Who’s Making A B-Line For Tourney?

The State B Tournament is 41 days away. Do you know where your favorite team is?

Since every team has played at least a dozen games, there’s not much mystery left as far as who’s playing well and who isn’t.

Now the question becomes: Who’s going to make state and who’s going to agonize over “what-if” scenarios?

With that in mind, here’s a quick look at what has transpired and what may happen before March 5, the State B opener.

Most pleasant surprise: Springdale’s boys. The Chargers, 7-16 last year, are 8-3 in the last six weeks and look like they’ll finish 13-7 in the Panorama.

Most valuable players: (Those whose absence would have the greatest effect on records.) John Galbreath, Ritzville; Katie Supinger, Reardan; Dan Kuney, St. George’s; Molly Carlson, Selkirk; Clint Ledbetter, LaCrosse-Washtucna; and Tricia Lamb, St. John-Endicott.

Game of the year: Ritzville’s boys 64, Almira/ Coulee-Hartline 61, in OT on Dec. 14 at Ritzville. The sixth-ranked Warriors (10-2) get another shot at the Broncos (13-1) at Hartline Saturday.

Upcoming games to watch: St. George’s boys (10-5, 8-3) at Selkirk Friday, as the host Rangers (11-3, 9-2) move toward locking up the Panorama South; Garfield-Palouse boys (12-1, 3-1) at LaCrosse Jan. 31, as L-W (12-2, 4-0) looks to sweep the league series and clinch the Whitman County title; Wilbur-Creston girls (13-3, 8-1) at Ritzville Feb. 8, as the Broncos (12-3, 8-0) attempt to stop fast-charging W-C and win the Bi-County West; Northport girls (14-1, 9-1) at Selkirk (12-3, 8-1) Saturday in a meeting of Panorama division leaders; and the Whitman girls rematch between SJE (11-2, 3-1) and Tekoa-Oakesdale (11-3, 3-1), Feb. 7 at St. John.

Game we’d like to see: March 1, District 7 boys title game, Republic against Reardan. They could both be unbeaten.

Who’s going to state?: Boys - Republic, Reardan, ACH, Ritzville and Gar-Pal. Girls - W-C, Ritzville, Reardan, Selkirk, SJE and T-O. Prove us wrong; nothing makes us happier.

Two for the price of one The Frontier League heats up Saturday night in Cheney when West Valley’s boys and girls attempt to stay on top of the standings.

The boys meet at 6:15. Through Thursday, WV (3-0), with a six-game winning streak, led Cheney, Clarkston and Colville by one game.

The girls, both 3-0, meet at 8. WV had won eight straight through Thursday - three less than the perfect Blackhawks.

, DataTimes