When Eight Wasn’t Enough, Clallam Bay Girls Had Answer

While almost every other team in the girls State B high school basketball tournament has 12 players on their rosters, Clallam Bay checks in with eight.

Not having enough players to field two teams, the Bruins have been forced to practice against the school’s boys team.

“We’ve played against the boys almost all season,” Bruins coach Mike Jannausch said.

Although Jannausch is left with only three reserves in every game, playing against boys in practice has been a blessing in disguise.

“It’s really helped us this year,” he said. “If I want to teach something, then I try to get five boys to come in and run a regular good offense against us so we can play some good defense. Then I have us play some offense against their defense, which is very quick.”

The Bruins suffered a 56-38 loss to Wishkah Valley in their first game.

“I just thought today we struggled offensively,” he said. ‘They battled hard. I’m proud of my kids; they really stepped up today and I’m very pleased.”

Uncomplicated scheduling

One of the rarities at this year’s tournaments: No school qualified a boys and girls team.

That fact made last Sunday’s draw much easier. Tournament officials didn’t have to keep in mind overlapping games for any school’s fans.

Pepto Bismol stock soars

Tournament play has taken a great toll on the Rainier Mountaineers.

Two of their starters, Nicky Barlow and center Melissa Mitchell, had to be taken to the hospital early Wednesday because of sickness.

Barlow passed out during the team’s continental breakfast at the hotel but was able to return to play in its winning game against Watson Groen Christian.

Mitchell was not able to return and remained hospitalized through the game.

“We’ve been sick all through the district tournament,” Rainier coach Jack Mehn said. “It’s gone from one girl to the next girl and to the next girl. I’m sick today. From my perspective, once we got into the state tournament, just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.”

Looking down on being tall

Wishkah Valley’s Sissell and Abbie Pierce are the tallest girls in the tournament, with Sissel measuring in at 6-foot-5 and Abbie at 6-3.

Most would see this as a great advantage for Wishkah, but according to the girls’ grandmother, Alice Pierce, there is also a downside to the sisters’ height.

“Sometimes I don’t think the refs can see the short ones down there when it comes to fouls,” she said.