Many Like Their Chances In Whitman
Whitman County basketball teams have a 1-in-6 chance of winning the league title.
But, oh, how those other five teams can scare a Whitman coach.
“Nobody, I think, can go undefeated in league this year,” said coach Lorin Carlon of defending girls league champion St. John-Endicott.
“I could see a playoff for the top spot, or the league champion having two losses.”
“We’ll certainly be one of the top teams,” said Tim Coles, coach of defending boys champion Garfield-Palouse. “But I think the other teams are as strong or stronger than last year.”
Carlon’s Eagles, Coles’ Vikings and the Garfield-Palouse girls advanced to State B tournaments last year. All three teams placed.
Whitman’s boys teams have won nine state titles since 1961. The Whitman girls have sent six teams to the finals since ‘77, with half winning titles.
At least four girls teams and three boys teams from this season’s crop would fare well at state.
The Whitman girls have won 37 of 50 non-league games, topped by Colton’s 6-0 mark.
“Colton is maybe playing the best ball now,” Carlon said. “If I had to pick a favorite, it might be them.”
The Gar-Pal boys are 8-1 and have played five teams with unbeaten records. Rosalia has followed almost step-for-step with Gar-Pal.
“Rosalia and LaCrosse-Washtucna brought back more people than we did, so they should be formidable,” Coles said.
As tough as the league can be, matters get complicated when the Whitman joins the Blue Mountain at district with only two state berths to share. The Dayton, Asotin and Pomeroy boys, and Asotin and DeSales girls are all state contenders.
xxxx WHITMAN COUNTY AT A GLANCE Notes on Whitman County League basketball, which opens Friday: Defending champions: Garfield-Palouse boys, St. John-Endicott girls Defending league tournament champions: Tekoa-Oakesdale boys, SJE girls District 9 results: Boys - Gar-Pal defeated T-O for title; T-O eliminated by Dayton for second and final seed to state. Girls - SJE wins title; Gar-Pal also advanced to state. State B results: Gar-Pal boys, seventh place; SJE girls, fourth place; Gar-Pal girls, fifth place Returning all-leaguers: Boys - (first team) Cory Goll, LaCrosse-Washtucna; Rob Tiegs, Gar-Pal; Brian Maley, Rosalia; (second team) Beau Hilty-Jones, Gar-Pal; Greg Nereim, Rosalia; Clint Ledbetter, L-W. Girls - (first team) Andee Schmick and Tricia Lamb, SJE; Heather Brandt, T-O; Dawn Wallace, Colton; (second team) Sara Merk, Colton; Kelli Bruce, L-W; Michelle Kennedy and Cindy Main, Gar-Pal. Welcome back: John Jaeger, who coached the T-O girls to the ‘91 state title, has returned to the post. Predicted order of finish: Boys - Gar-Pal, Rosalia, L-W, T-O, SJE, Colton. Girls - SJE, Gar-Pal, Colton, T-O, L-W, Rosalia. Openers: L-W vs. SJE at St. John; Gar-Pal vs. T-O at Oakesdale; Colton at Rosalia.