In the end, state playoffs are always big hit for players

There’s something special about playoff time, no matter the sport.

This year’s no different.

So let’s take a spin around and see where we end up.

An hour before game time, the Kennewick Lions are on the Albi Stadium turf, warming up for their State 4A play-in game against GSL champ Gonzaga Prep.

It’s the Lions’ first postseason appearance since 1993, so let’s forgive their exuberance.

But it seems quite strange to see them in their orange helmet covers running through plays more than a half-hour before kickoff. With G-Prep nowhere to be seen. In front of empty stands.

Sort of like those early Thursday night games during the regular season.

The pre-game practice may have helped the Lions to a fast start, but, as G-Prep coach Dave Carson said, “I think we wore them down a little bit.” Some of that might be attributed to the long time on the turf.

For years the West Side girls volleyball coaches used to whine about the State 4A volleyball tournament being in Spokane.

Too far to go. Too much of an advantage for the East Side. Too few spectators. Too hard to win.

So two years ago the WIAA moved the 4A and 3A tournaments to the new Everett Events Center. That should have satisfied the West Side, right?

Except the Events Center was going through growing pains last year and this year the usual dates for state – this upcoming weekend – weren’t reserved.

That necessitated moving the tournaments up a week, but that wasn’t nearly as embarrassing to the West Side as what occurred on the court.

Saturday semifinals featured the four East Side teams: Mead, Gonzaga Prep, University and Eisenhower.

And the stands? Kind of like those early Thursday football games at Albi.

At least people from this area made the trip, something few from the other side of the Cascades did even when Kentlake was winning three consecutive titles.

Speaking of fans, the soccer playoffs for girls suffer from the same thing that hits the early part of boys soccer season: cold.

That was evident last weekend when G-Prep hosted Kamiakin and East Valley did the same with Hanford. The crowds were subdued until the hosts teams rallied.

The cold didn’t freeze the players’ enthusiasm.

Before the G-Prep match, the Bullpups gathered in their huddle and talked about staying together and defending their house.

The best part about prep playoffs is the atmosphere. Behind the G-Prep bench Saturday was a blue-and-white balloon decoration that swayed in the wind.

The little touch elevated the surroundings.

No, the best part of the state playoffs is the urgency.

It showed in Tuesday night’s Prep-Kennewick football game.

It is the seniors who carry the disease.

If you had a chance to see the battle between Kennewick linebacker/fullback Sean Sloppy and G-Prep fullback/defensive lineman Ryan Murphy, you received a treat.

The two went at it with an intensity rarely seen at the prep level, especially near the end when G-Prep was trying to pound the ball down the field.

Murphy would lead the Bullpups tailback into a hole, a hole usually filled by Sloppy, a catcher on Kennewick’s national runner-up senior Legion baseball team.

The collisions were impressive, and they usually ended with the duo helping each other off the Albi turf. No yapping, no pointing, just good football.

Playoff football.