SEA-TAC Kenzi Wirkkala led all scorers with 14 points and Alexa Wirkkala poured in 10 as their State team defeated the City squad 78-65 in the 1A-2A Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association girls all-state game Saturday, March 26 at Seattle Christian High School.

Instead of the traditional 1A versus 2A state senior all-stars, the teams were divided between girls from metro schools against players from the rest of the state in games played in Sea-Tac and the two Ilwaco seniors were on the State squad.

The game was a great experience. It was different playing with girls Ive never met and for a coach I didnt know, but I wasnt intimidated after he told us we all deserved to be here and didnt have anything to prove, Kenzi said. Alexa and I played together a lot in the game and at times with other girls. Everyone played well and it was a fun game.

Alexa related, At first I was a little intimidated and it was tough to play with and against players you did not know. I made the first basket of the game and that helped and I got a few assists and a few steals. We ran a five-out offense and everyone either cut to the basket or screened for each other. It ended up kind of like an open gym where everyone just did their own thing.

She said, I made a couple of three-point shots at the end to help us win. It was fun to meet different people and to get out and try to keep up with them. Both Kenzi and I started because the coach just pointed to five of us and said one through five you are in. 

Alexa was named Trico League most valuable player and Kenzi, no relation, was tabbed for the first-team all-Trico team in 2010-2011. The pair led the Lady Fishermen to an 18-6 record for coach Ned Bittner, a tie for the Trico title, and a trip to the state regional 1A basketball tournament.

Alexa averaged 16.8 points per game and Kenzi scored 14.1 points per contest this season. For their careers Alexa  scored 952 points and Kenzi finished with 837 as both started since their freshmen year for Ilwaco.

Kenzi is currently among the Trico leaders in the javelin and other throwing events in track and field and Alexa is a perennial all-league shortstop for the Lady Fishermen softball team. The 4A all-state girls defeated the 3A senior all-stars 102-75. There was no 1B versus 2B contest.

After the game I visited Everett Community College and the coaches are interested in me playing basketball and track there. It is a nice place, Kenzi said. I would like to play basketball and softball at Lower Columbia College next year, Alexa explained. I will visit their campus and see what my options are.

Both Kenzi and Alexa have made the most of their options at Ilwaco and will be all-stars on the court, field, or track in the future, as well as their combined stellar performances proved.