Runners-Up Have Strong Credentials

When it became clear that Lakeside’s boys and girls would win Northeast A League basketball titles, the rush began for second place.

League champs and runners-up enjoy much the same benefit at the District 7-A Tournament, which began for girls teams Tuesday night. Both No. 1 and 2 seeds rest during the opening round and are automatically entered into the double-elimination portion of the tourney, which starts Friday at Mead High School.

Newport’s girls (18-2) have been the model of perfection this year, with 18 wins in 18 tries against everyone but second-ranked Lakeside. Yet the Grizzlies needed to trip up Colfax in a league season-ender last Friday to sidestep a district loser-out game.

“I’ve tried to make sure our girls understand (the season) starts over again,” said Newport coach Mike Frederick. “We’re going in (to district) with the idea we’re one of the top teams, but we have to put together a full game.”

Chewelah’s boys, who graduated all five starters from last year’s league-title team, finished with a rush in their quest for second place. The Cougars won eight straight after a 45-44 loss to Lakeside on Jan. 24 left them 4-4 in league and 6-6 overall.

Medical Lake, conversely, started the year 11-0 then lost five of nine. When it came to the Chewelah-Medical Lake tiebreaker last Monday, however, ML righted itself for a 15-point win.

Friday’s boys loser-out district matchups are No. 6 Colfax (6-14) against No. 3 Chewelah (14-7), and No. 4 Freeman (12-8) vs. No. 5 Kettle Falls (9-11). Colfax’s Bob Bafus, with 603 career wins, has announced his retirement and could face his final game as Bulldogs coach.

Lakeside (16-4) and ML (16-5) wait in the wings until Saturday.

The girls begin double-elimination play Friday with Lakeside (19-1) against Deer Park (10-11), and Newport vs. Colfax (17-4).

Cougars know scoring

Jeremy Landram won three consecutive NEA scoring titles before graduating last year from Chewelah.

A Chewelah guard, in this case Travis Meserve, kept the scoring title at home. The junior, who didn’t start last year because of the Cougars had senior depth, averaged 19.2 ppg, 2.8 ppg better than his nearest rival, Lakeside’s Billy Bender.

Among the girls, Newport sophomore Carey Sauer hit a barrier in her attempt to one-up Landram’s three straight. Lakeside junior Brianne Jolley (19.1 ppg) passed Sauer (18.5), the defending champ, late in the year and, despite missing the final two games with a sprained ankle, held on for the title.

Cracking the top 25

The AA Guide, published in Bellingham, ranks Colville’s boys 16th, Cheney 17th and WV (Spokane) 22nd for the second consecutive week.

, DataTimes