Wilbur-Creston Advances Without Star

Northeast B

Although senior standout Mindy Bandy has been sidelined for the season with a wrist injury, her Wilbur-Creston teammates carried on Monday as the District 7-B basketball tournament opened at Spokane Falls Community College.

The third-ranked Wildcats trimmed Selkirk 47-30, setting up a second-round date on Wednesday with Northport, which thumped Sprague-Harrington 69-54.

In boys play, Reardan, the state’s top-ranked team, rolled by Selkirk 69-52. Wednesday, the Indians will meet Ritzville, which started slowly before overrunning Curlew, 59-50.

Both Wednesday-night matchups will send the winner to state. Monday’s losers will play loser-out games Wednesday.

Today, four more games will make up the second-half of the tournament’s first round.

In girls games, Reardan will play Northwest Christian at 1:30 p.m. and Ritzville will face St. George’s at 3:15. In boys games, Almira/CouleeHartline will square off with Springdale at 6 p.m. and Valley Christian will play fourth-ranked Republic at 7:45.

Girls

W-C 47, Selkirk 30

There’s a saying that when you lose, you also win.

Wilbur-Creston lost key player Mindy Bandy last week to a wrist injury that benched her for the rest of the season. But Bandy’s loss did not affect the Wildcats (19-4) as they beat Selkirk 47-30 in the opening game of the District 7-B tournament at Spokane Falls Community College.

Alyssa Erickson scored 10 of her 16 points in the second half and had six rebounds to lead the Wildcats to their decisive victory.

After Wilbur-Creston opened an overwhelming 37-14 lead, Selkirk’s Molly Carlson scored seven of her 13 points as the Rangers (21-4) dominated the final quarter 16-10. Carlson also had nine rebounds for the game.

Wilbur jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first quarter fueled by breakaway layups and a tenacious full-court press. Selkirk, on the other hand, didn’t make a basket until late in the period.

“Selkirk did not shoot the ball very well,” said Wilbur-Creston coach Steve Jantz. “They started to feel tight and lose confidence.”

Offensively, the Wildcats played a strong inside game, feeding the ball into a cutter moving down the middle of the key. Defensively, until the fourth quarter, they stopped Selkirk’s inside game by playing one girl in front of Carlson and another behind her.

“She is one of the best post players in the tournament,” said Jantz. “If you just guard from behind, she will turn around and shoot right over you.”

Bandy played a key role from the bench.

“Mindy helps on the bench,” said Jantz. “It is nice to have her there. She is a smart girl and a good coach.”

Bandy thought watching game was hard.

“It is tough watching the game from the bench, but if I am there vocally, then hopefully I can help,” said the senior star.

Janelle Allen added 11 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats. Lisa Arden had six Wilbur rebounds. Jayme Grass snared eight rebounds for Selkirk.

Selkirk 5 4 5 16 - 30 Wilbur-Creston 15 10 12 10 - 47

SELKIRK - Fairbairn 2, Barnes 3, Sharp 0, Smith 0, Grass 3, Jones 0, Allert 4, Dury 5, Porter 0, Carlson 13.

WILBUR-CRESTON - Harris 4, Mann 0, Allen 10, Llewellyn 6, Deahl 2, Green 0, Erickson 16, Arden 5, Sherwood 0, Nelson 4.

Northport 69, Sprague-Harr. 54

Candance Young had 15 rebounds and 15 points, helping the Mustangs (22-2) roll to their victory over the Falcons (14-10) at Spokane Falls CC.

Karen Sauvola added 19 points and Jessica Sell had 14 points for the Mustangs, while Candace Young and Elizabeth Young scored 15 and 12, respectively.

Mandi Walters led Sprague-Harrington with 22 points. Miranda Putney chipped in with nine points.

Northport 15 12 30 12 - 69 Sprague-Harrington 11 16 7 20 - 54

NORTHPORT - Knudsen 0, Day 1, Ke.Sauvola 6, Sell 14, E.Young 12, Lenhard 0, C.Young 15, Jimenez 2, Godes 0, Ka.Sauvola 19.

SPRAGUE-HARRINGTON - Maurer 3, Whipple 2, Morton 6, Putney 9, M.Walters 22, Engles 6, Morse 2, C.Walters 4.

Boys

Ritzville 59, Curlew 50

John Galbreath scored 18 points as Ritzville’s Broncos (22-3) rebounded from a dreadful first quarter and dominated the final three periods en route to a win over the Cougars (17-7).

Curlew was up 18-3 after the first quarter. However, Ritzville outscored the Cougars 56-32 in the remaining three periods.

Dustan Arlt added 14 points for Ritzville, one more than Scott Galbreath. Joe Brucklier led Curlew with 21 points and Jeremey Groth, who made three 3-pointers, added 11.

Curlew 18 10 9 13 - 50 Ritzville 3 18 20 18 - 59

CURLEW - Cribby 0, G.Olsen 11, Groth 11, Nelson 0, Prazak 21, Bruckleir 6, J.Miller 1.

RITZVILLE - Arlt 14, Benzel 3, Duff 7, Boness 2, J.Galbreath 18, S.Galbreath 13, Russel 2. , Reardan 69, Selkirk 52

James Kiger scored a game-high 20 points and had eight rebounds to lead the unbeaten Indians (23-0) past the Rangers (17-7) at Spokane Falls.

Selkirk’s Tim Farris finished with 17 points and Jimmy Huffine added 10 points. Teammate Zack Kinney grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Selkirk 10 11 12 19 - 52 Reardan 9 17 22 21 - 69

SELKIRK - Davis 4, Larson 8, Kinney 2, Farris 17, Gere 5, Huffine 10, Lopes 4, Pyeatt 2, White 0, Reed 0.

REARDAN - Jenkin 5, Brown 2, Soliday 14, Titchenal 13, Martin 0, Eastman 10, Graham 5, Kiger 20.