Ferris’ side of bracket loaded
The Ferris High boys will open the WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington State 4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday in Tacoma against Evergreen, the same school the Saxons’ football team opened the season against in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
But the faces won’t be familiar. The second-ranked Saxons (23-3 and regional champions) have five players – Caleb Rath, Shawn Stockton, Bryon Stevens, Erick Cheadle and Jared Karstetter – who played in the football game. Evergreen? Zero.
The Plainsmen do have Josh Troyer and Cory Neal, two 6-foot-1 senior guards who have combined for more than 31 points a game. Evergreen earned the sixth seed out of the West Central-Southwest District.
The Saxons’ side of the bracket is loaded, with No. 1 ranked Curtis (23-2) looming in the semifinals. Ferris’ possible second-round foe would be either fourth-ranked Franklin (19-5) or No. 6 Kentwood (21-4).
Central Valley, which finished second in region, also will meet a West Central-Southwest District foe, thanks to the district earning eight berths. The Bears (20-6) will face Bellarmine Prep and 5-9 scoring machine Vaughn Gaines. The senior guard entered the postseason averaging 25.7 points per game, despite being the focus of every opponent’s defense. The Lions had to survive four loser-out games to earn a state berth.
“I really don’t know enough about Bellarmine yet to really have an opinion,” CV coach Rick Sloan said. “I do like the fact it is an afternoon (5 p.m.) game, though.”
CV is in the lower half of the bracket along with fifth-ranked Inglemoor (21-2), the Bears’ possible second-round opponent, and third-ranked South Kitsap (24-1), which defeated Curtis in the West Central-Southwest District title game.
Bellarmine Prep’s girls also earned a berth, despite a 16-10 record that includes a 42-point loss to Gonzaga Prep and a 17-point defeat to Ferris. The Lions’ reward is a first-round matchup with ConAgra Foods/Lamb Weston Eastern Regional champion and fourth-ranked University (22-3) in the first round.
The overall draw didn’t displease U-Hi coach Mark Stinson.
“Compared to the last two years, the two sides seem a little more balanced this time,” he said while driving back. “Maybe that’s because I know some of the teams on the other side that don’t have the best records are really tough. If you look at the records, though, our side looks really tough.”
The Titans side includes top-ranked Prairie (23-2), a possible semifinal foe, and No. 3 Meadowdale (21-2), which could be waiting in the second round if it gets by 10th-ranked Kentwood (23-3).
Lewis and Clark (22-4 and ranked sixth in the state) plays the day’s second game against Gig Harbor, the eighth seed from the West Central-Southwest District. The Tides, who lost to Lincoln of Tacoma by 38 early in the season but only two in district play, featured guards Jenette North and Holly Rubert. The seniors split 24 points a game.
Lincoln (24-1), which defeated Prairie in the West Central-Southwest District title game Saturday, looms as a likely second-round opponent for the Tigers.