Nighthawks Break Cycle

It appeared to be business as usual after the first day of the girls State B basketball tournament, St. George’s and Davenport heading towards a fourth straight title-game matchup.

But the lore of the Palouse intervened Thursday, in the form of the Tekoa-Oakesdale Nighthawks.

T-O needed OT to do it, winning 61-60 at Spokane Falls Community College and robbing the defending champion St. George’s Dragons of a chance to repeat.

The Nighthawks play the Manson Trojans, who earned a thrilling 49-45 win against Morton.

Tekoa-Oakesdale has made 14 appearances in the tournament, bringing home some kind of trophy 12 times.

“My senior (Heather Brandt) told me we would be playing on Saturday,” T-O coach John Jaeger said. “She obviously knew something I didn’t.”

St. George’s coach Ross Thomas was quick to praise the Nighthawks, and also credited his team.

“I love this little team,” Thomas said. “We won the championship in a classic (last year). This year, we lost it in a classic.”

Earlier Thursday, Davenport beat Rainier 54-47, and Wishkah Valley topped St. John-Endicott 56-43. That sets up an excellent matchup tonight at 6:30, with Sissel Pierce and Wishkah Valley looking to keep Jennifer Stinson and Davenport from taking another step toward the title game.

At 6-foot-5, Pierce may have the formula to keep the 6-1 Stinson from dominating inside.

In loser-out games Thursday, Wilbur-Creston ousted Clallam Bay 53-50 and Mossyrock eliminated Seattle Lutheran 59-37.