. West Seattle was still ahead – 43-38 – but the Islanders were within striking distance.
#4 Kelsey Lenzie ended the scoring drought with a basket at 7:15 to go, on an assist from Sarver. The two repeated the feat less than half a minute later, and the Wildcats had a little breathing room, 47-38. #1 Kaiya Mar added a three-pointer at 5:26, and WSHS had momentum.
By 3:40, they’d opened up to 56-42 after #32 Meghan Fiso (6 points) got a three on an assist from #21 Julianna Horne (11 points).
At 2:30, the margin was 19 points and victory was looking certain; Mercer Island made up a little of that ground but not enough, and the final score was 67-55. As mentioned above, Seattle Prep is next for the WSHS girls, four weeks after they beat the Panthers by six points.
2:14 PM: Thanks to everybody who’s just sent word (including the photo above) of a crash blocking 35th and Fauntleroy. No word of serious injuries so far but avoid the area for a while.
2:54 PM: SDOT just tweeted that the intersection is now clear.
12:56 PM: That’s the scene earlier today at the Teamsters Local 174 hall in Tukwila, where First Student school-bus drivers voted on the agreement announced Friday. The photo is from West Seattle driver Al, who provided updates during the 7-day strike, and told us earlier that everyone he’d talked to was in favor of the agreement. He just texted to say the drivers have been told they voted 97 percent “yes,” so the strike IS over and they will be back to work Monday. We’ll update this story whenever the official statement comes in.
1:11 PM: We have received this statement from First Student’s lead negotiator Kim Mingo, confirming the strike is over and yellow-bus service for Seattle Public Schools will resume Monday:
We are very pleased that First Student yellow bus drivers have voted to ratify the expanded benefits program included within their contract. We look forward to resuming the reliable transportation that First Student is known for, and that Seattle Public Schools families depend on, on Monday.
6:18 PM: The union’s announcement says a bit more about what’s in the deal:
The new agreement is an overwhelming victory for the group of more than 400 bus drivers. Most of them did not receive healthcare through their employer and did not have access to a reasonable retirement plan. All of that changes with the ratification of this agreement.
The agreement provides quality healthcare at an affordable cost. It also provides the bus drivers with a Teamster pension plan, the first ever achieved for contracted school bus drivers in Seattle and possibly the entire country for First Student members.
Read Local 174’s full statement here.
Four of the five Seattle Fire Department stations in West Seattle are having open houses right now as part of Neighbor Day, and you are welcome to stop in before 1 pm. Our photo’s from Station 37 at 35th SW and SW Holden [map] in Sunrise Heights, West Seattle’s second-newest station, completed in 2010 – replacing a smaller old city-landmark building a few blocks north – and home to Engine 37.
(added) Also there today – one of SFD’s SUVs, B77:
And SFD Lt. Harold Webb introduced us to his “newest recruit,” firefighter Chris Tarkir:
In the background is an illuminated “37” you might notice if you pass by the station at night – we thought, seeing it from a distance, that it was neon, but found out today that it’s not – it’s a holiday-lighting holdover.
Also open for you to visit before 1 pm:
-Fire Station 11 in Highland Park (16th/Holden)
-Fire Station 29 in North Admiral (2139 Ferry SW)
-Fire Station 32 in The Triangle (38th/Alaska – just completed and opened last year)
(Bald Eagles – this photo and next are by Dan Ciske)
Happy Neighbor Day! That’s part of what’s happening around West Seattle today/tonight. From our calendar:
MEDITATION 101: Get your weekend off to a calm start. 9 am-11 am class at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, taught by Peter Drummond. Details in our calendar listing. (3050 California SW)
ARCHBISHOP @ THE MOUNT FOR WORLD DAY OF THE SICK: Archbishop Peter Sartain will lead Mass and Anointing of the Sick at Providence Mount St. Vincent at 10 am:
During the Anointing of the Sick, Archbishop Sartain and other priests will individually bless anyone who is poor or sick, bringing the hope and the healing of Lourdes to them. They will also offer a Special Blessing for Caregivers, welcoming any caregiver in the community to attend. Music is provided by The Starry Crowns and concert harpist Leslie McMichael. Rev. Matthew Oakland will serve as master of ceremonies and concelebrants include Very Rev. Paul Magnano, Rev. James Eblen, Rev. Natch Ohno, SJ, and Rev. Bill Cleary, CSsR. Reception will follow.
This will be in The Mount’s chapel. (4831 35th SW)
SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-1 pm, you are invited to visit the Community School of West Seattle. (9450 22nd SW)
SOUTH SEATTLE HOME FAIR: Not in West Seattle, but the city wanted to make sure we let you know about it, because many of the programs and services are valuable citywide, and this is as close as this event gets to us. Check out all the info here. 10 am-2 pm. (5740 Martin Luther King Jr Way S.)
NEIGHBOR DAY – FIRE STATION OPEN HOUSES: In celebration of Neighbor Day, four of West Seattle’s five fire stations will have open houses 11 am-1 pm:
-Station 11, 16th SW/SW Holden
-Station 29, 2139 Ferry SW
-Station 32, 38th SW/SW Alaska (the brand-new one!)
-Station 37, 35th SW/SW Holden
BASEBALL REGISTRATION: Southwest Little League is registering players 11 am-2 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park. (1321 SW 102nd)
NEIGHBOR DAY GAME SWAP ETC.: The West Seattle Timebank, High Point Library, and Neighborhood House/High Point invite you to visit the library 1-4 pm for a resource event and game swap in honor of Neighbor Day – full details here. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
SINGING AND LEARNING ABOUT MUSIC: 1-4:30 pm event at Admiral Congregational Church focused on African-American vocal traditions. More info here. (4320 SW Hill)
WINE & CHOCOLATE: One more chance before Valentine’s Day to visit Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor), where they’re pairing three award-winning wines with three chocolate truffles from Seattle’s own Intrigue Chocolate – this time with truffle bars, mini-truffle sets, and assorted chocolate bars. You can check it out at the Viscon Cellars tasting room 2-7 pm. (5910 California SW)
BASKETBALL: Must-win games today for the West Seattle High School teams. Both are at the WSHS gym. The girls play Mercer island at 3 pm; the boys play Lake Washington at 5 pm. (3000 California SW)
MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL AUCTION: 6:15-10 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club – info here; check to see if any tickets are left! (1116 SW Holden)
ROO FORREST AND FRIENDS: Music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
And a traffic reminder, if you’ll be using southbound 99 near the West Seattle Bridge:
REPLACING THE SIGNS: Work is planned, starting this morning, to replace the missing signs on SB 99 just before the West Seattle and Harbor Island exits.
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