Chris Derrick

Separated by a screen instead of half a city, all boys and girls games in the State B basketball tournament will be played under one roof at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

1. St. John-Endicott's Andee Schmick (right) was a tall order during the 1995 State B. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. Tricia Lamb's consistent play gives SJE a lift. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Cameron Carstensen hope the Warriors can steal a State B trophy. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

In case of flood, arctic blast or apocalypse - and all are possible, given the winter Eastern Washington has experienced - there's still no valid reason to miss the State B tournaments. Every boys and girls game at the Arena will be broadcast on the radio.

Having played Garfield-Palouse three times prior to Friday, LaCrosse-Washtucna coach Andy Stinson thought he knew what to expect from the Vikings. Sensing that, the Vikings added a couple of new wrinkles for the boys District 9-B Tournament championship game Friday night.

Northwest Christian's Brandon Wheat has a hand in his face, but still gets a shot off against Republic. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

East Valley boys basketball coach Richard King scurried around this week to determine how James Spotted Horse's one-game performance stacked up against the state's all-time best. Spotted Horse made 28 of 36 field goals Friday and scored a Frontier League-record 60 points in a 94-71 win over Clarkston. Turns out Spotted Horse came up one point shy of the unofficial record for Eastern Washington basketball players, but well short of the statewide mark.

1. After a career that has spanned 40 years, Colfax coach Bob Bafus has tired of the practices, but no the games. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. Bob Bafus ranks third in career wins among the state's prep coaches.

University Kim Meyers soars in the balance beam, winning the event en route to the all-around title. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

During the Whitman County League season, teams took two stabs apiece at the Garfield-Palouse boys and St. John-Endicott girls. Those who hold to the third-time's-a-charm adage hope their wishes are fulfilled during the Whitman County Tournament, which begins Friday at Endicott. Still, 10th-ranked Gar-Pal (16-4) and top-ranked SJE (19-0) could prove hard to topple. Especially SJE, which won every league game by at least 17 points.

Kim Meyers, left, and coach Stacey Heaton have kept up a winning pace. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Frontier League Cheney's impressive win streaks seemed all but over Friday when the old Blackhawks materialized. State AA Tournament veterans Anna Getz and Christine Reagan provided the fourth-quarter offense, but it was Cheney's defense that dispatched a 15th consecutive Frontier League opponent. The ninth-ranked Blackhawks (11-2, 5-0) held visiting Riverside scoreless for the final 4 minutes, 23 seconds and overcame the Rams 41-36. Cheney won its 10th straight and terminated a seven-game streak by the Rams (8-4, 3-1).

Riverside coach Chris Wren says the prospect of playing ninth-ranked Cheney in a key Froniert League game Friday evening has team excited but cautious. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Area girls Both sides expressed relief Friday after third-ranked Colfax edged fourth-ranked Lakeside 53-51. The Bulldogs (5-0, 11-0) knew they dodged a bullet because they trailed 18-10 in the second quarter and allowed Lakeside three shots to tie in the final 30 seconds.

Touted as the boys team to beat at this year's state tournament, Pateros enriched its position with a surprise Christmas gift. Jason Crawley, who was leading Entiat in scoring with 16 points per game, moved to Pateros in late December. An eligibility committee cleared him to play for Pateros. The Billygoats, seventh at last year's tournament, already had three players scoring more than 15 points per game - Garrett Zwar, Patrick Hunter and Parker Barth.

Accepting their fans' wishes, the Spokane Indians announced Wednesday that they won't apply for one of two Triple-A baseball franchises scheduled to begin play in 1998. In making the announcement, the Indians played down the area's meager response to Triple-A season-ticket sales and focused on the positive factors of the Class A baseball the Indians have played since 1983. "The people basically said, 'We'd love to have Triple-A but we want single-A prices,"' said Indians president and principal owner Bobby Brett. The thing I heard most, as far as what they like about Spokane Indians baseball, is that it's affordable."

Jim Wacker holds court at State B tournament last season. He believes this year's Warriors team is even better. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Lora Jolley shoots during a practice scrimmage at Lakeside High School. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

West Valley Eagles' Gabby McClintock drives down the court against Post Falls Trojans' Heidi Umthun at the Eagle Holiday Classic Thursday. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Lisa Anderson takes on a new role for Cheney this season. File/The Spokesman-Review

West Valley guard David Schillinger turns the corner against Lake City defender. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

All eyes are on first-team all-leaguer Jeremy Landram. Some of his teammates include, from left, Steve Murbach, Jeremy Rogers, Greg Rainer, Chris Boone, Greg Belzer, Brett Skok. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Dawn Trowbridge has had two knee surgeries. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

1. Miller 2. Liz Miller works on form during a recent practice session at Ferris High School. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review