Don’t Be Surprised To See Familiar Faces At State B

There’s something about State B Tournament week that just draws people from all over to Spokane.

Even figure skater Tonya Harding-Smith was in town.

“No, I can’t say I’m here for the basketball,” Harding-Smith said from her hotel room at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park Sunday night. “I’m just here to visit some friends and then I’m leaving in a few days.”

Harding’s presence was noted by Wilbur-Creston girls basketball coach Steve Jantz, who checked in to Cavanaugh’s with his wife Saturday night for Sunday morning’s tournament draw at the Ridpath Hotel. The Jantzes checked in at about the same time Harding-Smith did.

“I saw that big white truck with those huge tires and she was next to it with who I thought was a bodyguard because the guy was just huge,” Jantz said. “It was then that I knew this would be an interesting week.”

Harding-Smith left earlier in the week, however, Jantz and his Wildcats are hoping for an extended stay in town this week.

Baywatch

After an absence of 12 years, Clallam Bay’s boys have returned to the tourney with a member of the ‘84 team.

The Bruins’ coach is John Wilson, who averaged 21 points per game to lead the ‘84 group. Wilson also played for the ‘82 Bruins, whose fifth-place showing was the best in school history.

Armed with brothers

Mabton starts three Maldanado brothers: senior Lupe and sophomores Ricky and Ramiro.

“It’s probably been good for team chemistry,” said Mabton coach Andy Affholter.

Affholter refuses to keep statistics for his players. Just say Maldanados lead Mabton in scoring.

, DataTimes