Lakeside advances to State 1A semifinals

YAKIMA – What Kara Moffatt and her coaches suspected in September was in full view for everyone to see Friday in the State 1A tournament at the SunDome.

Moffatt’s Lakeside Eagles hit their stride midway through the third game of a quarterfinal against King’s, beating the Knights 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-21, to move into the semifinals at 1 p.m. against King’s Way Christian.

“We struggled early with our passing and serve receive, which is key for us,” Moffatt said. “Once we started to pull together we got some more confidence.

“The end of the third and the fourth games were probably the best we’ve played all year.”

Lakeside rode 13 kills and 12 digs from sophomore Jessica Schmautz to a beat Kalama, 25-21, 25-21, in the opener.

Freeman lost to 2011 runner-up Castle Rock in its opener, 25-16, 25-20, 14-25, 25-11, before Life Christian 25-8, 25-16, 15-17.

Class 2B

Reardan is the two-time defending champion and Colfax has the pedigree, but Davenport stole the spotlight Friday, muscling past powerhouse La Conner for a spot in the semifinals.

Davenport slugged its way past Riverside Christian, 25-9, 16-25, 25-18, 25-22, then knocked off the three-time state titlest Braves in the quarterfinals, 20-25, 27-25, 25-18, 24-25, 15-2. The Gorillas will play Reardan in the semifinals at 1 p.m.

“We played really good defense and we kept the ball in play a lot,” Gorillas coach Pete Schweiger said. ”

Reardan drilled Toutle Lake, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15 and Northwest Christian, 25-15, 25-19, 25-15.

Colfax made short work of Darrington, 25-10, 25-8, 25-14, and Napavine to advance. The Bulldogs will face Bear Creek at 1 p.m.

Northwest Christian advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Pe Ell, 25-19, 25-18, 25-21. The Crusaders will play La Conner in the consolation bracket at 11 a.m.

Class 1B

The last two state champions – Tekoa-Oakesdale in 2011 and Almira/Coulee-Hartline in 2010 – are paired and joined in the semifinals by 2011 runner-up Colton.

St. John-Endicott beat Wilbur-Creston in a five-set quarterfinal and will play Colton, guaranteeing Eastern Washington will keep the 1B championship for another year.

Tekoa-Oakesdale opened its quest for a second straight title and fourth since 2007 with an easy win over Christian Faith, 25-17, 25-14, 25-21. The Nighthawks made quick work of Odessa-Harrington in the quarterfinals, 3-0

ACH fought off pesky Mount Vernon Christian in its opener, 26-28, 25-16, 25-9, 25-22, then zipped past Three rivers Christian in the quarterfinals, 25-12, 25-19, 25-12.

St. John-Endicott, the 2009 champion, opened with a 25-12, 25-11, 25-22 thumping of Sunnyside Christian.

Colton made short work of Shoreline Christian in the quarterfinals, 25-22, 25-16, 25-17. The Wildcats toppled Moses Lake Christian in their opener.

Odessa-Harrington got past Pateros 3-0 to get to the quarterfinals.