Eagles, Rams Competing At State Level

Northeast A League girls basketball teams Lakeside and Riverside are in Tacoma this week for the State A tournament. Four other North Side schools are attempting to qualify for the State AAA events the following week.

During last weekend’s completion of the league playoffs, Lakeside’s 20-3 girls ran their winning streak to 14 straight games in winning the school’s first district title.

Included were 15 victories in a row over Northeast A opponents. Their last league loss came Dec. 13 against Riverside, which claimed the league’s second state berth on Saturday.

Lakeside beat Riverside 41-33 in a taut district final led by sisters Lora and Brianne Jolley.

The Rams (19-5) beat Colfax 51-41 the next night for the second berth to state. Alana Carlander had 32 points combined in the two games.

The 16-team State A tournament began Wednesday and continues through Saturday. The four North Side AAA teams district champion Mead and Rogers on the boys side, and district champion Shadle Park and Mead on the girls side - continue their state quest in the Tri Cities Friday and Saturday.

Rick Mergenthaler liked the matchup with Big Nine regular season champion Richland and he was right as Rogers shocked the Bombers Tuesday night 56-53, the only GSL boys victory.

Mead’s last-second loss to Eisenhower 69-67 prevented a guaranteed North Side state participant.

Shadle and Mead’s girls do play each other in the semifinals, and one is assured a state trip.

The Highlanders routed Walla Walla 70-31, while the Panthers beat Wenatchee 47-31. xxxx
COMING UP Today Basketball: Lakeside and Riverside girls are at the State A tournament in Tacoma. Friday Basketball: Mead and Rogers boys and Shadle Park and Mead girls are in the AAA regional tournaments in the Tri-Cities. State A girls tournament continues in Tacoma. Saturday Basketball: Lamb Weston regional tournaments conclude in the TriCities. State A girls tournament concludes in Tacoma.