Ferris, G-Prep Figure To Meet State 4A Hoops Tournament Gets Under Way Wednesday
Any rematches from the entertaining 4A Eastern Regional tournament that develop at the boys State 4A high school basketball tournament mean good news.
Any league rematches are a bummer.
If both win or lose their openers, the Ferris and Gonzaga Prep boys would play in the second round of the state tournament, which opens Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome. The same holds true for the Big Nine teams, Davis and Kamiakin.
The Big Nine schools play the first two games, the Greater Spokane League schools the last two. They all play teams out of the West Central district.
Ferris (22-3), the District 8 and Regional champion, plays Puyallup (20-5) in the last game, scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Gonzaga Prep (22-3), the GSL regular-season champion, meets Bethel (20-5) in Game 7 at 7 p.m.
Bethel was second in the West Central District while Puyallup was sixth. Neither team was ranked in the top 10 in the final Associated Press power poll. Prep was fourth and Ferris sixth.
The 9 a.m. opening game pits Big Nine regular-season and district champion Davis (24-2) against Kentwood (19-7), fifth in district. At 10:30, Kamiakin (18-8) faces Foss (21-4), the West Central champ. Davis was second, Foss eighth and Kentwood ninth in the final poll.
The East Side leagues are split in the girls draw, but all play West Central teams.
Central Valley (19-8) is in Game 2 at 10:30 a.m. against Shelton (18-7), seventh out of West Central. Shadle Park (14-11) meets West Central runnerup Enumclaw (23-2) in Game 7 at 7 p.m.
The Bears could play Pasco (16-10) in their second game. The Bulldogs open the tournament against West Central champ Bellarmine (21-4).
No. 1 ranked regional champion Kennewick (25-0) has drawn Decatur (14-13), sixth in West Central, in Game 6 at 5 p.m.
Boys notes
The top nine teams in the final AP poll made the field… . Half of the field was at state last year, topped by runnerup Ferris. Evergreen was third, Davis fifth, Enumclaw seventh and Franklin eighth. Also returning are Garfield, Wilson and Bethel… . Ferris is making its fourth straight appearance, eighth in 10 years and 11th in coach Wayne Gilman’s 17 years. The Saxons won the 1994 title and have been in three other title games. Puyallup last went in 1995. Gonzaga Prep’s last state appearance was 1991, when the Bullpups finished fifth. Davis is making its third straight appearance. Kentwood last went in 1996. Kamiakin last went in 1997, Foss in 1996… . . The best - on paper - first-round pairing is Game 3 at noon with top-ranked Garfield (22-1) playing Evergreen (16-6), third last year… . Mountlake Terrace (22-0) is the only undefeated boys team in the state.
Girls notes
Nine of 10 teams in the AP poll made it to state… . Half of the field was at state last year, including the top three teams. Prairie won the last two state titles, beating Lake Washington last year. South Kitsap was third and CV eighth. Also back are Bellarmine, Redmond, Port Angeles and Pasco… . Prairie (19-3) opens against Shorewood (22-2) at 2… . CV is making its fourth straight appearance and ninth in coach Dale Poffenroth’s 13 years. The Bears have placed six of the eight last trips, including the undefeated 1993 championship. Shelton is making its first-ever appearance. Shadle’s last trip was in 1995. The Highlanders have failed to place since winning back-to-back titles in 1988-89. Enumclaw had a three-year string end last year when the Hornets, second in 1998, missed state. Kennewick’s only other state appearance was in 1998. Decatur was last at state in 1990. Bellarmine has been four straight years… . The best first-round matchup would apear to be second-ranked Lake Washington (22-2) against No. 3 Bethel (23-2) in Game 5 at 3:30.