Waterville Looks Like State B Material Again

Don’t be surprised to see defending State B boys basketball champion Waterville back in Spokane come March 1.

Senior post Kellen Biggar scored 23 points Tuesday to lead the Shockers over Central Washington League rival Pateros 68-53.

Waterville (11-4) snapped fifth-ranked Pateros’ nine-game winning streak. Pateros (10-2) had defeated the Shockers by double digits earlier this season.

“We don’t want to get too high or too low about this because we dropped one against Day Star the other night,” said Waterville coach Jim Evans at the “Shockerdome.”

Biggar (18 ppg) and junior guard Tyler Greenwood are the main holdovers from last year’s team that took the state field by storm at the Arena. Waterville won its first three state games by an average of 12 points, then overcame Evergreen Lutheran 67-60 in overtime for the title.

“When you lose (three) starters, you have to replenish them,” Evans said. “You have to get guys who can step into the starting roles and replenish your bench.”

Stepping into starting roles are seniors Josh Barnes and Kelsey Ryan, who scored 15 apiece Tuesday.

Waterville stormed to a 12-0 lead, then held tough when Pateros put together runs of 13-0 and 7-0. Pateros closed within one point in the third quarter, but the Shockers answered with another run of 12 straight points.

Waterville held Billygoats senior Clint Hull (24.6 ppg) to five points through three quarters. Hull scored 15 in the fourth quarter, giving him 1,828 points for his career.

Pateros, sixth place at state last year, continues to lead the league by one game. The Shockers’ and Billygoats’ district sends two teams to state.