Today is my last day with the Bellevue Reporter newspaper. If you haven’t heard, I’m leaving the paper to begin a new adventure. Here’s my final column for the paper – a going away of sorts.

While a replacement hasn’t been named yet, I assure you you’ll be in good hands with the quality candidates in the running. I’m sure they’ll take over this space soon. I hope you treat him or her as well as you treated me.

I’ll still be around though. If anyone wants to reach me, they can email at Joel.Willits@gmail.com or find me on Twitter @Joel_Willits.

I just want to thank all of you readers for making my time here so great. I’ll miss interacting with all of you.

We’ll have much more coming in the next few days, but here’s a look at the weekend and all the state happenings.

-Newport won the Class 4A state gymnastics title. Click the link to read more on that.

-Bellevue’s Jackie Hamilton tied for second on the beam (9.4) and placed third in the bars (8.9) in the 3A/2A individual gymnastics meet on Saturday.

-Eldon Cummings set a meet record in the 100 free (48.33 seconds), claiming a state title and helping Interlake finish second at the Class 2A swim and dive championships at the King County Aquatic Center. The Saints 200 medley relay team of Cummings, Alex Rockwell, Victor Hsiao and Yuji Nelson claimed a state title with a meet-record time of 1:37.35. Rockwell won the 50 free in 22.13. Sehome won the team title.

-Bellevue continued its string of upsets with a 66-48 victory over No.3 Seattle Prep in the Sea-King 3A District Tournament championship. Bellevue gets the district’s No.1 seed to state and will play at Bellevue College.

-Interlake’s Jacob Marks was the area’s highest finisher at the Mat Classic, taking second in the 152-pound weight class. Marks was pinned by Cheney sophomore Elias Mason in the final.

Just call them the Upset Kids.

The Bellevue boys basketball team, which beat No.2 Rainier Beach on Tuesday to qualify for state, did it again last night. The Wolverines knocked off No.1 O’Dea in the semifinals of the Sea-King 3A District tournament at Bellevue College. Bellevue’s 79-72 victory propels the Wolverines into Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. title game against No.3 Seattle Prep.

Will Locke scored a game-high 27 points for No.7 Bellevue (20-5) in the win over the Irish (21-3). O’Dea scored seven three-pointers in the first half but Bellevue kept things close before taking over in the second half.

Here’s a look at the updated brackets:
Boys Bracket

Saturday, Feb. 12 – Loser out
Game 1: No.3 Seattle Prep 77, Mount Si 45
Game 2: No.10 Chief Sealth 44, Eastside Catholic 42
Game 3: No.7 Bellevue 82, West Seattle 60
Game 4: Lake Washington 67, Lakeside 63

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Game 5: No.3 Seattle Prep 61, Franklin 51
Game 6: Chief Sealth 68, No.9 Mercer Island (18-4)
Game 7: No.7 Bellevue 67, No. 2 Rainier Beach 63
Game 8: No.1 O’Dea 78, Lake Washington 71

Thursday, Feb. 17
Game 9 – No.3 Seattle Prep 51, Chief Sealth 48
Game 10 – No.7 Bellevue 79, No.1 O’Dea 72

Friday, Feb. 18 – Loser out
Game 11 – Franklin (13-10) vs. No.8 Mercer Island (18-5)
Game 12 – No.2 Rainier Beach (16-6) vs. Lake Washington (15-10)

Saturday, Feb. 19
Game 13 – Chief Sealth (19-7) vs. No.1 O’Dea (21-3) (winner third, loser fourth)
Game 14 – Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (winner fifth, loser out)
Game 15 – No.3 Seattle Prep (21-4) vs. No.7 Bellevue (20-5) (winner first, loser second)

Girls Bracket

Saturday, Feb. 12 – Loser out
Game 1: Mercer Island 59, Bainbridge 39
Game 2: Seattle Prep 49, Nathan Hale 37
Game 3: Liberty 41, Bishop Blanchet 30
Game 4: No.7 Juanita 51, Franklin 49

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Game 5: Mercer Island 65. No.5 Cleveland 62
Game 6: Seattle Prep 52, No.7 Mount Si 43
Game 7: Lakeside 42, Liberty 27
Game 8: No.1 Holy Names 74, No.8 Juanita 41

Thursday, Feb. 15
Game 9 – Mercer Island 57, Seattle Prep 45
Game 10 – No.1 Holy Names 62, Lakeside 29

Friday, Feb. 18 – Loser out
Game 11 – No.5 Cleveland (19-5) vs. No.7 Mount Si (17-6)
Game 12 – Liberty (16-9) vs. No.8 Juanita (18-6)

Saturday, Feb. 19
Game 13 – Seattle Prep (16-8) vs. Lakeside (15-9) (winner third, loser fourth)
Game 14 – Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (winner fifth, loser out)
Game 15 – Mercer Island (17-10) vs. No.1 Holy Names (24-0) (winner first, loser second)

The Newport boys kept their season alive last night, beating Skyline 53-46 in a loser-out game in the KingCo 4A tournament. The Knights (16-8) will face either Lake Stevens or Arlington on Saturday in a winner-to-state, loser-out game. The game will be at Newport.

The Knights trailed 18-4 early against Skyline, but Newport went on a 27-8 run to help them take the lead. Sophomore Isaac Dotson scored a game-high 18 points.

If Newport can win Saturday, they will qualify for state for the first time since 2002.

Here’s the final regular season basketball poll. Keep in mind that these polls are voted on Monday, meaning they don’t take into account games played last night. That means Bellevue’s win over Rainier Beach last night wasn’t taken into effect. This is just where the teams landed for our final poll.

Boys Class 4A

1. Garfield (20-3)
2. Ferris (19-1)
3. Jackson (21-2)
4. Auburn (18-4)
5. Olympia (18-2)
6. Davis (18-2)
7. Gonzaga Prep (17-3)
8. Kentridge (16-6)
9. Richland (17-5)
10. Curtis (16-5)
Others receiving votes: Puyallup (18-4), Rogers (16-6)

Boys Class 3A
1. O’Dea (20-2)
2. Rainier Beach (16-5)
3. Seattle Prep (20-4)
4. Lincoln (18-2)
5. Lakes (17-2)
6. Wilson (17-3)
7. Kamiakin (17-1)
8. Mercer Island (18-4)
9. Bellevue (18-5)
10. Glacier Peak (20-3)
Others receiving votes: Chief Sealth (18-7)

Girls Class 4A
1. Auburn Riverside (18-3)
2. Federal Way (19-2)
3. Bellarmine Prep (18-2)
4. Gonzaga Prep (17-3)
5. Edmonds-Woodway (19-4)
6. Eastlake (19-3)
7. Chiawana (16-2)
8. Issaquah (16-6)
9. Woodinville (18-5)
10. Lewis and Clark (13-6)
Others receiving votes: Kentwood (16-5), Skyline (16-7), Richland (13-2), Lake Stevens (19-3)

Girls Class 3A
1. Holy Names (22-0)
2. Prairie (20-0)
3. Kennedy Catholic (20-1)
4. Timberline (20-0)
5. Cleveland (19-4)
6. Lynnwood (18-4)
7. Mount Si (17-5)
8. Juanita (18-5)
9. Liberty (16-8)
10. Auburn Mountainview (16-5)
Others receiving votes: Eastmont (15-4), Shadle Park (15-6), Seattle Prep (15-7), Lakes (15-5)

Boys Bracket

Saturday, Feb. 12 – Loser out
Game 1: No.3 Seattle Prep 77, Mount Si 45
Game 2: No.10 Chief Sealth 44, Eastside Catholic 42
Game 3: No.7 Bellevue 82, West Seattle 60
Game 4: Lake Washington 67, Lakeside 63

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Game 5: No.3 Seattle Prep (19-4) vs. Franklin (13-9)
Game 6: No.10 Chief Sealth (18-6) vs. No.9 Mercer Island (18-4)
Game 7: No.7 Bellevue (18-5) vs. No.1 Rainier Beach (16-5)
Game 8: Lake Washington (15-9) vs. No.2 O’Dea (20-2)

Thursday, Feb. 17
Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Friday, Feb. 18
Game 11 – Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser
Game 12 – Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

Saturday, Feb. 19
Game 13 – Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 loser (winner third, loser fourth)
Game 14 – Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (winner fifth, loser out)
Game 15 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner (winner first, loser second)

Girls Bracket

Saturday, Feb. 12 – Loser out
Game 1: Mercer Island 59, Bainbridge 39
Game 2: Seattle Prep 49, Nathan Hale 37
Game 3: Liberty 41, Bishop Blanchet 30
Game 4: No.7 Juanita 51, Franklin 49

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Game 5: Mercer Island (15-10) vs. No.5 Cleveland (19-4)
Game 6: Seattle Prep (15-7) vs. No.8 Mount Si (17-5)
Game 7: Liberty (16-8) vs. Lakeside (14-8)
Game 8: No.7 Juanita (18-5) vs. No.1 Holy Names (22-0)

Thursday, Feb. 15
Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Friday, Feb. 18
Game 11 – Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser
Game 12 – Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

Saturday, Feb. 19
Game 13 – Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 loser (winner third, loser fourth)
Game 14 – Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (winner fifth, loser out)
Game 15 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner (winner first, loser second)

Here’s the Sea-King bracket. Bellevue enters as the No.2 seed in the boys tournament; no girls teams made it, but the bracket is posted below for your information.

Boys Bracket

Loser-out games Saturday, Feb. 12
Game 1 – Mount Si (11-12) at No.3 Seattle Prep (18-4)
Game 2 – Eastside Catholic (10-13) at No.10 Chief Sealth (17-6)
Game 3 – West Seattle (9-13) at No.7 Bellevue (17-5)
Game 4 – Lakeside (12-10) at Lake Washington (14-9)

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. No.2 O’Dea (19-2)/Franklin (13-8) loser
Game 6 – Game 2 winner vs. No.9 Mercer Island (18-4)
Game 7 – Game 3 winner vs. No.1 Rainier Beach (16-5)
Game 8 – Game 4 winner vs. No.2 O’Dea (19-2)/Franklin (13-8) winner

Thursday, Feb. 17
Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Friday, Feb. 18
Game 11 – Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser
Game 12 – Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

Saturday, Feb. 19
Game 13 – Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 loser (winner third, loser fourth)
Game 14 – Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (winner fifth, loser out)
Game 15 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner (winner first, loser second)
Girls Bracket

Loser-out games Saturday, Feb. 12
Game 1 - Mercer Island (14-10) at Bainbridge (14-8)
Game 2 – Nathan Hale (14-8) at Seattle Prep (14-7)
Game 3 – Bishop Blanchet (8-15) at Liberty (15-8)
Game 4 – Franklin (10-10) at No.7 Juanita (17-5)

Tuesday, Feb. 15
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. No.5 Cleveland (19-3)/No.1 Holy Names (21-0) loser
Game 6 – Game 2 winner vs. No.8 Mount Si (17-5)
Game 7 – Game 3 winner vs. Lakeside (14-8)
Game 8 – Game 4 winner vs. No.5 Cleveland (19-3)/No.1 Holy Names (21-0) winner

Thursday, Feb. 15
Game 9 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Friday, Feb. 18
Game 11 – Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser
Game 12 – Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

Saturday, Feb. 19
Game 13 – Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 loser (winner third, loser fourth)
Game 14 – Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (winner fifth, loser out)
Game 15 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner (winner first, loser second)

Our fearless publisher Janet Taylor put together a commerical that is now playing on 710 ESPN for the newspaper. I’ve had some readers ask for me to post it, so here it is.

Here’s a raw version – I’m not sure if this is the same one playing on the radio (I haven’t heard it yet). I’m not much for personal promotion so yes, it does embarrass me a little -  but you really should read our paper for local sports coverage in Bellevue, and Bellevue news in general, because our staff works hard to deliver what others aren’t, or can’t.

Sound Publishing – Bellevue 30 110203

Boys Class 4A
1. Garfield (18-3)
2. Ferris (17-1)
3. Jackson (19-2)
4. Kentridge (16-4)
5. Auburn (16-3)
6. Olympia (17-2)
7. Davis (17-2)
8. Gonzaga Prep (15-3)
9. Richland (15-5)
10. Kentwood (13-6)
Others receiving votes: Curtis (14-5), Rogers (14-5), Puyallup (15-4), Chiawana (14-5), Mount Rainier (11-8)

Boys Class 3A
1. Rainier Beach (15-4)
2. O’Dea (18-2)
3. Seattle Prep (19-2)
4. Lincoln (17-2)
5. Lakes (16-2)
6. Wilson (17-2)
7. Bellevue (16-4)
8. Kamiakin (17-1)
9. Mercer Island (16-4)
10. Chief Sealth (15-7)
Others receiving votes: Glacier Peak (18-3), Hazen (16-3), University Prep (14-4)

Girls Class 4A
1. Federal Way (18-1)
2. Bellarmine Prep (17-2)
3. Gonzaga Prep (15-3)
4. Auburn Riverside (16-3)
5. Eastlake (18-2)
6. Lewis and Clark (13-5)
7. Edmonds-Woodway (18-3)
8. Chiawana (16-2)
9. Issaquah (15-5)
10. Kentwood (15-4)
Others receiving votes: Woodinville (16-5), Emerald Ridge (17-2), Mead (12-7)

Girls Class 3A
1. Holy Names (20-0)
2. Prairie (20-0)
3. Kennedy Catholic (19-1)
4. Timberline (19-0)
5. Cleveland (18-3)
6. Lynnwood (17-3)
7. Juanita (16-4)
8. Mount Si (15-5)
9. Lakes (15-5)
10. Auburn Mountainview (16-4)
Others receiving votes: Shadle Park (12-6), Eastmont (15-4), Liberty (14-7)

Interlake basketball coach Scott Marcum shot me an email today, detailing where his team will play for the playoffs.

The Saints (6-14) play a loser-out game Friday at Sumner High School against Fife (7-10). If Interlake wins, they’ll play Saturday at 2 p.m. against either Renton or the No.4 seed from the Olympic League and will qualify for the West Central District tournament as either the No.9 or No.11 seed.

Interlake went just 2-12 in KingCo 3A play, but managed to go 4-2 against 2A competition, which bodes well for their playoff chances.

Now that the KingCo regular season is over, the league tournament schedule is all settled.

Bellevue is the boys league champion, the No.1 seed into the conference tournament, and earns an automatic district berth.

Mercer Island is the No.2 seed in the KingCo playoffs and earns the other automatic district berth.

Mount Si earns the No.3 spot after tiebreakers over Sammamish (4th) and Lake Washington (5th). Liberty takes the sixth and final spot.

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
Conference        Overall
Team                      W-L   Win %    W-L    Win %
Bellevue                 13-1  .929        16-4   .800
Mercer Island       11-3  .786        16-4   .800
Mount Si                8-6   .571        10-10  .500
Sammamish          8-6   .571        13-7   .650
Lake Washington 8-6   .571        12-8   .600
Liberty                    4-10  .286        5-13   .278
Juanita                   3-11  .214        4-16   .200
Interlake                1-13  .071        2-18   .100

Boys KingCo 3A Tournament Bracket (Top-4 teams to districts)
Saturday, Feb. 5 at higher seed, 7 p.m.
Loser out
Game 1: No.6 Liberty (5-13) at No.3 Mount Si (10-10)
Game 2: No.5 Lake Washington (12-8) at No.4 Sammamish (13-7)

Tuesday, Feb. 8 at Bellevue College
Game 3: Liberty/Mount Si winner vs. No.2 Mercer Island (16-4), 3 p.m.
Game 4: Lake Washington/Sammamish winner vs. No.1 Bellevue (16-4)

Thursday, Feb. 10 at Bellevue College
3rd/4th place game: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
KingCo Championship: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

GIRLS
Juanita is the girls champion, the No.1 seed into the league tournament and the recipient of an automatic district berth.

Mount Si takes the No.2 spot and also earns an automatic district berth.

Liberty finishes with the No.3 spot, Mercer Island takes No.4, Lake Washington finishes No.5 and Bellevue takes the No.6 seed.

FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
Conference        Overall
Team                      W-L   Win %        W-L    Win %
Juanita                   12-2  .857        16-4   .800
Mount Si                11-3  .786        15-5   .750
Liberty                     9-5   .643        13-7   .650
Mercer Island         9-5   .643        13-8   .619
Lake Washington  7-7   .500        12-8   .600
Bellevue                   6-8   .429        8-12   .400
Interlake                   2-12  .143        6-14   .300
Sammamish            0-14  .000        3-15   .167

Girls KingCo 3A Tournament Bracket (top-4 to districts)
Saturday, Feb.5 at high seed, 7 p.m.
Loser-out
Game 1: No.6 Bellevue (8-12) at No.3 Liberty (13-7)
Game 2: No.5 Lake Washington (12-8) at Mercer Island (13-8)

Tuesday, Feb.8 at Bellevue College
Game 3: Bellevue/Liberty winner vs. No.2 Mount Si (15-5)
Game 4: Lake Washington/Mercer Island winner at No.1 Juanita (16-4)

Thursday, Feb.10 at Bellevue College
3rd/4th place game: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
KingCo Championship: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4