SENATE RESOLUTION

                         2000-8777

By Senators Franklin and Kohl-Welles

     WHEREAS, For the first time ever, the state=s 4-A boys= basketball title, decided on Saturday, March 11, 2000, was an all Pierce County event, featuring the Foss Falcons and the Bethel Braves; and

     WHEREAS, The Foss Falcons emerged from the struggle victorious, defeating Bethel by a score of 59-47; and

     WHEREAS, The title won Saturday is the first state boys= basketball championship ever won by the Falcons; and

     WHEREAS, Foss=s new status as the state=s very best boys= basketball team is also the first such title to be held by a Tacoma High School since 1975; and

     WHEREAS, While the statistics may show that Foss outlasted Bethel by employing its powerful defense, what ultimately gave the Falcons the edge was the team effort, hard work, and a commitment to excellence exhibited by players and coaches all season long; and

     WHEREAS, That commitment to excellence on the basketball court is an extension of the Foss commitment to academic excellence; and

     WHEREAS, The basketball prowess displayed by Foss team members this year began to take shape for many of the players several years earlier when they played together as sixth- and seventh-graders at the Al Davies Boys & Girls Club; and

     WHEREAS, Foss head coach John Ruby and his staff deserve tremendous credit for guiding this team, practice by practice, game by game, to the state championship and victory;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Washington State Senate do hereby acknowledge and honor the Foss High School Boys= Basketball Team and coaches, who now stand as State 4-A Champions, for a remarkable season, which serves as an example to all Washingtonians of the rewards of hard work and a commitment to team effort; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit a copy of this resolution to Foss High School.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 2000-8777,

adopted by the Senate March 16, 2000.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate