Scouting Could Pay Off For Cheney Blackhawks’ Jessett Familiar With First-Round Opponent

After locking up a third consecutive State AA basketball tournament berth Friday, Cheney’s girls coach Marty Jessett pondered his scouting options for Saturday.

Jessett chose the game within easiest driving distance, Prosser against West Valley (Yakima).

Lo and behold, Jessett didn’t waste his time driving to the Yakima Valley. District 7 champion Cheney (20-2) landed Prosser (22-3) during Sunday’s draw at Bellevue for the 16-team state tourney, which begins Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome. The game is scheduled at 8 p.m.

Prosser, last year’s seventh-place state finisher, was ranked No. 1 earlier this year in the Associated Press poll. The Mustangs are now ranked fourth, one behind Cheney.

“They’re only six deep, so that’s their weakness,” Jessett offered as his scouting evaluation. “But they’re fundamentally a sound team.”

The rest of Cheney’s bracket appears favorable, with just two other ranked teams. Defending champion Blanchet, 16-7 this year and ranked seventh, plays eighth-ranked Monroe (19-4) at 5 Wednesday night. Cheney wouldn’t meet either until the semifinals.

West Valley’s girls, seventh at the ‘88 tourney, are making their second trip to state. The Eagles appear to have an easier opener than Cheney, with Franklin Pierce (17-5) at 10:30 a.m. But waiting in the wings will be either second-ranked Mount Si (23-2) or No. 6 Stanwood (19-5).

WV coach Mark Kuipers made the trip to the draw. He and Cheney representatives ended up sitting at the same table as Franklin Pierce’s people. Nonetheless, Kuipers knows nothing more about FP other than their No. 1 district status.

Top-ranked Meadowdale (22-2) plays Aberdeen (16-6) at 1:30 in a ‘96 opening-day rematch won by Aberdeen.

In the boys tourney, also at the Tacoma Dome, District 7 champ Colville (16-6) will hook up with Blanchet (14-11) at 8, when fellow district champ Cheney is playing on the girls court.

Blanchet, unranked all year, drew attention by beating Seattle Prep at district. Seattle Prep is the lone team to stay within 10 points of top-ranked O’Dea this year.

“We have (defending champ) Gig Harbor and O’Dea on our side (of the bracket), but you have to play all of the good teams at state,” said Colville coach Bill Pilgeram.

Pilgeram took the Indians to their first state appearance in 1995. This group has a more balanced attack, Pilgeram said.

Cheney’s boys (16-8) are headed to state for the second consecutive year and 10th time overall. The Blackhawks drew three-time finalist Cleveland (15-10) and will meet at 1:30 p.m., the time the Blackhawks drew for their ‘96 opener.

“Any time you mention Metro League, a person gets nervous about it,” said Cheney coach Denny Humphrey, 475-227 in his career. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: STATE AA Wednesday’s boys openers at the Tacoma Dome Game 1: Tahoma (14-9) vs. Selah (18-5), 9 a.m. Game 2: Seattle Prep (20-7) vs. Lynden (22-2), 10:30 a.m. Game 3: Ephrata (19-6) vs. Olympia (19-2), Noon Game 4: Cheney (16-8) vs. Cleveland (15-10), 1:30 p.m. Game 5: Centralia (18-4) vs. Bellingham (17-6), 5 p.m. Game 6: Prosser (21-4) vs. O’Dea (25-0), 6:30 p.m. Game 7: Blanchet (14-11) vs. Colville (16-6), 8 p.m. Game 8: Jackson (18-6) vs. Gig Harbor (21-3), 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s girls openers at the Tacoma Dome Game 1: Stanwood (19-5) vs. Mount Si (23-2), 9 a.m. Game 2: West Valley (Spokane) (18-4) vs. Franklin Pierce (17-5), 10:30 a.m. Game 3: Kennedy (20-8) vs. Hanford (15-8), Noon Game 4: Aberdeen (16-6) vs. Meadowdale (22-2), 1:30 p.m. Game 5: Blanchet (16-7) vs. Monroe (19-4), 5 p.m. Game 6: Gig Harbor (16-7) vs. Elma (16-5), 6:30 p.m. Game 7: Prosser (22-3) vs. Cheney (20-2), 8 p.m. Game 8: West Valley (Yakima) (12-9) vs. Lakeside (15-10), 9:30 p.m.