One State Berth Adds Suspense For Nea Girls

Somewhere on the other side of the mountains there’s a state berth that would fit in nicely with the Northeast A girls.

Yet that’s where the precious ticket to state will remain.

Meanwhile, two NEA teams with legitimate chances to place in the top eight at state will stay home.

The eight-team NEA will receive just one state berth for girls.

Lakeside coach Lisa Schultz said the NEA lost its second state berth when a couple of Catholic schools on the West Side added basketball.

“They had to take one away from some league,” Schultz said. “We appealed that (decision) and (the appeal) didn’t go through.”

Highly regarded Lakeside, Newport and Colfax must beat up each other for one berth.

All six first-team all-leaguers from last year have returned, as have nine of the top 12 scorers.

Returners include Carey Sauer, Newport, 18.6 points per game; Brianne Jolley, Lakeside, 16.0; Michele Carrara, Newport, 13.1; Jaime Stone, Deer Park, 12.6; and Heidi Schulz, Newport, 12.3.

Colfax finished second last year, but third-place Newport advanced to state with Lakeside.

NEA boys: Lakeside graduated just three players off a third-place state team. The Eagles, who return senior George Petticrew (11.1 ppg), edged Medical Lake and Freeman in league and district.

Graduation hurt Freeman, but ML appears primed to make a run to the top. Senior guard Carlos Simmons (18.0) leads the way.

Defending champ Chewelah lost its starting five but appears stocked.

Bi-County: Ritzville’s girls should rely on depth and the emergence of sophomore Megan Yerxa to attempt to unseat Wilbur-Creston in the West. Senior Mindy Bandy (11.5) should keep W-C in the running for another state trophy.

In the East, Reardan should be in line for more state hardware. Senior Katie Supinger (11.3) and junior Kristen Turner (7.2) give the Indians a solid front court. Valley Christian, with senior Carmen Evans (13.0), is off to a good start and figures in the race.

Ritzville’s boys feature a rarity, 6-foot-5 guard John Galbreath, the league’s top returning scorer (20.4). West defending champ Almira/Coulee-Hartline appeared a state-title contender until all-league point guard Cameron Carstensen hurt his foot in a hunting accident. ACH may still chase Ritzville.

Reardan looks ready to repeat in the East, with junior post James Kiger and seniors Nate Graham and Travis Titchenal returning. The East’s top returners are Liberty’s Travis Greenwalt (14.4) and Sprague-Harrington’s David Countryman (15.4), both seniors.

Panorama: St. George’s girls have won a state-record 110 consecutive league games but will operate this year without a returning all-leaguer. Junior Miranda Routh-Corker (11.4) and senior Jaime Appling give the Dragons size, and the patented hounding defense should cause trouble. Returners Molly Carlson (17.4), a Selkirk junior, and Cindy Cates (17.9), a Springdale senior, should keep their teams in the South chase.

Senior Jessica Sell (13.8) and sophomore Karen Sauvola give Northport the edge in the North. Senior Melissa Friend (17.1) should keep Republic in the hunt.

The St. George’s boys graduated five starters after a 16-0 league record and second-place state trophy. Senior Dan Kuney should ease the rebuilding process. The South could be a four-team race with St. George’s, Selkirk, Northwest Christian with Jeremy Affeldt (18.4) and Springdale with 6-6 Ben Peterson (17.6).

Republic, in the North, should rule the boys. Seniors Jason Baldwin (22.9) and Mark Rickard (19.4) finished 1-2 in league scoring and missed state by one game. Curlew returns size with 6-5 Jason Miller (16.4) and greets hot-shot freshman Jeremy Groth. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CLASS A BASKETBALL The Northeast A, Bi-County and Panorama begin league play in the coming week. NEA boys Returning first-team all-leaguers: George Petticrew, Lakeside; Carlos Simmons, Medical Lake Defending champion: Chewelah; Lakeside 3rd at state Projected champ: Lakeside NEA girls Returning first-teamers: Hayden Kristianson, Chewelah; Tracy Tribbett and Angie Hall, Colfax; Michele Carrara and Carey Sauer, Newport; Brianne Jolley, Lakeside Defending champ: Lakeside (3rd at state) Projected champ: Lakeside Bi-County boys Returning first-teamers: John Galbreath, Ritzville; Travis Greenwalt, Liberty; David Countryman, Sprague-Harrington Defending champs: East - Reardan; West - Almira/Coulee-Hartline (7th at state) Projected champs: East - Reardan; West - Ritzville Bi-County girls Returning first-teamer: Mindy Bandy, Wilbur-Creston Defending champs: East - Reardan (7th at state); West - Wilbur-Creston (4th at state) Projected champs: East - Reardan; West - Ritzville Panorama boys Returning first-teamers: Jason Baldwin and Mark Rickard, Republic; Jeremy Affeldt, Northwest Christian Defending champs: North - Republic; South - St. George’s (2nd at state) Projected champs: North - Republic; South - Selkirk Panorama girls Returning first-teamers: Molly Carlson, Selkirk; Melissa Friend, Republic; Cindy Cates, Springdale Defending champs: North - Inchelium, Columbia; South - St. George’s Projected champs: North - Northport; South - St. George’s —