Boys Preview

Darrington Loggers

Record: 18-8

Coach: Jeff Bryson, sixth year

First-round opponent: Toutle Lake

Route to state: Beat Chief Leschi 93-54 at District 1-2-3 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Ned Miller, 6-0 soph., guard, 12.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.4 spg; Dennis Sherill, 6-3 jr., forward, 14.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg; Marty Lenker, 5-9 sr., guard, 5.6 apg, 4 spg; Cory Ross, 6-1 sr., post, 5.6 rpg.

Fast fact: Miller had the top placing (eighth) among sophomores and among B runners at the State A/B cross country meet.

Outlook: Darrington, alone among state competitors, could end the tourney with total losses in double figures. The guess is they will.

Toutle Lake Ducks

Record: 22-2

Coach: Eric Swanson, seventh year

First-round opponent: Darrington

Route to state: Beat Mossyrock 55-38 at District 4 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Travis Sparks, 6-2 sr., forward; 11.9 ppg; Jacob Hynning, 6-4 jr., forward, 9.9 ppg; Casey Frandsen, 6-0 fr., guard, 11.3 ppg; Brian Shaw, 6-0 sr., guard, 9.7 ppg.

Fast fact: No team in the field has more consecutive state appearances (5).

Outlook: The Ducks shouldn’t repeat last year’s opening-game dive. A trophy to go with the ones from ‘94 and ‘95 looks in the works.

Clallam Bay Bruins

Record: 19-5

Coach: John Wilson, fourth year

First-round opponent: Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Route to state: Beat Seattle Lutheran 65-64 at District 1-2-3 Tournament to clinch berth

Top players: Fran Michelena, 6-3 sr., forward, 23.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.6 apg; Thomas Sawyer, 6-0 sr., guard, 16.4 ppg, 4.5 apg, 5.1 spg; Caleb Duncan, 6-3 sr., forward, 13.7 ppg, 8 rpg; Chuck Simmons, 6-0 jr., guard, 6.9 ppg.

Fast fact: Michelena, Sawyer and Duncan have combined for a career 3,402 points.

Outlook: The Bruins, third last year, won’t catch anybody napping this year. They should hang around four days, but the opener may be too tough.

Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors

Record: 20-4

Coach: Jim Wacker, fifth year

First-round opponent: Clallam Bay Route to state: Beat Republic 40-32 at District 7 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Jason Pierce, 5-11 sr, guard, 12.9 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.4 spg; Topher Goodwin, 6-4 sr., forward, 13.8 ppg, 6 rpg; Kevin Evers, 6-5 sr., post, 15.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg; Brandon Leander, 6-1 jr., guard, 6.1 ppg; Dan Pate, 6-0 jr., wing, 5.4 ppg.

Fast fact: ACH’s four losses at the last two state tourneys have been by a combined nine points.

Outlook: ACH was a shade away from last year’s title game. Things don’t look shady now; the Warriors appear title-bound.

Willapa Valley Vikings

Record: 18-7

Coach: Leon Lead

First-round opponent: Manson

Route to state: Beat Mossyrock 61-48 at District 4 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Luke Salme, 6-3 sr., forward, 19.3 ppg; Toby Mulligan, 5-11 sr., 13.5 ppg; Blaine Adams, 6-0 sr., forward, 10.1 ppg; Mike Miller, 6-0 sr., point guard, 7 ppg.

Fast fact: This group won the State B-11 football title three months ago.

Outlook: Despite having the second-most appearances in the field (22), the Vikings don’t figure to reach Saturday.

Manson Trojans

Record: 15-7

Coach: Joe Teague

First-round opponent: Willapa Valley

Route to state: Beat Pateros 67-61 (OT) at District 6 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Nathan Davis, 6-2 jr., post, 13.8 ppg; Sean McKenna, 5-10 soph., guard, 13.3 ppg; Corey Petersen, 6-0 sr., wing, 11 ppg; Adam Young, 6-2 jr., forward, 9 ppg.

Fast fact: No players remain from the 1994 team that placed third.

Outlook: The Trojans came on to win their district title, but youth could hurt them at state.

Republic Tigers

Record: 23-4

Coach: Rory Rickard

First-round opponent: Tacoma Baptist

Route to state: Beat Curlew 49-48 at District 7 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Jason Baldwin, 5-11 sr., guard, 19.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.5 spg; Mark Rickard, 6-2 sr., forward, 18.4 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 4.0 spg; David Hanks, 5-10 sr., guard, 3.5 spg; Kris Kuchenmeister, 6-3 jr., post, 8.9 ppg.

Fast fact: Rickard, who just surpassed 1,600 career points, shoots 85 percent from the free-throw line.

Outlook: Good play from the senior leaders should mean a semifinal spot, the school’s first.

Tacoma Baptist Crusaders

Record: 22-2

Coach: Matt Thacker, first year

First-round opponent: Republic

Route to state: Beat Darrington 82-48 at District 1-2-3 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Adrian Russell, 6-8 sr., post, 14.6 ppg, 10.5 rpg; Caleb Shamp, 6-2 jr., guard, 20.4 ppg; Aaron Meyers, 6-5 jr., post, 8.8 rpg; LeRoy Johnson, 6-1 soph., guard, 6.9 ppg.

Fast fact: Shamp is the fourth brother to play at state.

Outlook: The Crusaders, who have lost to just one B team (Orcas Island), have placed eighth the last two years. The hunch here is the trophy string will end.

Reardan Indians

Record: 24-1

Coach: Dan Smith, second year

First-round opponent: Rainier

Route to state: Beat Ritzville 55-37 at District 7 Tournament to clinch berth

Top players: Travis Titchenal, 6-0 sr., guard, 16.9 ppg, 2.5 spg; Rhett Soliday, 6-2 jr., guard, 5.1 apg; James Kiger, 6-3 jr., post, 14 ppg, 9.1 rpg; Peter Eastman, 6-0 soph., forward, 10.8 ppg; Nate Graham, 6-0 sr., forward, 11.1 ppg.

Fast fact: Coach Smith played for the 1991 Whitworth College team that qualified for the NAIA national tournament.

Outlook: Look for Reardan to set aside its district title-game loss to ACH and at least make the semifinals.

Rainier Mountaineers

Record: 18-5

Coach: Phil Hergert, 17th year (six at Rainier)

First-round opponent: Reardan

Route to state: Beat North Beach 56-50 at District 4 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Josh Frunz, 6-3 sr., forward, 22.1 ppg, 12 rpg; Dan Henderson, 6-2 sr., forward, 12.5 ppg, 11 rpg; Chris O’Toole, 6-0 soph., guard, 11.5 ppg, 10 rpg.

Fast fact: Brett Turner, a 6-10 junior post, discovered he had Marfan’s Syndrome, a heart disorder, two days before practice.

Outlook: Probably just out of the running for a trophy.

Waterville Shockers

Record: 19-5

Coach: Jim Evans

First-round opponent: Trout Lake

Route to state: Beat Pateros 56-55 at District 6 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Darrin Nelson, 5-11 sr., guard, 15.8 ppg; Jeff Whitehall, 6-3 sr., post, 15.2 ppg; Zach Gormley, 5-11 soph., guard, 11.2 ppg; David Stoddard, 5-11 sr., guard, 9.7 ppg.

Fast fact: Evans was assistant coach for the 1994 state runner-up team.

Outlook: The quarterfinal matchup looks mighty wicked. May bounce back Friday.

Trout Lake Mustangs

Record: 21-3

Coach: Bob Jolley

First-round opponent: Waterville

Route to state: Beat Sunnyside Christian 50-46 at District 5 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Ryan Belieu, 6-3 jr., wing; 15.8 ppg; Curtis Tipton, 6-0 sr., wing, 16.2 ppg; Nick Ladwig, 6-3 soph., forward, 8.9 ppg; 7.1 rpg; Travis Pearson, 6-3 sr., post, 8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg.

Fast fact: The Mustangs, making their first trip to state, rolled through postseason after Ladwig returned from a broken arm.

Outlook: Unwritten tourney rule: First-timers must learn the ropes.

North Beach Hyaks

Record: 21-3

Coach: Larry Moore, 11th year

First-round opponent: Orcas Island

Route to state: Beat Napavine 48-34 at District 4 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Jon Johnson, 6-5 sr., post, 23 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 2.9 blocks per game; Marty Carlson, 5-8 jr., guard, 7.2 ppg; John Hohstadt, 5-11 sr., guard, 11.2 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.2 spg; Mike Lilja, 6-6 jr., post, 8.6 ppg.

Fast fact: Johnson has 905 points and 652 rebounds in two years.

Outlook: It’ll be close, but the Hyaks look in line to win their first state trophy.

Orcas Island Vikings

Record: 18-3

Coach: Ric Landshut, first year

First-round opponent: North Beach

Route to state: Beat Seattle Lutheran 56-49 at District 1-2-3 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Pete Rutledge, 6-5 sr., forward, 17.2 ppg, 13.8 rpg; Joe Eastman, 6-3 sr., forward, 15.1 ppg, 9 rpg; Seth Sasan, 6-0 jr., guard, 6.3 ppg; Joe Duenn, 6-3 sr., forward, 7.4 ppg, 5.0 apg.

Fast fact: Landshut replaces Steff Steinhorst, who guided Orcas to its first state berth last year.

Outlook: No matter where they turn, the District 1-2-3 champion Vikings will find rough sailing.

Ritzville Broncos

Record: 24-4

Coach: Dwight Pflugrath, 18th year, 10 at Ritzville

First-round opponent: LaCrosse-Washtucna Route to state: Beat Valley Christian 64-53 (OT) at District 7 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: John Galbreath, 6-5 sr., guard, 20.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.7 spg; Kris Boness, 6-3, sr., forward, 8.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg; Scott Galbreath, 6-3 sr., post, 8 ppg; Bobby Russel, 6-4 sr., forward, 7.8 ppg; Danny Duff, 5-11 jr., guard, 4.4 apg.

Fast fact: John Galbreath, who has more than 1,600 career points, is Scott Galbreath’s cousin. Boness and Russel are also cousins.

Outlook: Sure to place, even if they don’t maintain their mastery (2-0) of L-W.

LaCrosse-Washtucna Tigercats

Record: 25-3

Coach: Andy Stinson, second year

First-round opponent: Ritzville

Route to state: Beat DeSales 54-37 at District 9 Tournament to clinch berth.

Top players: Troy Nealey, 6-1 sr., guard, 15.5 ppg, 3.8 apg; Clint Ledbetter, 6-3 sr., forward, 17.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg; Jeremy Daniel, 6-3 sr., forward, 7.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4 apg; Casey Rouleau, 6-3 sr., forward, 10.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg; Cole Schweiger, 5-10 soph., guard, 4 apg, 41.5 3-point percentage.

Fast fact: Nealey and Ledbetter both reached 1,000 career points for the Tigercats, who have never been to state as a consolidated team. LaCrosse qualified in 1983.

Outlook: After surviving six consecutive loser-out games at district, the Tigercats have proven their mettle. This corner tabs them the favorite.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Clint Ledbetter, 6-3 sr., forward, LaCrosse-Washtucna John Galbreath, 6-5 sr., guard, Ritzville Josh Frunz, 6-3 sr., forward, Rainier Fran Michelena, 6-3 sr., forward, Clallam Bay Adrian Russell, 6-8 sr., post, Tacoma Baptist

Predicted placings 1. LaCrosse-Washtucna 2. Almira/Coulee-Hartline 3. Reardan 4. Toutle Lake 5. Ritzville 6. Republic 7. North Beach 8. Clallam Bay - Chris Derrick