Prep Watch: NC basketball finds the ‘It’ factor
(Posted Dec. 13) While talking with Nick Rijon for The Spokesman-Review Prep Page feature last week, he reminded me of my role in North Central’s third-place state finish last March.
I had written a column in February about “It,” the intangible internal specialness that separates good athletes from the great, a bar band from the Beatles.
My thesis was that all the coaching, clubs and camps that teach an athlete how to play are fine and dandy. But it is the person with “It” – an insatiable will to win and inherent mental toughness, even charisma – who achieve beyond the norm.
After going 4-16 in the GSL, NC roared through the postseason and eventual 11-18 season. Following their season-ending win, Rijon told me in the bowels of Hec Edmundson Pavilion that they drew from a speech by coach Jay Webber referring to “It.”
Webber concurred that he used that column to inspire an Indians team that following the regular season won 7 of 9 postseason games.
I’ve witnessed some pretty spectacular things and some special players over the years, but don’t think I’ll duplicate what transpired with North Central last year. And I can even say I had a peripheral hand in the outcome.
Casto is eligible
(Posted Dec. 18) Mike Colbrese of the WIAA ruled Tuesday that DeAngelo Casto had demonstrated a hardship that was unique to him and was worthy of eligibility, even beyond the argument of his attorney Ray Clary regarding his status as McKinney-Vento homeless student.
Casto played Tuesday at East Valley. He has practiced with the Saxons all season but spent the first six games on the bench in street clothes.
Enrollment changes
(Posted Dec. 17) Last week when the preliminary enrollment figures for state high schools came out it appeared that Rogers would move to 3A, Shadle Park is close and in the Columbia Basin League, Eastmont was moving up to 4A which could alter the playoff picture.
Word from Tri-City Herald sportwriter Rene Ferran is that there is now a move afoot, voted upon by CBL athletic directors to create two separate leagues. If so, he said, it could further skew things if teams decided to opt up and avoid the league split.
More on CBL
(Posted Dec. 18) Columbia Basin League schools did indeed opt to move up from 3A to 4A on Monday which throws the 3A classification on this side of the Cascade Mountains into a turmoil.
“It will affect us drastically,” said Mt. Spokane activities coordinator John Miller, currently attending a national conference. The Wildcats have said that if there is no viable 3A classification in Eastern Washington, they too would likely opt up and go 4A to avoid traveling either to Vancouver or Bellingham for playoff games.
It now appears there will only be two teams from the old CBL remaining 3A. If Mt. Spokane moves up, the GSL would have three (see story in today’s The Spokesman-Review sports Prep Page).