Medical Lake boys, Chewelah girls up early at 2A

A pair of Great Northern League teams drew “Egg McMuffin” State 2A basketball tournament morning openers and another, the “David Letterman” nightcap, unenviable for two reasons.

The tournament begins Wednesday in the Yakima SunDome.

Two teams from both boys and girls GNL leagues will compete.

District champions Medical Lake boys (18-4) and Chewelah girls (18-4) both drew the 9 a.m. openers. Riverside girls (18-5), the district runner-up, play at 9 p.m.

Boys

The Cardinals play Connell (16-8), which went 1-2 at state last year, losing in the quarterfinals to Lakeside.

They’re on the same side of the bracket as Cashmere (20-3) and Ridgefield (21-2).

Pullman (17-6) plays Lynden Christian (18-5) at 4 p.m. Also on its side of the bracket are Grandview (21-2) and Castle Rock (20-3).

The Cardinals are led by double-figures scorers Steven Wesley and Tanner Tareski. Pullman has spread the scoring wealth among six players, none with double-digit averages.

There are nine state team returnees, including six on Medical Lake’s side of the bracket. Defending champion Hoquiam, the third-place Cardinals, seventh-place Cashmere and eighth-place Nooksack Valley are all in this year’s field.

Girls

How big was Chewelah’s advantage as GNL No. 1 seed? They drew Chimacum (11-12) in their opener. Riverside has top-ranked and last year’s fourth-place finishing East Valley-Yakima (22-1) for its opponent.

The Cougars are led by guard Nikki Nelson and the Rams by post Angela Hartill.

Ten of 16 2A state qualifiers are back, joined by last year’s State 1A fourth-placer King’s (22-1). Among them are defending champion Chelan (20-3), third-place Mt. Baker (14-9), sixth-place LaCenter (20-3) and eighth-place Woodland (18-5)