Things were looking up for the Bulldogs basketball team as they entered state, coming off an impressive 61 – 55 win against Roosevelt to clinch the state birth followed up by a close 58 – 55 loss to Franklin in the KingCo Championship game.

The game against Franklin was somewhat sloppy, but the Bulldogs defense frustrated the Quakers throughout the game, causing poor shot selection. Although they ended up losing the game, the team showed that they could compete with the same Quaker squad that they lost to 79 – 55 a couple weeks before.

“We didn’t try to run with them [Franklin],” said sophomore Wilson Platt. “We walked the ball up and slowed down the pace of the game.”

However after a couple days, the excitement for the tournament turned sour, as the team realized that they would have to face the defending state champion Ferris Saxons, who were riding a winning streak of 54 games at the time.

“I honestly thought it was a joke,” said Platt.

Although they were extreme underdogs, the team started out strong, as a couple of three-pointers by freshman Tony Wroten Jr. gave the Bulldogs a 10 – 5 lead. As well, the Bulldog defense was doing a could job at containing Saxon stud DeAngelo Castro, as he only got a few touches and was scoreless for most of the first quarter.

However Ferris responded with a run that held Garfield scoreless for almost eight minutes.

“We were so concerned with Castro and [Shawn] Stockton that we forgot about their other threats,” said Platt.

The second included also included an emphatic dunk by Castro, which gave the Saxons more momentum. After the Bulldogs trimmed to the lead to five near the end of the first half, Ferris scored the last three points and led 28 – 20.

Ferris took complete control of the game in the second half, as their match-up zone was giving the Bulldogs fits.

“We matched there stamina, but they had a better game plan,” said junior Des’Juan Newton. They were more fundamental, and they took us out of our game.

As Ferris’ shots continued to fall, Garfield’s entered a long cold streak, where either their shots missed, or were rejected by Castro, who seemingly owned the paint.

“We were trying to be too fancy,” said Newton. “Besides, Castro had like 57 blocks in the tournament.”

The game was a foregone conclusion by the mid fourth quarter, as the Saxons continued to dominate defensively.

The Saxons ended up winning the game 68 – 39, with Wroten scoring 16 for the Bulldogs. This sent the Bulldogs to the losers bracket, a place already inhabited by the Franklin Quakers, who were upset by Federal Way either that day.

For their loser out game, the Bulldogs squared off with the Kentridge Chargers, who were coming off an ugly loss to Edmonds-Woodway the previous day. The Bulldogs had defeated the Chargers earlier in the year 65 – 52, but couldn’t do it a second time, falling 62 – 51.

“We were up until the fourth quarter, but then we couldn’t score, and didn’t use any timeouts,” said Platt.

The loss ended the Bulldogs season on a sour note, although they achieved much during the overall successful year.

As a semi-consolation, Platt and senior Eric Nelson won sportsmanship awards for their work in the game against Kentridge.

“Whenever someone’s down, I’m always the first to pick them up,” said Nelson. “Sportsmanship is something I value as much as the game itself.”

Nonetheless, the Bulldogs exited the tournament winless.

Adding to the unsuccessful run at state, head Coach Dan Finkley announced less than a week later that he would be stepping down as head coach.

According to the team, Finkley got a promotion in his day job working for Pepsi, giving him a six-figure job and as a result no time to coach.

Since taking over in 2005, Finkley has brought the team to the state tournament two years in a row. This year he had the task of coaching Wroten, an extremely talented freshman who needed to add a little discipline in his game.

“If he didn’t let Tony do what he wanted, then he would get criticism,” said junior Dre Taylor. “Tony thinks that he has to take over games, and that’s not his fault.”

The school hasn’t set a timetable for a search for a new coach, and there will certainly he many suitors.

“[Rainier Beach assistant] Ed Haskins would be a good choice,” said Newton and Taylor. “Also coach West and coach Mike Davis.”

Both West and Davis are current Garfield assistants.

“Our whole style has to change,” said Platt. “We need a new philosophy.”

Whoever becomes the next coach will inherit a very talented and still fairly young squad, who expects to return to state again in 2009. Wroten led KingCo 4A in total points scored, and Taylor was eighth in the conference in points per game.

“Whoever the new coach is will know about Tony, but he will also play the guys who work hard instead of just who he knows can do well on the court,” said Newton.

The team will graduate Eric Nelson, Nathan Rogers, and Jamaal Thomas, but with a fresh start next year the team not only has the talent, but also the mindset for a third consecutive appearance at state.