From the final spot to the final four

PREPS

Like a good underdog story? Like it when a team that is been down all year rises up at the end? Like it when the local league not only has the undefeated champion in one classification, but its last-place team makes it to the semifinals of another classification?

Then you’ll love what’s going on with North Central right now. The Indians stifled Mount Vernon 58-44 Thursday night and, by winning, moved in the State 3A boys tournament’s semifinals. Tonight at 9 they’ll face the top-ranked team, Bainbridge, led by Gonzaga University-bound Steven Gray.

So how is a team that had the third-best record among the three Greater Spokane League 3A teams this season – and wouldn’t be in the playoffs if the GSL had decided to only have two teams move on, as will be the case next year – now in the State final four?

With defense. The Indians limited Mount Vernon to 31 percent shooting last night, allowing the seventh-ranked Bulldogs only three 3-point baskets.

Add in Nick Rijon’s 28 points and the Indians moved on.

You can read our story here, along with the Times’ piece and the P-I’s notebook.

• The East Valley girls stayed alive for a trophy with a 48-47 victory over Kennedy in a loser-out game.

• All of the Great Northern League teams were eliminated at the 2A tournament, with the boys’ story here and the girls’ story here.

• • The Seattle Times’ prep basketball coverage is here, the News Tribune’s coverage is here and the P-I’s here.