Cory Hutsen, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Skyline High School, accepted a basketball scholarship from Seattle Pacific University mens’ coach Ryan Looney earlier this week.

Hutsen leaves the Spartan program top three in points scored, rebounding and block shots. The first-team all conference selection led his team to a 22-5 record, the school’s first KingCo Conference Championship and first placement at last week’s state tournament.

“Seattle Pacific is getting a highly skilled interior player with a huge upside,” Skyline coach J. Jay Davis wrote in a release. “Cory (in my estimation) is one of the best big men in the state of Washington and I know coach Looney is excited to get a D1-caliber big man to go with the two earlier commits (Ryan Todd out of Jackson and David Downs from Bellevue Christian).”

According to Davis, Hutsen has played with Todd and Downs on the AAU circuit and is excited to be reunited with both.

Hutsen averaged 15.6 points and seven rebounds per game for the Spartans in his senior campaign.

I will be covering the 4A state basketball tournament live from the Tacoma Dome tomorrow. Watch for Twitter updates from all three area teams, starting with the Issaquah girls at 10:30 a.m., the Skyline boys at 2 p.m., and the Eastlake boys at 7 p.m. Take a look at the complete 4A boys bracket and complete 4A girls bracket to see how the road stacks up for the local teams.

Issaquah (21-4) vs. Lewis & Clark (16-9), 10:30 a.m.

Lewis & Clark – The Tigers have a variety of players who can score, but the they are led primarily by trio of sophomore guard Devyn Galland, junior wing Hayley Hendricksen and sophomore wing Nakia Arquette. Galland, a 5-foot-8 guard leads her team at 13.4 points per game. Hendrickson stands at 6-feet tall, and Arquette is 6-foot-1. The duo averages 11.4 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.

Issaquah – The Eagles also have an explosive offense, but the undersized squad has really made a mark with aggressive defense. Junior Maddey Pflaumer, the teams’ tallest player at 5-foot-11, leads Issaquah in scoring at 12.4 points per game. Junior Mackenzie Schiltz has lit it up from outside the three-point arc, hitting 41 threes this season. She’s averaged 10.7 points per game, while junior guard Blaire Brady has averaged 9.2 points per game.

The skinny – Wednesday morning’s outcome will come down to a couple of factors. Will Issaquah be able to contain a Lewis & Clark team with four players over 6-feet tall? Three of the Eagles’ four losses this season have come to teams who are significantly taller. But, Issaquah has shown recent success against those taller squads in the KingCo tournament, beating Woodinville and Eastlake. The early-morning game could also have an impact on both teams. But energy is even more crucial for the Eagles, who rely heavily on intensity on both ends of the court.

Skyline (20-3) vs. Jackson (20-4), 2 p.m.

Jackson - The Timberwolves have several offensive weapons, but one in particular stands out. Junior guard Brett Kingma has averaged 25 points per game this season, scoring 30 or more nine times. Senior guard Ryan Todd is averaging 14 points per game, while senior guard Marshall Massengale is scoring just over 12 points per game. Jackson is loaded with shooters, but does lack height. Andy Gay is the tallest player listed at 6-foot-5. He is averaging just 2.4 ppg for the T-Wolves.

Skyline – The Spartans run their offense through 6-foot-9 post Cory Hutsen, who is averaging just under 16 points per game. Athletic wing Kasen Williams and Cal Poly Pomona-bound guard Connor Gacek average 9.3 and 8.4 points per game, respectively. Skyline’s major asset, however, lies in its defense where they have held opponents to 45 points per game.

The skinny – Two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum collide Wednesday afternoon. Jackson uses a run-and-gun style offense and likes to fire up the three-pointer quickly. Skyline is defense-oriented and more methodical on offense. Will the Spartans be able to slow the athleticism of the Timberwolves? They will need to contain the perimeter as they should have the advantage inside the paint.

Eastlake (17-8) vs. Lake Stevens (18-5), 7 p.m.

Lake Stevens – The WesCo North champions don’t have trouble putting the ball in the net. Senior Shane Kaska leads the Vikings with 20.4 points per game. Aaron Maw is averaging 13.8 points, while Arvid Isaksen is averaging 11 points.

Eastlake – The Wolves are hungry. After stumbling in the opening game of the KingCo 4A tournament they have won four straight games. Forward Michael Russo has upped his average to 21.5 points per game, while senior guard Dillon Pericin is averaging 11.6 and junior Conner Iraola is scoring 10.4 a game.

The skinny – If both teams can adjust to the backdrop of the Tacoma Dome, this game has the potential to be a real shootout. The Wolves’ defense allows 59 points per game on average, while the Vikings give up just nearly 57. Eastlake’s Michael Russo can score from virtually anywhere on the floor, as can Lake Stevens’ Shane Kaska. Buckle up and enjoy.

U.S. Olympic bronze medalist J.R. Celski will be appearing in Issaquah tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 3) for a meet and greet.

From 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Federal Way resident and short track speed skater, will be at Issaquah Super Sport, 5712 East Lake Sammamish Parkway Suite 200.

The 4A state tournament basketball draws were determined for both the boys and girls earlier today. Three teams from the Issaquah-Sammamish area are competing in the tournament. Here’s a look at their opponents and start times Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome.

GIRLS
Issaquah (21-4) vs. Lewis & Clark (16-9) at 10:30 a.m.

BOYS
Skyline (20-3) vs. Jackson (20-4) at 2 p.m.
Eastlake (17-8) vs. Lake Stevens (18-5) at 7 p.m.

For a look at the entire girls bracket click here. For a look at the complete boys bracket click here.

Sammamish 16-year-old Yina Moe-Lange finished today’s second run of the women’s giant slalom in 1 minute, 18.99 seconds — nearly 6 seconds faster than her first run (1:24.68) on Wednesday. Her combined times of 2:43.67 placed her in 47th place overall. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg won the gold medal in 2:27.11.

The second run of the giant slalom was supposed to be held yesterday afternoon, but was postponed due to poor weather conditions.

Moe-Lange, who is competing for her native Denmark, is now set to participate in the slalom on Friday.

Here is an updated look at the KingCo 4A playoff picture.

The Issaquah girls defeated Eastlake 52-48 in a loser-out game tonight, while the Eastlake boys defeated Bothell 68-49 in another loser-out contest. The Skyline boys play Lake Washington for the KingCo 4A title tomorrow. Watch for scoring updates via Twitter during Friday’s boys championship.

Here’s a look at all the matchups, including crossover games with the Greater St. Helens League on Saturday.

Thursday

KINGCO 4A GIRLS (loser out)
Issaquah 52, Eastlake 48

KINGCO 4A BOYS (loser out)
Eastlake 68, Bothell 49

Friday

KINGCO 4A GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP (winner to state, loser hosts Skyview)
Newport vs. Garfield, 6:30 p.m., at Juanita HS

KINGCO 4A BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP (winner to state, loser hosts Skyview)
Skyline vs. Lake Washington, 8:15 p.m., at Juanita HS

Saturday

GIRLS DISTRICT CROSSOVER (winner to state, loser out)
Issaquah at Evergreen at 7 p.m.
Skyview at loser of Garfield-Newport

BOYS DISTRICT CROSSOVER (winner to state, loser out)
Eastlake at Mountain View, 7 p.m.
Skyview at loser of Skyline-Lake Washington

Sammamish’s own, Yina Moe-Lange, will take her first Olympic run at 10 a.m., tomorrow during the giant slalom and a second run following at 1:15 p.m. She will then compete in the slalom on Friday.

The 16-year-old former Skyline High School student is competing for her native Denmark. As she told the Reporter in late January, Moe-Lange doesn’t expect to medal, but she’s looking forward to the experience.

In case you missed this highlight of Moe-Lange, here is a link to a piece that King 5 did on her in their “Olympic Zone” segment.

UNLV freshman and Eastlake graduate, Kevin Penner, took fifth place Feb. 19 during UNLV’s win at the John Burns Intercollegiate golf tourney played at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Penner, who fired an 8-under par, 208, missed third place by one stroke. He shot rounds of 73, 69, 66. His final bogey-free round of 66 was the second lowest of the day with the winner shooting a 65.

UNLV won a playoff against Texas A&M, taking the championship on the the first hole.

It was a crazy weekend of basketball in the KingCo 4A on the girls and boys side.

As of Monday afternoon, the Skyline and Eastlake boys are still alive for state berths, while the Issaquah and Eastlake girls also have a chance.

Here’s a look at tomorrow’s loser-out matchups to be held at Juanita High School.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Issaquah vs. Woodinville, 3 p.m.
Eastlake vs. Lake Washington, 4:45 p.m.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Garfield vs. Eastlake, 6:30 p.m.
Woodinville vs. Bothell, 8:15 p.m.

The winners of the respective losers’ bracket games face one another Friday night for the right to travel to the face the No. 2 team from the Greater St. Helens League in a winner-to-state game.

The Skyline boys will face Lake Washington at 8:15 p.m. Friday night for the KingCo 4A title. The winner locks up a state berth, while the loser hosts the No. 3 Greater St. Helens League team on Saturday.

The Newport and Garfield girls kick championship action off at 6:30 p.m., Friday night at Juanita High School.

KingCo athletic directors met Saturday morning to settle tiebreaker situations in the KingCo 4A, and set playoff basketball brackets.

Here are the first-round girls games, which tipoff at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday night at the higher seeds. The tournament is double-elimination and continues with the second round, Friday, Feb. 19.

No. 1 Woodinville vs. No. 8 Skyline
No. 2 Issaquah vs. No. 7 Eastlake
No. 3 Newport vs. No. 6 Lake Washington
No. 4 Roosevelt vs. No. 5 Garfield