Kingco 4a Notebook: Garfield could be down a player

Walker, an up-front, vocal coach who has turned the Bulldogs' program around in her three-plus seasons, isn't saying much in regard to the possible defection of junior guard Keasha Beard.

Beard, a team leader who ranks among the top 10 in KingCo 4A in scoring, apparently has quit the team.

"We don't know if that's final or anything like that yet," Walker said yesterday morning. "We're keeping that in the family right now, and I won't touch it at this point."

Beard would not comment, either.

After last Friday's 44-40 loss to second-ranked Redmond, Beard left Garfield's gym immediately after a brief postgame meeting. She was clearly upset after a game that saw the talented guard score 10 points.

A team high in talent but young, Garfield (14-4, 10-3) ranks ninth in The Associated Press state poll. The Bulldogs play host to Inglemoor tonight.

Throughout the season, Walker has commented on her team's youth and the notion that selfish play and a hesitancy to spread the wealth have negatively affected the team.

"Sometimes that selfishness can rear its ugly head," Walker said yesterday.

Beard averaged 14 points per game and earned a spot on the All-KingCo 4A first team last season. Her scoring average has fallen to 12.7, but she leads the team in assists.

"Keasha is like the heartbeat of our team," Walker said earlier this season. "When we need a basket or someone to handle the pressure, she is the loud voice that does it."

Freshman center Samantha Tinned, who has been out since spraining her right ankle late last week, is better, according to Walker, but likely will sit out the rest of the regular season since the Bulldogs already have wrapped up the Lake Division's second seed.

"She's chomping at the bit," Walker said. "(But) we probably won't play her tomorrow and save her for the stretch run. There's no need to push."

PLAYOFF SHAKEDOWN: The Sea-King District 2 playoffs consist entirely of KingCo Conference teams. But of the eight teams that make it to district play, only two will advance to the state tournament.

Seven of eight boys teams advancing to districts already have been determined. Lake Washington (6-13, 1-12) and Juanita (4-15, 0-12) continue to battle it out for the Lake Division's fourth and final seed. They face off Tuesday at Lake Washington.

The league's final two regular season games, played tonight and Tuesday, will establish the seeding. The only certainty is that Franklin, the state's second-ranked team, will be the Mountain Division's top seed and play Lake Washington or Juanita.

District games kick off Feb 25 at the site of the higher seed. The championship game is scheduled for 8 p.m. March 7 at Bellevue Community College.

Last year, the league sent Garfield and Franklin to state, and both were eliminated in the second round.

FALCONS CHARGE: The playoff scenarios are far clearer on the girls side.

In the Lake Division, No. 2 Redmond (18-0, 13-0) will be the top seed, with Garfield second. Inglemoor (8-10, 7-6) likely will be third, while Woodinville (8-10, 5-8) and Ballard (6-10, 5-8) battle for the final spot.

Woodinville helped itself Wednesday, clawing back from a 22-point deficit to defeat Bothell 53-49 on Senior Night.

"That's kind of a testament to what kind of kids we have," Falcons coach Mike Cooney said. "They don't quit and they don't want it to end."

Cooney has his team practice through the playoffs, whether they make the tournament or not, to plant the seeds for a successful program that typically goes far in the postseason.

"Someday, we want to play deep into the playoffs on a regular basis," he said. "We'll be practicing through the end, so we'd rather be practicing to play than practicing not to play."

Roosevelt (11-7, 9-3) and Lake Washington (15-4, 9-4) will tango for the Mountain Division's top seed. Bothell (9-10, 6-7) will take third, with Juanita (7-11, 4-8) fourth.

The girls championship game is set for 6 p.m. March 7 at BCC.

P-I reporter Molly Yanity can be reached at 206-448-8295 or mollyyanity@seattlepi.com