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February 23, 2012 in Sports
Local basketball teams begin push for state
The final push for boys and girls state basketball berths occurs Friday and Saturday at various sites throughout the state, including Spokane.
Win and a team advances to the quarterfinals next week. Lose and it’s pack up the gear until next year. Unlike last year, there’s no second chance at regionals for top-seeded teams. All teams are on equal footing this year.
In all classifications except the eastern 2A regional, all boys games are Friday and all girls games are Saturday.
Here’s a look at each classification and games involving area teams.
4A
The Central Valley boys and girls head into their regional games as favorites – the girls perhaps as prohibitive favorites.
It’s not the route the No. 1-ranked CV girls wanted to go to get to Tacoma, but at least they’re still alive. Their state tourney hopes nearly faded last week at district.
On Friday, the CV boys (19-3) face Richland (15-9) at Spokane Falls Community College. Tipoff is at 6.
On Saturday, the CV girls (22-2) meet Chiawana (17-3) at 4.
Richland and CV met in late December at Richland. The Bears pulled out a 57-55 decision.
CV’s win started what has grown into a 16-game winning streak.
Bears coach Rick Sloan understands what the significance was of his team’s win over Richland.
“It was the start of the run,” he said.
CV is seeking its first state berth since 2006 – when the Bears finished second.
“I think we’re playing our best basketball right now,” Sloan said. “Richland is also playing well. It’s a good matchup for us and them. It’s two teams that are pretty even.”
The CV girls, meanwhile, thumped Chiawana 63-43 in a game in Pasco in early December.
After dodging elimination in a narrow win over Mead on Saturday, the Bears handled Wenatchee in a regional play-in game Tuesday.
“It’s not the same team,” CV coach Freddie Rehkow said of Chiawana. “They’ve got some young kids playing well now. They’re going to be a tough matchup.”
3A
For a fourth time, the University (15-7) and Shadle Park (16-7) girls face off. They meet Saturday at Richland High School. Tipoff is at 4.
Shadle coach Chad Dezellem said it’s a shame the teams have to play for a state berth.
“We’re two very good teams,” Dezellem said. “We’re two of the best teams in the state. It’s unfortunate that we both don’t have a chance to go. If the WIAA did things right we wouldn’t be playing each other. But the WIAA rarely does anything right.”
U-Hi swept Shadle in league, but the Highlanders avenged those losses in the district final.
“We’re both good defensive teams,” Dezellem said. “They’re awfully talented, but we’re talented, too.”
On Friday, U-Hi’s boys (18-4) take on Kennewick (19-4) at Richland. Tipoff is at 6.
Kennewick is a talented team that went 1-2 against No. 1-ranked Kamiakin. Two of the games went down to the last shot.
2A
The Great Northern and Central Washington leagues got a special exemption from the WIAA to play a two-day regional for boys and girls so more teams could have a chance to advance to state.
That means a team like the Medical Lake boys (9-14) can earn a state trip. The Cardinals take on Wapato on Friday at Eastern Washington University at 6. In another boys game, West Valley (19-3) faces Toppenish at 6 at Cheney High School.
The Medical Lake/Wapato winner meets Pullman (20-2) on Saturday at 8 at EWU while the WV/Toppenish winner faces Ellensburg, at 6, at Cheney.
In the girls, Cheney (11-11) goes against Ephrata on Friday at 7:45 at EWU and Pullman (10-12) faces Wapato, at 7:45, at Cheney.
The Cheney/Ephrata winner takes on East Valley of Yakima on Saturday at 7:45 and the Pullman/Wapato winner takes on Clarkston (21-1), also on Saturday. The sites won’t be determined until Friday.
1A
Freeman’s girls (24-1) and Colville’s boys (16-11) will be seeking state berths.
Colville takes on No. 2-ranked Naches Valley on Friday at West Valley of Yakima. Tipoff is at 8.
Freeman faces Cedar Park Christian on Saturday at Wenatchee at 6.
2B
Area teams will be at Mt. Spokane.
On Friday in boys games, Northwest Christian (23-1) faces White Swan at 6 and Oroville goes against Colfax (18-5) at 8.
On Saturday in girls games, Northwest Christian (20-5) meets White Swan at 4 and Entiat goes against No. 1-ranked Reardan (23-0) at 6.
1B
Games will be played at two Spokane sites – Shadle Park and University.
In boys games Friday, Wellpinit (19-6) faces Moses Lake Christian at 6 at Shadle while Rosalia (15-10) goes against Sunnyside Christian at 6 and Almira/Coulee-Hartline (18-6) takes on Colton (19-2) at 8 at University. In a boys game Saturday, Valley Christian (20-2) goes against Cascade Christian at 8 at Shadle. The game was scheduled for Friday but switched to Saturday because Cascade Christian is a Seventh-day Adventist school.
In girls games Saturday, ACH (19-4) takes on Moses Lake Christian at 4 and Columbia (24-1) goes against Wilson Creek at 6 at Shadle while St. John-Endicott (14-8) meets Sunnyside Christian at 4 and Cusick (16-8) takes on defending state champ and top-ranked Colton (22-0) at 6 at University.
U-Hi’s Gonzalez wins State 3A boys high jump 
bradyc on February 23 at 12:35 a.m.
G-Prep girls vs. Olympia at SFCC at 6 PM on 2.25 will also be entertaining. Represent the GSL as the #1 seed well G-Prep. Good luck.
eb9894 on February 23 at 7:44 a.m.
Nice article — thanks for the previews!
flybywire320 on February 23 at 8:11 a.m.
Mr Lee your title is incorrect. It should say “local teams I favor began push for state” What about Gprep who beat CV for the #1 seed heading into the games on Saturday. I might add beat them soundly despite the “dirty” play of the top rated player in the GSL-Brooke Gallaway #23.
bradyc on February 23 at 8:45 a.m.
Here’s an article from the Olympian that will give one some insight to G-Prep’s opponent Saturday. Just a sentence or two on G-Prep but there’s lots on Olympia:
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/23/2001704/a-bunch-of-late-bloomers.html
flybywire320 on February 23 at 9:49 a.m.
Looks like we have better coverage and insight of our local teams from out of town newpapers. No wonder the Spokanesman Review is failing paper.
coult44 on February 23 at 7:10 p.m.
How can a G-Prep fan/player accuse any team of being dirty……Especially when one of the players is the daughter of the most dirty player in NBA history. And guess what, she played just like him..She was good, very good, but also very dirty!!! Both girls played almost identical..
flybywire320 on February 24 at 12:11 a.m.
A Gprep fan/player can accuse a player of being dirty because it is true. When a player goes for a loose ball on the floor and kicks her leg back like a donkey or horse. That’s dirty play. Its meant to harm or injure the oponent. If you would like pictures of the action let me know. Everybody is for good physical play. But coult44 has not idea what going on! Do not speak unless you know the facts. The Stockton kids are playing hard but they are not intentionally kicking oponents to injure. “NBA history” has nothing to do with girls prep basketball in spokane. Sounds like coult44 is delusional or simply mad over the fact that Gprep soundly beat CV.
coult44 on February 24 at 7:49 a.m.
Nope, Prep beat CV in football as well, who wen’t further into the playoffs? The regular season is just that, regular…It doesn’t matter as long as you make it to the playoffs. Then, it’s a different story..Prep will not go further in girls or boys!!! That’s what matters….Cut down all the “district” nets you want….
flybywire320 on February 24 at 8:51 a.m.
Gprep or any other team has no say so in how the district and the WIAA places the prep teams into state. This is how the state of Washington does it. I must admit it is a little strange and different from where I came from. coult44’s coment “Prep will not go further in girls or boys” is wrong. The girls will most likey advance to Tacoma on Saturday. The boys have been out for days. The Gprep boys lost days ago(loser out) so coult44 that was an easy call today. Again get your facts right.
Yuletide on February 24 at 11:18 a.m.
It is well known that G Prep point guard being discussed uses extreme profanity on the court. Has for years. I have never witnessed CV girls intentionally trying to injur a player.
To me, I find it very sad that the most successful teams are the ones that play dirty and push every boundary and rule. Officials would serve the game well if they clamped down on this in girls basketball and let the finesse of the game come back into the forefront.
My opinion only
flybywire320 on February 24 at 1:56 p.m.
Yuletide you hit the nail on the head! You are right, the officals need to clap down on all of this type of behavior. The guard you mention has been “T” d up a few times this season for her actions. The coaches and the officals need to set the tone for the games on both sides. I believe you when you say you have not “witnessed” any CV girls trying to injur a player but I have. And it also well documented. Again the only reason it’s worth talking about is to stop any unnecesssary injury to these young athletes. Like I said earlier if you want the pictures….
Yuletide on February 24 at 2:25 p.m.
An athlete “t”d up for use of profanity should be benched by the coaches for the next two games. Same for an athlete trying to injur another player. The officials need to keep the game safe and the coaches also need to be responsible for sending a message loud and strong that these type of actions have no place on a basketball court.
If there is film footage of the intent to injur another player, get that film to the proper authorities that have the power to bench the player. Who cares if we are in playoff season? Its about the safety and well being of the kids that are out there to play honestly with integrity.
As far as I am concerned, both players we speak of should be riding the pine for the rest of the season based on their actions during the season.
Yuletide on February 24 at 2:45 p.m.
On another side note. It is my understanding that the rules that govern high school basketball state that ONLY the designated head coach can approach the officials during the game. However, I have witnessed Mr Stockton on the floor screaming at the officials, along with the “head” coach for G Prep during a close match up when a team that G Prep should have handled easily gave them a close run for their money. He is the only assistant coach I have seen get away with this in the league. Wonder why?
flybywire320 on February 24 at 3:44 p.m.
Yuletide, this keep this simple. You are right. Great comments. It only takes 2 technicals to put a player out of the game or a coach off the floor. It’s amazing with 3 refs on the floor so much is missed. The way to handle this is have the officals call the technicals no matter who you are. It is my understanding the officals are reviewing the tapes.