Pullman, ML set title match

Pullman took advantage of Ben Hein’s inside presence and Riverside’s abysmal shooting to earn a spot in the District 7 2A championship game with a 50-36 victory Saturday in Pullman.

The Greyhounds (16-5) didn’t seem rusty after a 10-day layoff, pulling away from the Rams (13-9) with an 18-8 first quarter. Riverside shot 26 percent from the field, including a 1-of-13 effort from 3-point range. Pullman shot 43 percent.

Hein led the way for the Greyhounds with 14 points and nine rebounds. Justin Cooper’s 11 points and Ashton Gant’s 10 also fueled Pullman. Senior point guard Kyle Hinrichs added five assists.

Pat Smart was the lone Rams player to hit double figures, scoring 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting.

Pullman will travel to Mead and play for the district title, and a state title berth, Friday against Medical Lake at 8 p.m. Riverside will play Chewelah at 4:30 in a loser-out game.

District 7 2A Boys

Medical Lake 51, Chewelah 36

Medical Lake senior Steven Wesley stepped up with a double-double, as the Cardinals cruised to a convincing win past the visiting Cougars.

After a sluggish first quarter from both teams, Medical Lake (17-4) took control inside, dominating the boards and holding Chewelah (13-9) to 16 points in the first three quarters.

In addition to his 13 points and 16 rebounds, Wesley also led the Cardinals with seven assists. Junior Andrew Richardson almost had a double-double, scoring 19 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Colton Curtis added 10 rebounds for the Cardinals.

Senior post Michael McCanna led Chewelah with 11 points.

3A Eastern Regional Girls

Ellensburg 52, Clarkston 44

Kayla Standish scored 17 points and hit three 3-pointers, and Rebecca Sharon had 15 points to lead Ellensburg to the second and final state berth, defeating the Bantams in Richland.

The Bantams (13-12) tied the game at 36 entering the fourth quarter, but they shot just 1 of 17 from the field as their state tournament hopes slipped away. The Bulldogs (13-11) only hit 3 of 14 field goals in the quarter, but they went 9 of 12 from the free-throw line.

Sophomore Missy Atkinson carried the Bantams with 20 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Seniors Patsy Dodgen-Auer and Kathryn DeVleming teamed for 14 points.

Clarkston played much of the second half without junior point guard Alicia Jelinek, who suffered a hip pointer after being fouled on a drive.