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Grip on Sports: New state high school tournament format a compromise, and that’s not a bad thing

Central Valley players celebrate with the trophy after they beat Snohomish 57-48 to win the Washington state girls 4A high school basketball championship, Saturday, March 5, 2016, in Tacoma, Wash. (Ted S. Warren / AP)

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The Washington State high school basketball tournaments begin today at three sites. Why is that news? For the past few years they would not have begun on a Wednesday. But the WIAA has dipped into its past, sort of, and returned to four-day tournaments. Read on.

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• A quick history primer. For years and years and years the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association held four-day, double-elimination basketball tournaments.

Those tournaments were held over two weeks, with the B tournament anchored in Spokane, the 1A and 2A in Yakima and the large schools, the 3A and 4A in Tacoma, for the most part.

In 2007, the B schools were split in two, the 1B and 2B. After 2010, the four-day, one-site tournaments went away, pared down to three to save money. The Bs, the 1A and 2A, the 3A and 4A tournaments were combined, leaving just one weekend of state tournament play at the three sites.

Though no one like it, something had to change. If you had ever been in the Tacoma Dome after the turn on the century for the Friday, loser-out morning games you understood why. The place was empty, but the costs of the running the tournament stayed the same. And the WIAA’s duties are funded, to some degree, by state tournament revenue.

But eight-team State tournaments didn’t go over well with everyone. Some groups campaigned to bring back the 16-team versions. What we have this season, 12-team tournaments at each site for each classification and gender, is a compromise.

There are 48 B school teams in Spokane this week. Twelve 1B boys, 12 1B girls, 12 2B boys, 12 2B girls. Today, eight teams in each tournament will play. Four will win. They will play tomorrow. Four will lose. They will go home. Their “state tournament experience” will last one day.

It is not the way it has to be, maybe, but it is what we have. This year and next at least.

The old 16-team, double elimination tournaments don’t seem to be coming back. This state’s pool of high school basketball fans doesn’t run deep enough to support it financially. It’s that simple.

The tournaments put in place this year have their flaws – too many cross-state, mid-week play-in games, the idea a team could travel 250 miles for one state tournament game on a Wednesday and then have to leave, the “we’re-sure-it-will-improve-over-the-years” RPI seeding system – but the changes are an attempt to listen to all parties’ concerns.

They are a compromise between emotional hopes and financial reality.

And come Saturday night, after the champions are crowned and the big gold trophies awarded, those who participated will have their memories. That’s what really counts.

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Gonzaga: It’s awards season. And, when it comes to the West Coast Conference, the Bulldogs are the Titanic or Ben-Hur of their time. For the women, Lisa Fortier was coach of the year for the second time in her three seasons and two players, Jill Barta and Kiara Kudron were named to the first team. Jim Allen has that story. On the men’s side, Jim Meehan has the story of Mark Few’s coach of the year award and Nigel Williams-Goss winning MVP and newcomer of the year. … John Blanchette believes Few should also win one other award

WSU: The Cougars are in Los Angeles to face a USC team that has to win to make the NCAA tournament. Jacob Thorpe has an advance of WSU’s trip to L.A. … The Pac-12 handed out its women’s basketball awards and a couple of Cougars were honored. … Yes, golf season is underway in some areas. … What is WSU’s weakest area headed into spring practice? Here is one opinion. … The NFL combine is this weekend. … Around the Pac-12 in hoop, the men’s awards won’t be handed out until after the final week of the regular season. … Arizona isn’t getting any awards for its schedule. … Oregon State isn’t getting any awards for its season overall. Though Wayne Tinkle has received a vote of confidence. … Utah could still finish fourth in the conference standings. … Colorado just wants to make some shots. … Washington just wants to get Markelle Fultz healthy.

EWU: It’s another big weekend for the Eastern women. Jim Allen has an advance of their final homestand.

Idaho: The Vandal women are also at home this weekend and Jim covers that as well.

Preps: Besides the Washington basketball tournaments, there are also the boys’ tournaments in Idaho as well. Greg Lee has an advance of the weekend games. … Dave Nichols looks at the 1B and 2B tournaments that begin this morning at the Arena. … East Valley’s girls are in Yakima for the 2A tournament. Steve Christilaw has an advance. … It’s March 1. Spring sports are beginning. The snow is not going anywhere for a while. Steve has some thoughts. (As an aside, I coached a couple years in high school baseball around here. For me, this was the hardest part, starting the season with snow all over the field.) … Back to basketball, there are good primers of all the state tournaments in the Tacoma News-Tribune today. The 4A and 3As, in Tacoma, are especially well covered.

Mariners: Let’s see. Felix pitched, the M’s scored eight runs and they won. Seems like a good day. … The prospect of the day is Mitch Haniger.

Seahawks: With the combine underway, John Schneider and Pete Carroll will talk with the media. … Over-the-hill running backs aren’t the best gamble. … Offensive linemen haven’t been too good to the Hawks either.

Sounders: The season begins Saturday and injuries are already a problem. But that’s just the nature of the game.

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• After playing for 45 years, I am finally beginning to understand the rules of golf. Now they are going to change them on me. Time to take up lawn bowling. Until later …