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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ferris boys open with Garfield

During Sunday’s State 4A basketball tournament draw, a reporter from the Seattle Times asked Ferris coach Don Van Lierop what is better about this year’s Saxons.

He thought about saying composure, but remembered last year’s 29-0 state champions were as composed as it gets.

So he answered, “more experience.”

Four starters and eight players return to defend beginning Wednesday against Garfield (17-7) at 5 p.m. And while Van Lierop likes the game time, the bracket is taxing.

The Bulldogs lost their leading scorer, Aaron Dotson to Rainier Beach, but added 21-point a game, 6-foot-5 freshman guard Tony Wroten, who Van Lierop said is ranked by publications as tops in the nation in his class.

“They like to play at a pretty good pace,” Van Lierop said.

Also on the Saxons’ side is last year’s runnerup Kentridge.

Shadle Park is making its first appearance since 2002 and coach Tim Gaebe’s first as a head coach.

“I’ve been fortunate to be part of two championships,” said Gaebe, who spent much of his 25-years coaching as an assistant. “It’s neat to go as head coach.”

He was in Othello when the team won three one-point games for a title and assisted Jim Meredith who won in 1990. The Highlanders play Mountain View (17-8), a team from the Vancouver area, at 10:30 a.m. On their side of the bracket are a pair of returning state placers, third-place Franklin and fifth-place Snohomish.

The field includes 10 returning state teams, five of them top-seven placers.

In between the two games, the two-time defending champion Lewis and Clark girls (25-0) play a rematch of last year’s opener against Puyallup. Game time is 2 p.m.

Four returning state placers, including highly ranked Prairie, are on the Tigers’ side.

“My feeling has always been if you feel you are in a tough bracket or not you have to play them,” said coach Jim Redmon. “I have a feeling (ours) is tougher than the other, but that’s what everyone said about us last year. My only disappointment is that Prairie and us were not separated.”

The Falcons return all but three players and their three losses were to teams from out of state. They are one of six state placing teams and nine returning qualifiers.

The 4A tournament is one of three this week, including Class 1A in Yakima and 2B in Spokane.

“Five Northeast A League teams qualified for state, including four-time girls champion Colfax. Six placers return, including third-place Lynden-Christian, currently unbeaten and potentially the Bulldogs’ second-round foe. Colfax beat the Lynx last year in the semifinals.

Freeman’s and Lakeside’s boys and girls made the tournament.

The boys field has four placers and six teams back.

“Northwest Christian, chasing a third-straight State 2B boys championship, leads a five-team District 7 contingent. Wellpinit is making only its second appearance, the first in 1981. Reardan is in for the 33rd time and first time since 1997. In 1998 and ‘99 the Indians played in the 1A tournament.

Last year’s top four finishers, including defending champion Mossyrock and La Salle are in the girls field. They are among six returning placers. Four District 7 teams are in, including Northwest Christian for the first time.