Nighttime Looks Scary In Tacoma Girls State 2a Evening Bracket Loaded With Teams Boasting Lofty Records

Lakeside coach Lisa Schultz knows a mess when she sees one.

And Omak’s girls created a mess in State 2A basketball tournament bracketing by losing to Connell Saturday night.

The Pioneers entered their district championship game against Connell with a 21-0 record, but became a No. 2 state seed after losing 48-37.

The end result, following Sunday’s statetourney draw, sent top-ranked Omak (21-1) into the evening bracket with No. 2 Lakeside (21-1) and No. 3 Elma (22-1).

Throw in No. 6 Riverside (17-5), which is Omak’s opening assignment, plus No. 7 Meridian (16-7), and the night bracket is loaded.

“But if you’re going to win a state championship you have to play those teams that think they’re the best,” said Schultz, who has taken the Eagles to state for four consecutive years, and placed in the past three.

The tourney begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome with No. 4 Connell (20-3) against surprising Pullman (12-13), which barely qualified for the Great Northern League’s District 7 tournament before advancing to the final against Lakeside.

Lakeside is on a 20-game winning streak as it prepares to open at 6:30 p.m. against Goldendale (16-7), last year’s State A runner-up. An Eagles win would probably mean a Thursday quarterfinal against Elma, which has won 22 straight and topped 100 points at least five times.

Goldendale relies on Amber Pantages, a 6-foot-2 post who averages 17 points per game. Lakeside’s starting lineup is 5-10 and 5-11 across, including four-time state participant Brianne Jolley.

“It’s not an easy draw, by any means, even in the first round,” Schultz said. “But I feel our kids are up to the task.”

Riverside, which has allowed less than 40 ppg, will make its second state appearance. The Rams opened their ‘95 tourney with undefeated East Valley, so coach Chris Wren was prepared when he drew Omak at 8 p.m.

“Goal No. 1 is to be the first Riverside team to win a game at state,” said Wren, pointing out the Rams boys are 0-8 at the tourney.

Wren’s concern is senior forward Keshia Shorts, who injured her ankle Saturday against Pullman.

“We’re so inconsistent shooting the ball, but we could be one of the top 4-5 teams over there,” Wren said.

Pullman, which staggered into the league playoffs on a six-game losing streak, eliminated ninth-ranked Newport then topped Riverside for a district championship berth. The Greyhounds qualified for state once, in 1994, and went 0-2.

Boys

GNL and District 7 champion Pullman (19-3) landed in what appears the easier bracket but could meet league mate Medical Lake (15-8) in a quarterfinal.

Pullman started the year 11-0 before losing at ML.

The fourth-ranked Greyhounds open at 5 p.m. against No. 9 Cascade-Leavenworth (16-8). Pullman last played at state in 1990 and has one trophy, a fourth, in three previous appearances.

ML, preparing for its seventh state tourney of the decade, begins against unranked Omak (18-5) at 6:30. Senior forward Pete Colomb (6-3) averages 22 ppg for Omak.

“It could be a lot worse,” said coach Dave Olzendam, who led the Cardinals to second place in ‘95 and two other placings in the ‘90s. “We’re playing a good team, but I see a lot of good teams in the (other) bracket.”

Pullman and ML would match up a 8 Thursday night if they both won, a prospect Olzendam called “wonderful.”

ML returns seven starters from last year’s team that won one of three in Tacoma.

The morning end of the bracket includes top-ranked Blaine (21-1), No. 2 Foster (22-3), No. 3 Ephrata (22-2) and No. 5 Castle Rock (20-3). Ephrata drew Blaine, at 1:30 p.m., because the Tigers lost their district opener and a chance at a No. 1 seed.

Chewelah (17-7) kicks off the tourney at 9 against Foster. Sixth-year coach Drew Landram guided Chewelah to fourth place in ‘95 and another state berth in ‘96.

Landram asked his brother to film Foster on Friday night, the lone team the Cougars coach had filmed.

“The last time (‘96) I had film on all but two teams, and the team we drew for the opener was one of them,” Landram said.

Landram said playing ML and Pullman all year will keep the Cougars from being intimidated.

“More power to (Omak) if they can solve our defense,” Landram said.

, DataTimes