First-Timers Add Variety To Tourney Mix
Who are these guys?
One of the craziest State B tournament weeks in history brings to Spokane nine teams (out of 32) that haven’t qualified before.
Stranger still, just two boys and four girls teams return from 1997.
Here for the first time are Chief Leschi’s boys, Valley Christian’s boys, Napavine’s girls, Waitsburg’s girls, Sprague-Harrington’s girls, Cedar Park Christian’s girls, and both teams from Cascade Christian.
The list becomes nine when the DeSales boys are added, although the school qualified in 1954 when it was called St. Patrick’s.
Also back after long gaps are Napavine’s boys (‘61), Curlew’s boys (‘72) and Lyle’s boys (‘83).
La Conner’s boys are here, however, to provide the proper center of gravity. The Braves are making appearance No. 30.
Your limo has arrived
Jay Henderson coached the Morton girls until two years ago, when he accepted a position with Central League neighbor Mossyrock.
Before departing, Henderson promised the younger girls that he would rent them a limousine if they qualified for the state tournament.
Morton did so last Saturday, defeating Mossyrock 64-58 in overtime after trailing by five points in the late stages.
The limo will escort the Huskies from their motel to the Arena.
One bus, two teams
Napavine, Cascade Christian, Darrington and St. George’s all qualified boys and girls teams.
Whenever that happens, it may become necessary to reschedule semifinal brackets should one school have two teams competing at the same time. No such exceptions are made for quarterfinals.
Five schools were double-dippers last year, but three of those have moved up to the 1A ranks.
Whole new century
The list of tourney 100-point scorers has been revamped after extensive research by Jim Stinson of Davenport.
Stinson discovered several missing names and incorrect totals. He said he’d like to hear from anyone who believes his numbers are inaccurate.
(An abbreviated list of boys and girls tournament leaders is on page 7. The entire list can be found online at http://www.spokane.net/stateb)
Last-second reprieve
Napavine girls coach John Foulkes fretted about last Saturday’s District 4 title game against Wahkiakum.
Foulkes knew a loss would make the Tigers a No. 2 seed at state and create the possibility of an opener against Ritzville, the team he coached to last year’s title.
Napavine won 50-49. The Tigers can’t meet Ritzville until the semis.
Guess they don’t rate
The final Associated Press poll showed, once again, that sportswriters are fallible.
Among the top 10 boys, Trout Lake, Mossyrock, Manson and Taholah all missed state play. Trout Lake forfeited 17 wins for using an ineligible player, and Taholah lost its top scorer when it was discovered his eligibility had run out.
The girls top-10 list was even lamer. Clallam Bay, DeSales, King’s West, Selkirk and Willapa Valley finished in the top nine, but in theory alone.
Pull out your maps
In case the teams at this year’s tourney don’t ring a bell, here are the humble burgs in which they reside: Cedar Park Christian, Bothell; Chief Leschi and Cascade Christian, Puyallup; Snohomish County Christian, Mountlake Terrace; and North Beach, Ocean Shores. Shoreline Christian, of Shoreline, is the former Watson Groen Christian.
If you don’t know that Wahkiakum is from Cathlamet, you haven’t been to a B tourney.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: State B seating