In 4A things have settled down, with just a few minor changes in the middle of the pack. Richland jumped into the No. 10 spot after having sat just outside for the last couple of weeks.

In the 3A poll Juanita slipped to No. 5 overall as Kamiakin improved to 8-0 overall this season.

This week marks the final week of the regular season so playoffs spots, for some teams, have already been decided, but for others it depends on how Friday goes. The Liberty/Bellevue match in the 3A KingCo league will be a big decider. If Liberty manages an upset then Bellevue, Liberty and Juanita will be tied for first in KingCo (assuming Juanita beats Interlake). If that’s the case then tie breaker rules go into effect.

Watch for the playoff editions of the poll in the coming weeks.

Class 4A
1. Skyline (7-1)
2. Curtis (8-0)
3. Bothell (7-1)
4. Ferris (8-0)
5. Gonzaga Prep (7-1)
6. Kentwood (8-0)
7. Chiawana (7-0)
8. Eastlake (6-2)
9. Union (7-1)
10. Richland (7-1)
Others receiving votes: Olympia (7-1), Rogers (7-1), Issaquah (6-2)

Who they play:
*Loser-out
No.1 Skyline (7-1) vs. No.3 Bothell (7-1)
No.2 Curtis (8-0) vs. Beamer (4-4)
No.4 Ferris (8-0) at No.5 Gonzaga Prep (7-1)
No.6 Kentwood (8-0) vs. Kentridge (4-4)
No.7 Chiawana (7-0) at Wenatchee (5-3)
No.8 Eastlake (6-2) vs. Roosevelt (3-5)*
No.9 Union (7-1) vs. Skyview (6-2)
No.10 Richland (7-1) at Moses Lake (3-6)
Olympia (7-1) at Shelton (2-6)
Rogers (7-1) at Puyallup (2-6)
Issaquah (6-2) vs. Woodinville (4-4)*

Class 3A
1. Bellevue (7-1)
2. Capital (8-0)
3. Camas (8-0)
4. Kamiakin (8-0)
5. Juanita (7-1)
6. Mount Spokane (7-1)
7. Lakes (7-1)
8. Liberty (6-2)
9. Glacier Peak (7-1)
10. O’Dea (7-1)

Who they play:
No.1 Bellevue (7-1) at No.8 Liberty (6-2)
No.2 Capital vs. Lincoln (4-4)
No.3 Camas vs. Kelso (6-2)
No.4 Kamiakin (8-0) vs. Eastmont (6-2)
No.5 Juanita (7-1) at Interlake (1-7)
No.6 Mount Spokane (7-1) at North Central (2-6)
No.7 Lakes (7-1) at Bonney Lake (7-1)
No.9 Glacier Peak (7-1) at Everett (5-2)
No.10 O’Dea (7-1) at Franklin (7-1)

Class 2A
1. Archbishop Murphy (8-0)
2. Lynden (8-0)
3. Prosser (7-1)
4. Tumwater (7-1)
5. W.F. West (7-1)
6. Port Angeles (8-0)
7. Burlington-Edison (6-2)
8. Ellensburg (6-2)
9. Sequim
10. Centralia
Others receiving votes: Othello, Anacortes, Lindbergh, R.A. Long

Who they play:
No.1 Archbishop Murphy (8-0) at Sultan (1-7)
No.2 Lynden (8-0) at Anacortes (6-2)
No.3 Prosser (7-1) vs. Toppenish (6-2)
No.4 Tumwater (6-1) at Aberdeen (1-7)
No.5 W.F. West (7-1) vs. North Thurston (5-3)
No.6 Port Angeles (8-0) vs. No.9 Sequim (7-1)
No.7 Burlington-Edison (6-2) vs. Bellingham (3-5)
No.8 Ellensburg (6-2) at Ephrata (1-7)
No.10 Centralia (6-2) at River Ridge (5-3)
Othello (6-2) vs. Grandview (2-6)
Lindbergh (5-2) at Foster (5-2)
R.A. Long (7-1) at Mark Morris (5-3)

For the most part this week teams are largely in the same position as last week.

The noted exceptions are 4A Auburn dropping out of the rankings altogether after two straight losses. 3A Liberty slipped from No. 6 to No. 8 this week, despite a 63-7 win over Lake Washington last Friday.

Class 4A
1. Skyline (5-1)
2. Curtis (6-0)
3. Bothell (5-1)
4. Ferris (6-0)
5. Issaquah (5-1)
6. Kentwood (6-0)
7. Gonzaga Prep (5-1)
8. Chiawana (6-0)
9. Union (5-1)
10. Kentlake (5-1)
Others receiving votes: Arlington (5-1), Eastlake (5-1), Richland (5-1)

No.1 Skyline (5-1) at Jackson (3-3)
No.2 Curtis (6-0) vs. Emerald Ridge (1-5)
No.3 Bothell (5-1) vs. Garfield (3-3)
No.4 Ferris (6-0) at Mead (4-2)
No.5 Issaquah (5-1) vs. Eastlake (5-1)
No.6 Kentwood (6-0) vs. Kent-Meridian (4-2)
No.7 Gonzaga Prep (5-1) vs. North Central (2-4)
No.8 Chiawana (6-0) at Davis (5-1)
No.9 Union (5-1) vs. Battle Ground (1-5)
No.10 Kentlake (5-1) at Auburn (4-2)
Arlington (5-1) at Monroe (2-4)
Richland (5-1) vs. Walla Walla (1-4)

Class 3A
1. Bellevue (5-1)
2. Camas (6-0)
3. Capital (6-0)
4. Juanita (5-1)
5. Kamiakin (6-0)
6. Mount Spokane (5-1)
7. Lakes (5-1)
8. Liberty (4-2)
9. Glacier Peak (5-1)
10. O’Dea (5-1)
Others receiving votes: None

Who they play:
No.1 Bellevue (5-1) vs. Sammamish (0-6)
No.2 Camas (6-0) vs. Heritage (1-5)
No.3 Capital (6-0) vs. Wilson (1-5)
No.4 Juanita (5-1) at Mount Si (4-2)
No.5 Kamiakin (6-0) vs. Sunnyside (2-4)
No.6 Mount Spokane (5-1) at Lewis & Clark (3-3)
No.7 Lakes (5-1) at Enumclaw (3-3)
No.8 Liberty (4-2) at Mercer Island (2-4)
No.9 Glacier Peak (5-1) vs. Mount Vernon (2-4)
No.10 O’Dea (5-1) at Bainbridge (5-1)

Class 2A
1. Archbishop Murphy (6-0)
2. Lynden (6-0)
3. Prosser (5-1)
4. Burlington-Edison (6-0)
5. Tumwater (5-1)
6. Lindbergh (5-1)
7. W.F. West (5-1)
8. Ellensburg (4-2)
9. Port Angeles (6-0)
10. Eatonville (6-0)
Others receiving votes: Lakewood (4-2), Anacortes (5-1)

Who they play:
No.1 Archbishop Murphy (6-0) vs. Coupeville (1-5)
No.2 Lynden (6-0) at Mt. Baker (1-5)
No.3 Prosser (5-1) vs. Selah (3-3)
No.4 Burlington-Edison (6-0) at Anacortes (5-1)
No.5 Tumwater (5-1) vs. River Ridge (5-1)
No.6 Lindbergh (5-1) vs. Kennedy (5-1)
No.7 W.F. West (5-1) at Mark Morris (4-2)
No.8 Ellensburg (4-2) vs. Quincy (3-3)
No.9 Port Angeles (6-0) at North Kitsap (1-5)
No.10 Eatonville (6-0) at Sumner (4-2)
Lakewood (4-2) at Sultan (1-5)

Turns out last Friday was a pretty big night for the Top 10 teams around the state. Auburn fell to No. 9, but the Skyline held on to the No. 1 spot once again. Kentlake could quickly jump into the group with a win over Kentwood this week.

In the 3A group, the monster win Juanita had over Liberty dropped the Patriots from No. 2 to No. 6 while Juanita moves into the No. 4 spot. The Rebels host Bellevue this Friday is what is shaping up to be the biggest match of the KingCo conference.

It’s interesting to note that this season KingCo 3A has four playoffs spots this season, meaning that for teams like Liberty, who currently sit tied for third place against Mount Si the playoff situation could take until Oct. 29 to figure out. Lake Washington and Mercer Island are both tied for fifth place. The Islanders travel to Mount Si this weekend, while Lake Washington goes to Liberty.

It will likely be a while until we know exactly who that last team will be to make the cut off, especially considering how wacky the season has already been.

Class 4A
1. Skyline (4-1)
2. Curtis (5-0)
3. Ferris (5-0)
4. Bothell (4-1)
5. Issaquah (4-1)
6. Kentwood (5-0)
7. Gonzaga Prep (4-1)
8. Chiawana (5-0)
9. Auburn (4-1)
10. Union (4-1)
Others receiving votes: Richland (4-1)

Who they play:
No.1 Skyline (4-1) vs. Newport (3-2)
No.2 Curtis (5-0) vs. No.9 Auburn (4-1)
No.3 Ferris (5-0) at Class 3A No.5 Mount Spokane (5-0)
No.4 Bothell (4-1) at Woodinville (3-2)
No.5 Issaquah (4-1) vs. Redmond (2-3)
No.6 Kentwood (5-0) at Kentlake (5-0)
No.7 Gonzaga Prep (4-1) at Central Valley (4-2)
No.8 Chiawana (5-0) at Moses Lake (1-4)
No.10 Union (4-1) at Heritage (1-4)
Richland (4-1) vs. Wenatchee (4-1)

Class 3A
1. Bellevue (4-1)
2. Camas (5-0)
3. Capital (5-0)
4. Juanita (5-0)
5. Mount Spokane (5-0)
6. Liberty (3-2)
7. Kamiakin (5-0)
8. Lakes (4-1)
9. Glacier Peak (4-1)
10. O’Dea (4-1)
Others receiving votes: Kennedy Catholic (4-1)

Who they play:
No.1 Bellevue (4-1) at No.4 Juanita (5-0)
No.2 Camas (5-0) vs. Hudson’s Bay (1-4)
No.3 Capital (5-0) at Foss (0-5)
No.5 Mount Spokane (5-0) vs. Class 4A No.3 Ferris (5-0)
No.6 Liberty (3-2) vs. Lake Washington (2-3)
No.7 Kamiakin (5-0) at Southridge (2-3)
No.8 Lakes (4-1) vs. Decatur (1-4)
No.9 Glacier Peak (4-1) at Mountlake Terrace (3-2)
No.10 O’Dea (4-1) vs. Eastside Catholic (4-1)
Kennedy Catholic (4-1) vs. Renton (1-4)

Class 2A
1. Archbishop Murphy (5-0)
2. Lynden (5-0)
3. Prosser (4-1)
4. Burlington-Edison (5-0)
5. Tumwater (4-1)
6. Lindbergh (4-1)
7. Clarkston (4-1)
8. Ellensburg (3-2)
9. W.F. West (4-1)
10. Sumner (4-1)
Others receiving votes: Port Angeles (5-0), Eatonville (5-0), Centrailia (5-0), Lakewood (4-1)

Who they play:
No.1 Archbishop Murphy (5-0) at Granite Falls (2-3)
No.2 Lynden (5-0) vs. Squalicum (2-3)
No.3 Prosser (4-1) at Wapato (0-5)
No.4 Burlington-Edison (5-0) vs. Blaine (1-4)
No.5 Tumwater (4-1) at Centrailia (5-0)
No.6 Lindbergh (4-1) vs. Tyee (0-4)
No.7 Clarkston (4-1) at West Valley (Spokane) (1-3)
No.8 Ellensburg (3-2) at Selah (3-2)
No.9 W.F. West (4-1) at Black Hills (1-4)
No.10 Sumner (4-1) vs. Franklin Pierce (1-4)
Port Angeles (5-0) vs. North Mason (3-2)
Eatonville (5-0) vs. Clover Park (2-3)
Lakewood (4-1) vs. King’s (5-0)

Here’s the third Reporter Newspaper football poll of the season, voted on by sports writers around region.

Class 4A
1. Auburn (2-0)
2. Skyline (1-1)
3. Issaquah (2-0)
4. Curtis (2-0)
5. Bothell (1-1)
6. Richland (2-0)
7. Ferris (2-0)
8. Gonzaga Prep (1-1)
9. Skyview (1-1)
10. Graham-Kapowsin (2-0)
Others receiving votes: Central Kitsap (2-0), Eisenhower (2-0)

Class 3A
1. Bellevue (1-1)
2. Liberty (1-1)
3. Camas (2-0)
4. Lakes (2-0)
5. Capital (2-0)
6. Mount Spokane (2-0)
7. Juanita (2-0)
8. Kamiakin (2-0)
9. Glacier Peak (2-0)
10. Meadowdale (2-0)
Others receiving votes: Ferndale (1-1), Mount Si (1-1), O’Dea (1-1)

Class 2A
1. Archbishop Murphy (2-0)
2. Lynden (2-0)
3. Burlington-Edison (2-0)
4. Prosser (1-1)
5. W.F. West (2-0)
6. Lindbergh (1-1)
7. Clarkston (1-1)
8. Othello (1-1)
9. Ellensburg (1-1)
10. Tumwater (1-1)
Others receiving votes: Sumner (2-0)

It’s Tuesday (although somehow it already feels later in the week) so here are some prep sports updates/thoughts for the week.

Thursday the Islanders travel to Juanita (kick off at 7 p.m.) for an early game (Yom Kippur, which starts Friday night, caused the earlier game).

Juanita enters the contest 2-0 after handling both Redmond and Inglemoor in it’s first two weeks of play. Neither were conference match-ups, and some could argue neither are a true test of a KingCo team. Maybe this week will be.

Last Friday night at the end of the game, Ogata said he felt the team (the Islanders are 1-1) was well prepared to face off against Juanita, currently ranked No. 5 in the Reporter Newspapers poll. The Islanders showed strength against 4A Newport on Friday. A couple more minutes on that game and it could have had a different outcome (although isn’t that pretty much always the case?).

The other thing that caught my eye Friday was, of course, the new Islander football uniforms.

Chad Coleman/Mercer Island Reporter

So rather than asking who is going to win on Friday (the obvious question, but still a good one) what do you think of the uniforms?

What do you think of the Islanders football uniforms?
(polls)

Desperately want to share why the Islanders or the Rebels are going to win on Thursday night? Hit the comments!

The Reporter Newspaper football poll is voted on by a pool of sports writers around region.

Class 4A
1. Auburn (1-0)
2. Skyline (0-1)
3. Curtis (1-0)
4. Bothell (0-1)
5. Gonzaga Prep (1-0)
6. Issaquah (1-0)
7. Ferris (1-0)
8. Skyview (0-1)
9. Richland (1-0)
10. Gig Harbor (1-0)
Others receiving votes: Union (0-1), Kentwood (1-0), Olympia (1-0), Marysville-Pilchuck (1-0), Graham Kapowsin (1-0)

Class 3A
1. Bellevue (1-0)
2. Liberty (1-0)
3. Lakes (1-0)
4. Capital (1-0)
5. Juanita (1-0)
6. Camas (1-0)
7. Ferndale (1-0)
8. Meadowdale (1-0)
9. Timberline (0-1)
10. Kamiakin (1-0)
Others receiving votes: O’Dea (0-1), Enumclaw (1-0), Mount Si (1-0), Mount Spokane (1-0)

Class 2A
1. Archbishop Murphy (1-0)
2. Lynden (1-0)
3. Lindbergh (1-0)
4. Burlington-Edison (1-0)
5. Prosser (0-1)
6. Clarkston (0-1)
7. West Valley (Spokane) (0-1)
8. Othello (0-1)
9. Ellensburg (0-1)
10. Tumwater (0-1)
Others receiving votes: W.F. West (1-0), Cedarcrest (1-0), Mark Morris (0-1), Lakewood (1-0)

If you are a KingCo football fan, mark your calendar.

Next Thursday, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m., various Reporter sports writers from across the Eastside will taking taking questions from readers about the upcoming football season. So, if you have a burning question about Mercer Island football, Skyline’s chances this year, or if Sammamish is really going to be as good as some are predicting, log on and ask us!

I’ll be talking with MIHS football coach Brett Ogata later this week, and will come to the chat fully prepared to share my thoughts and insights on what we know so far about the Islanders.

Sports writers from the Issaquah Reporter (@issy_sam_sports), Bellevue Reporter (@BellevuePreps) and Renton Reporter (@RentonReporter), along with yours truly will be on hand for questions. And who knows, there may be more who join us on Thursday.

The chat will be hosted on the Web site – watch for more information about the specifics coming soon.

The Islanders first game of the season will be against Seattle Prep at West Seattle Stadium on Sept. 3. And of course, stay tuned here, and at the main Web site www.mi-reporter.com for continued fall sports coverage as the season begins.

The Islanders will start their state baseball playoff run this weekend. For a look at the team’s KingCo tournament (which they won) check out my story in this week’s paper.

The team is heading to Centralia on Saturday for a 1 p.m. game at Wheeler Field in the first state game against Sumner (16-7).

Our sister paper, the Bonney Lake Sumner Courier-Herald has a piece online about the Spartans first trip to the state tournament in 25 years.

If Islanders (17-6, ranked 7th in state) win they will face the winner of the Colubmia River/Highline game at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Wheeler Field (essentially they would start the second game right after the first finishes).

Another win would push Mercer Island into the semifinals which would be on May 28 at 1 p.m. at Safeco Field.

Here’s a look at the state bracket, which the WIAA will update as scores become available.

For those who will be heading south for the game don’t forget tickets are $8 for adults and students with an ASB card and seniors are $6.

Now that teams have finished their regular season games the KingCo basketball bracket and schedule is pretty much set to go. Both the Mercer Island teams made the cut for the league tournament, which starts Tuesday night at higer seeded schools.

Boys tournament

The MI boys will play Tuesday, against Juanita at MIHS starting at 7 p.m. in a loser out game.

“Tuesday’s Kingco playoff game versus Juanita is a loser out game and you can throw the records out.  They are going to come in and play hard and they have some dangerous weapons.  We can’t be looking ahead,” said boys head coach Gavin Cree after Thursday’s home win over Mount Si.

Sammamish will take on Liberty in the No. 4/No. 5 game at Sammamish on Tuesday. The winner of the Mercer Island/Juanita game will play Mount Si at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18 at Bellevue College, while Bellevue, the No. 1 boys seed, will take on the winner of the Sammamish/Liberty game.

Girls tournament

Mercer Island earned a bye in the first round after clinching the KingCo title, heading into the tournament as No. 1. They will play on Thursday night at Bellevue College at 8:15 p.m. against the winner of the Liberty/Mount Si game which takes place Tuesday night.

For the rest of the KingCo teams, Tuesday is the big day with Juanita hosting Interlake and Mount Si hosting Liberty. The winner of the Juanita/Interlake game will play Bellevue on Thursday evening.

Championship round

The KingCo tournament will finish up on Friday, Feb. 19 at Bellevue College. The 3rd/4th place boys game will be at 3 p.m. Friday, with the 3rd/4th girls tipping off at 4:45 p.m.

The boys championship will be at 6:30 p.m. and the girls is scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m.

Prices

Due to the fact this is a league tournament students will not be able to get into games free with their ASB cards (as they can throughout the regular season). Here’s the price breakdown from KingCo:

Adult/students without ASB       $6.00
Students (with ASB)                     $4.00
Children K-8                                  $4.00
Pre-school                                      N/C
Senior Citizens (60 yrs +)           $4.00

Monday the principals and athletic directors of the KingCo conference met and voted on whether or not to include Eastside Catholic as a 3A school next year. The bid by the Crusaders failed. The proposal needed 80 percent to pass.

Check out Sammamish/Issaquah sportswriter Kevin Endejan’s story on the meeting and vote.