Pullman Keeps It Simple, Wins

The Pullman boys basketball team began the season 2-6. But the Greyhounds have won 10 of 11 since.

Coach Ken Swanger said he simplified things during practices over winter break and the team has been more successful.

“Early in the year, many factors led to the slow start,” Swanger said last week after the Greyhounds’ 68-61 Great Northern League victory over Lakeside. “No. 1, we weren’t putting in the time necessary to put us at the level we needed to be at.”

This season has been a challenge for Swanger, whose team placed second in State 2A last season with a talented senior class.

His 1999-2000 team developed some chemistry over the break and players learned their roles, he said.

“The players didn’t quit, they kept competing,” Swanger said. “And our goal was to have fun and get to the (state) tournament.”

Glad to be back

First-year Lakeside boys basketball coach Ron Cox is enjoying coaching the boys game again after coaching the Tekoa-Oakesdale girls to the State B Tournament last season.

He coached the T-O boys to the ‘93 State B title.

“I enjoy the speed of the game, the aggressiveness,” Cox said. “It’s more physical and up-tempo. It’s more challenging for me because the decisions are quicker. Coaching the girls was a good change, but it wasn’t where I wanted to be.”

Town not big enough for both

The prospective move of Star Track from Tacoma to Pasco in 2001 may be on hold because of a conflict.

Pasco has hosted a large regional youth soccer tournament the same weekend for 16 years.

John Crawford, director of the state cross country meets and the Pasco Invitational, said there may not be enough lodging to accommodate both the soccer and Star Track.

“We’re in a hold right now,” WIAA executive Pat Hoonan told the Tacoma News Tribune. “(The meet) will be in Pasco if they can somehow adjust.”

Hull joins elite list

Pateros senior Clint Hull became the 14th boys player in state history to compile 2,000 career points during a game last Friday versus Wilson Creek.

Officials stopped the game after Hull reached the milestone. Hull’s grandfather awarded the game ball to the Billygoats guard while Clint’s father Mike, the coach, looked on.

Hull, with 2,031 points, ranks 13th on the list. Two other players, Curlew’s Jeremy Groth and Blaine’s Luke Ridnour, have joined the 2,000 club this season. Through Monday, Groth is up to sixth place all-time (2,184) and Ridnour is eighth (2,174).

Napavine senior post Carrie Spencer has moved into ninth place on the all-time girls list, with 2,247 points. She needs 72 points to jump into seventh, past Jill Pimley of Klickitat/Goldendale and Angie Pflugrath of Columbia (Hunters).

What’s in a name?

When wrestlers take the mats at Mat Classic XII this weekend, even longtime announcer Ed Aliverti will be forced to do a double-take.

There are two Ryan Brewers, University High’s 152-pounder and Wahluke’s 160-pounder, and two David Courchaines, Cheney’s 145-pounder and University’s 160-pounder, competing. The Courchaines are cousins.

Last weekend at the District 6 and 7 1A/B regionals, sophomores Tyson Marchand from Lake Roosevelt and Tyson Marchand from Freeman placed sixth at 135 and 145 pounds, respectively.

Coming along

The North Central boys basketball team won twice as many games this season as a year ago. The Indians (6-13) end their season against Rogers at 5:30 p.m. today in the Spokane Arena.

The team had a tough stretch early in the season, said coach Jay Webber, but “The second half of the season, we played a lot better basketball, more of what we’re capable of doing.”