Kentwood loses 9 in alcohol incident
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Three players on the Kentwood High School basketball team were arrested Friday for stealing beer from a store in Lynden, according to Lynden Police.
The players, including Washington Husky recruit Mike Jensen, are among nine suspended for the rest of the season. The suspensions were for "violation of the Kent School District student-athletic code and Kent School District policies," Principal Doug Hostetter said.
Jensen and Kentwood reserve Ryan Highsmith, both 18, were cited for misdemeanor theft. The third player arrested is 17, but Lynden Police did not identify him. The Seattle Times does not generally identify juveniles in such cases.
Jensen, a 6-foot-8 senior, is considered one of the best players in the state and has signed a letter of intent with Washington.
The Kentwood team was in Lynden last week for a holiday tournament. Two Kentwood players ran into a store and returned to a van with two cases of beer, said Lt. Ernie Niemela of the Lynden Police Department. Store employees got the license of the van, which Jensen was driving, and notified police. Coaches and parents brought the three to the police.
Jensen and Highsmith were cited, and the 17-year-old was referred to juvenile authorities.
All three were released under adult supervision, but Jensen and Highsmith must return to Lynden Municipal Court to answer the theft charge, Niemela said.
Three other players, all passengers in the van, were not cited, but they are among the nine suspended.
Seven of the players were held out of Friday's tournament championship with Lynden, leaving the eighth-ranked Conquerors (7-2) with just five eligible in a 61-55 loss. An investigation yesterday by school officials led to the suspension of two other players.
Only four varsity players remain on the team, and one is academically ineligible until mid-January. Junior-varsity players have been promoted for tonight's South Puget Sound League game with Sumner.
The arrest will have no effect on Jensen's status with Washington, Husky Coach Bob Bender said.
"We support and stand behind Mike 100 percent," Bender said last night. "This will not affect Mike's future with us one bit. He will have his scholarship to the University of Washington."
Hostetter met with each of the nine suspended players yesterday and said they were "extremely disappointed in the decisions they made and were very, very much apologetic and regretful."
Seattle Times staff reporter Jose Miguel Romero contributed to this reporter.