It’s Great To B Here Dauntless Lacrosse-Washtucna Draws Its Nemesis For Boys Opener

One punishing task completed, LaCrosse-Washtucna received anything but a vacation Sunday.

During the boys State B basketball tournament draw at the Ridpath Hotel, the Tigercats (25-3) were matched with Ritzville (24-4) in a 9:30 late-night special.

So here’s L-W’s prize for winning six consecutive loser-out games at district: An opening game against a team that has beaten it twice.

“We have a little bit of a revenge factor against (Ritzville),” said L-W coach Andy Stinson of the 61-52 and 75-58 non-league losses to the Broncos. “I feel we have a totally different team now. We’ve come through the fire.”

“I don’t think the revenge factor is a big thing at the state tournament,” said coach Dwight Pflugrath, taking his third Broncos team to state. “I think people are already motivated.”

L-W won six District 9 games in nine days. Stinson said three days’ rest would be enough for the Tigercats.

There will be no rest for the Stinson family, however, because brother Mark’s Tekoa-Oakesdale girls also drew a 9:30 game.

“It’ll probably drive our parents nuts,” Andy Stinson said.

The Tigercats-Broncos matchup was one of three that caught attention as pairing were announced for the 55th tournament, which begins at 9 Wednesday morning at the Arena.

At 10:30 a.m., Clallam Bay (19-5) plays District 7 champion Almira/Coulee-Hartline (20-4). Clallam Bay placed third last year, ACH seventh.

The last time ACH won the district title (1991), it also won the state tourney.

“Don’t say anything,” said ACH coach Jim Wacker. “I’ve been hearing about that (possibility) all week.”

Tacoma-Baptist (22-2), the only other returning placer in the 16-team field, drew a challenging opener with Republic (23-4) at 1:30 p.m. Besides newcomers L-W and Trout Lake, Republic has been away from state the longest of all qualifiers (1986).

The luck of the draw may have been with Reardan (24-1), the Associated Press top-ranked team that saw ACH spoil its perfect record on Saturday night.

Before the draw, No. 2 teams from the three districts with four seeds were thrown into a hat to determine which two would earn at-large No. 1 berths. Tac-Bap and Rainier were selected, giving Reardan a No. 2 and the potential to draw a powerhouse No. 1.

Instead, the Indians were matched with Rainier to open the night session at 5.

Darrington (18-8) and Toutle Lake (22-2) inaugurate the tourney. Toutle is making its fifth consecutive appearance, tops among the qualifiers.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: B PAIRINGS Wednesday’s boys openers. Games at Spokane Arena: 9 a.m.: Darrington (18-8) vs. Toutle Lake (22-2) 10:30 a.m.: Clallam Bay (19-5) vs. Almira/Coulee-Hartline (20-4) Noon: Willapa Valley (18-7) vs. Manson (15-7) 1:30 p.m.: Republic (23-4) vs. Tacoma Baptist (22-2) 5 p.m.: Reardan (24-1) vs. Rainier (18-6) 6:30 p.m.: Waterville (19-5) vs. Trout Lake (21-3) 8 p.m.: North Beach (21-3) vs. Orcas Island (18-3) 9:30 p.m.: Ritzville (24-4) vs. LaCrosse-Washtucna (25-3)

Wednesday’s girls openers: Games at Spokane Arena. 9 a.m.: Mossyrock (16-8) vs. Kittitas (19-3) 10:30 a.m.: St. John-Endicott (21-5) vs. Summit (23-1) Noon: Watson Groen Christian (20-4) vs. Ritzville (22-4) 1:30 p.m.: Northport (23-4) vs. Rainier (21-3) 5 p.m.: King’s West (23-4) vs. Pateros (20-4) 6:30 p.m.: Reardan (18-8) vs. Toutle Lake (19-5) 8 p.m.: Wishkah Valley (21-3) vs. Clallam Bay (20-2) 9:30 p.m.: Wilbur-Creston (20-5) vs. Tekoa-Oakesdale (23-3)