State-bound Riverside counts on balance

They didn’t have a scorer average more than 8.5 points in the regular season, and usually that’s not a good thing.

Somehow, it’s resulted in Riverside’s boys going to their first state basketball tournament in 17 years.

Head coach Brent Monroe can see the positives as the Rams try to win their first state tournament game in their fifth appearance.

“It’s probably to our advantage. I don’t know who they’re going to pick out to try and stop,” Monroe said. “That’s what’s so great about this team. They’re friends, they’re competitive and they could care less who the leading scorer is.”

During the season, when the Rams finished fourth in the Great Northern League, it was 5-foot-11 senior Adam Anderson (8.4 ppg), who is going to Idaho on a football scholarship. Caleb Watt, a 5-8 senior, and 6-3 senior Jason Paul were both over seven a game.

The balance has resulted in positives – see Riverside’s 64-57 upset at Pullman in the district tournament when Anderson had 24 and Watt 21.

So Monroe will cross his fingers that the team that beat Pullman and then Chewelah in double overtime to get to state shows up there.

“I’ve been hoping that all year,” he said. ” … The attitude’s just been super.”

Riverside is the only GNL state team not making a second appearance this season in the SunDome.

Pullman’s girls and both Lakeside teams played in the SunDome Classic in late December.

For Lakeside’s boys, the advantage is clear.

They drew Grandview, which beat them 54-43 just over two months ago in Yakima.

“I respect (Grandview) a whole lot,” Lakeside head coach David Pratt said. “They’re quick and they play tenacious defense, but I think it’s a plus to get them. Of the seven teams it was possible for us to draw, to get a team we’ve played before is beneficial.”

“It was an excellent opportunity for us,” said Pullman girls coach Mike Davis, whose team was dealing with injuries when it played in Yakima, dropping games to top-ranked East Valley-Yakima and 3A Hanford.

“It’s just getting in that building and being experienced are all helpful to give them something in their mind’s eye to visualize.”