Bruins Wouldn’t Be Short-Changed

Strange names, sounds, smells. … You name it, the State B tournament is full of all of this and more.

In case you missed some of the notes, quotes and half-truths circulating around the Arena, here’s a chance to catch up.

The shirt off his back, or …

What some guys won’t do to hit the game-winning shot.

With Garfield-Palouse leading Clallam Bay 49-48 in the battle for third place Saturday, the Bruins’ Fran Michelena suffered a cut on his right elbow and got blood on his shorts. The rules state a player must come out of a contest and clean up blood.

With little time to accomplish the task, the Bruins’ Troy Olney stepped off the bench to the rescue.

No, Olney didn’t hit the game- winning basket. He grabbed Michelena, and they ran behind a curtain where they proceeded to switch shorts.

“Hey, I was ready to switch right there,” Olney said. “I don’t care. I don’t have anything to hide.”

The blood rule forced the Bruins to burn a timeout. But before that, Michelena thought he could re-enter the game right away. He sprinted back on the court giving CB six men. Fortunately for the Bruins, the ball had not been inbounded and no technical was called.

After the timeout, Michelena re-entered, drove to the right baseline and hit the game-winner with 17.8 seconds to play to give the Bruins a 50-49 win.

“Hey, we’re all team players,” Olney said. “I’d give Fran the shirt off my back or the pants off my butt so we can win.”

FYI

For the record, a Hyak isn’t what you do the morning after you win the championship. It is a Quinault Indian word that means “fleet of foot.”

It is also the nickname for North Beach High School.

Friendly rivals

After St. John-Endicott defeated Reardan Thursday night to advance to the semifinals, Eagles coach Lorin Carlon excused himself from a press interview to ask Garfield-Palouse’s B.J. Hill:

“Did you guys win?”

“Yeah, we got ‘em (Morton) 35-32,” Hill said.

“Good; good for Whitman County,” Carlon replied.

Speaking of Hill …

In Pateros’ 46-42 semifinal win over Gar-Pal, Hill took a spill and opened a gash under his chin.

Not wanting to take any more time than he had to to close the cut, Hill hollered to the Vikings’ bench: “Get the super glue! Get the super glue!” A butterfly band-aid was applied instead, and he went back in the game.

Coach Tim Coles said, “B.J. is tough, but he’s not that crazy.”

Best player names at the B

- Caleb Callihoo, Clallam Bay

- Thomas “Don’t call me Tom” Sawyer, Clallam Bay

- Topher Goodwin, Almira/Coulee-Hartline

- Jens Hegg, Garfield-Palouse

- Miah Grindrod, Kittitas

What if …?

Here’s a frightening thought. Just think how tough St. George’s might be had Damian Long stayed with the Dragons and not transferred to Mead?

Long, a senior, has been with the AAA Panthers for three years and has been one of the top players in the Greater Spokane League. He transferred after his freshman year.

Also, Northwest Christian might have played a little longer this year had Nate Dunham not transferred to Shadle Park last year, and John Barneson to Mead.

, DataTimes