Coupeville Sports

South Whidbey’s Kody Newman (22) was named Wednesday to the AP All-State boys basketball team.

They noticed us.

When big-city newspaper types pick high school all-star teams, they often hyper-focus on players who made it to the state tourney, or fall back on those who live in large, urban areas.

But someone must have done their research, because Wednesday, when the Associated Press announced its 2018-2019 All-State basketball teams, there was Whidbey Island sitting right on the same line with Seattle and Lynden.

South Whidbey senior guard Kody Newman, who burned down gyms all season while shooting three-balls from the parking lot, not only made the lineup, he was picked for the first team.

Lynden Christian’s hugely-hyped Cole Bajema, who is off to Michigan on a hoops scholarship next year, was tabbed as the 1A boys player of the year.

Joining the Lync star on the First Team were Newman, Antonio Salinas (Zillah), Mason Landdeck (Cashmere) and Hunter Ecklund (La Center).

Newman, who is bringing a stellar four-year prep sports career to a close this spring with one last tour of duty on the baseball field, scored his 1,000th point on the high school hardwood against Coupeville.

It came on a long three-ball, and, just to make things interesting, it’s believed he shot the ball with his eyes closed to up the danger factor.

True story.

Newman wasn’t the only Wolf foe honored Wednesday, just the one to get the biggest props.

Freshman Tyler Linhardt of King’s and junior Irena Korolenko of Cedar Park Christian were tabbed as Honorable Mention selections.

Oumou Toure, a senior at 3A Kamiakin, and Anton Watson, a senior at 4A Gonzaga Prep, were the state players of the year across all classifications (4A-2B).