State B boys capsules: St. George’s seeking to dethrone Kittitas and Brock Ravet

2B

(3) St. George’s

Record: 22-2, 10-0. NE2BN champ, Dist. 7 champ.

When: Thursday at 12:15 p.m., quarterfinal

Regional: Beat (6) Willapa Valley 79-44.

Key players: NE2BN MVP Erik Farias, sr. (19.4 ppg, 5.7 apg), Xander Werkman, sr. (16.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1st team all-NE2BN), Ben Adams, sr. (16.2 ppg, 42% 3-pt, 1st team all-NE2BN), Dan Rigsby, jr. (10.5 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2nd team all-NE2BN).

Outlook: This is the fourth trip to state for the team’s seniors. Faces winner of (5) Toutle Lake/(12) Kalama. Beat (1) Kittitas 76-66 on Nov. 30, “holding” Gonzaga-bound Brock Ravet to 26 points.

Quote: “This year’s group has more assists per game than any other team in my 18 years and love to set each other up for buckets. If we continue to find each other down the stretch on offense and defend like we can, we will have a shot to be there on Saturday,” coach Ryan Peplinski.

(9) Liberty

Record: 16-9, 7-3. Second in NE2BS on tiebreaker, Dist. 7 third.

When: Wednesday at 2 p.m. vs (8) Lake Roosevelt.

Regional: Beat (16) White Swan 84-45 in loser-out.

Key players: Isaac Ottmar, sr. (21 ppg, 9 rpg. 1st team all-NE2BN), Tayshawn Colvin, fr., Jacob Holling, jr., Jon Denny, sr. (9 ppg, 9 rpg. 6-foot-8 post).

Outlook: Young, with two seniors and five freshmen. Lost twice in the season to Colfax but beat the Bulldogs in district third-place loser-out game to reach regionals.

Quote: “The kids came out with intensity and determination and we won which put us into the regional round of the state tournament,” coach Mike Thacker.

1B

(2) Odessa

Record: 21-2, 13-1. NE1BS second, Dist. 7 champ.

When: Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. vs (10) Neah Bay.

Regional: Lost to (7) Almira/Coulee-Hartline 60-52.

Key players: Ryan Moffet, jr. (32 ppg, 4 apg), Tim DeWulf, so. (8 ppg, 8 rpg), Marcus King, jr. (10 ppg, 6 rpg).

Outlook: Regional loss to ACH was teams’ fourth meeting of the season. Split in regular season, then beat ACH on buzzer-beating tip-in by Jaden Hunt in District 7 title game. Would face top-seed Sunnyside Christian in quarters.

(7) Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Record: 19-4, NE1BS champ, Dist. 7 runner-up.

When: Thursday at 9 p.m., quarterfinal.

Regional: Beat (2) Odessa 60-52.

Key players: Reece Isaak, fr. (15 ppg, 10 rpg), Maguire Isaak, sr. (13 ppg), Brayton Schafer, jr. (10 ppg).

Outlook: Lost three of first six before reeling off 15 in a row. Knocked off Odessa in regional after losing to the Tigers on a buzzer-beater in District 7 championship. Could face Garfield-Palouse in quarters.

Quote: “We’re a pretty balanced scoring team inside and out. Hoping to focus on one game at a time really,” coach Graham Grindy.

(9) Garfield-Palouse

Record: 17-8, 11-1. SE1B champ, Dist. 9 runner-up.

When: Wednesday at 9 p.m. vs (8) Naselle.

Regional: Beat (16) Lopez Island 69-36 in loser-out.

Key players: Tanner Anderson, sr. (all-SE1B), Blake Jones, jr. (all-SE1B), Austin Jones, so. (all-SE1B).

Outlook: A first-round win would setup a matchup with ACH. Lost first three games of the season but won 9 of 10 down the stretch.

(12) Oakesdale

Record: 17-7, 10-2. SE1B runner-up, Dist. 9 champ.

When: Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. vs (4) Tulalip Heritage

Regional: Beat (13) Concordia Christian 51-41 in loser-out.

Key players: Kieron Anderson, sr. (15.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg. all-SE1B), Evan Henning, sr. (7.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.3 spg. all-SE1B).

Outlook: Nighthawks has three sets of brothers: Kieron and Simon Anderson, Evan and Ryan Henning, Matthew and Kit Hockett. Starting PG Matt Hockett was limited to the last five regular season games and four playoff games due to recovering from broken ankle last game of football season.

Quote: “We are a very balanced team that can hold our own against the best competition in the state on any given night,” coach Carl Crider.