Dashed hopes

“For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’ “

– John Greenleaf Whitter

Those words, penned more than 100 years ago by the American poet are apropos concerning West Valley’s eighth-place basketball finish during last week’s State 3A high school tournament in Tacoma.

The Eagles were without suspended third-year player E.J. Richardson, the 6-foot-6 post player who had averaged a dozen points a game and scored 20 against North Central during their regional championship win.

West Valley, fourth in state last year and with essentially the same team, had high hopes that went unrealized.

Despite an ideal draw, the short notice of Richardson’s dismissal for an athletic code of conduct violation – coach Jamie Nilles found out Monday night before the team’s departure — there was little time to adapt before WV’s first state game.

“I thought if we got a practice game before state, this group could have been playing in the semifinals anyway,” said Nilles.

Instead they settled for the last available trophy.

Richardson’s absence was particularly felt in the opener, a 43-41 loss to Mount Si, and in the game for fifth and eighth places trophy, a 60-52 loss to NC.

“It hurt for them not having E.J.,” said Indians coach Jay Webber. “We felt he was a huge factor in the games they won.”

With Richardson, the pressure was eased on Eagles star Tyler Hobbs. Without him, NC was able to double team Hobbs and guard him with Damal Neil.

Although the Eagles did lead Mount Si 17-12 late in the first half on Danny McIntyre‘s 3-point basket, they were unable to maintain continuity and fell behind by as many points eight minutes later.

Maurice Swan, who wound up the tournament’s third-leading rebounder averaging nearly 10 per game and scored 29 points, willed the team back into hit with six third-quarter offensive boards and seven points.

But it came down to the final three seconds, when the Eagles, trailing by a point, missed the potential winning basket.

Mount Si went on to make the semis, before losing badly in its final two games.

WV bounced back to beat Lynnwood 64-54, Hobbs with 28 points, Greg Bradley with 15 and Swan with 10. WV beat Ellensburg 48-39, with Arton Toussaint and Cameron Wieber, Richardson’s starting replacement, providing the lift.

“The first game we were feeling out a new change,” said Nilles. “We had to Super Glue some stuff together. There were some broken parts. Then we scrapped for some pretty big wins.”

But the team’s energy was missing on the final day against its Greater Spokane League rival.

Ahead in the second quarter, the Eagles gave up seven straight points in the final two minutes and fell behind by seven with 10 minutes left in the game.

Wieber’s three-point play cut the margin to two points two minutes into the final quarter, but NC closed with a 17-11 scoring advantage on 10 for 12 free throw shooting.

It was the final game for seven WV seniors, six of whom had played on the fourth-place finisher the previous year.

Hobbs ended his career as the tournament’s seventh-leading scorer with a 17-point average and was named second-team All-Tournament.

“He’s such a gamer,” said Nilles of his departing star.

“Getting over here is not guaranteed,” Nilles continued. “I’m just glad how they battled for two wins.”

Titan girls region champs

At the beginning of the season University girls basketball was just trying to cobble together a lineup. Today they are playing in their second State 4A game in Tacoma.

Angie Bjorklund and Riki Schiermeister missed the Titans first five games. Others, including Leah Archibald, who was rehabilitating her second knee ligament surgery, were hobbled.

But the early season injuries may have proved a blessing for a team that wound up sharing the Greater Spokane League championship, winning district and regional to earn their third straight state trip.

Exhibiting uncommon togetherness, U-Hi compiled a 22-3 record and beat Lewis and Clark three times, including 45-29 for the regional title on Saturday.

It could have gone the other way, said coach Mark Stinson, and the players may not have meshed and blamed the injuries for it.

“Looking back, it caused girls to step out of their roles into new roles,” he said. “A lot of kids held down the fort.”

Among them were Dara Zack (12.6 points per game) who led in scoring until Bjorklund’s return, and in rebounding. Post Janna Erickson and fourth-year regular Tonya Schnibbe significantly increased their offensive output as did long-range scorer Kara Crisp.

“Dara should be complimented on how hard she works, and it’s been really enjoyable to watch her grow as a scorer,” said Stinson. “It’s been fun watching Janna improve over the years and to have a post presence. Kara has expanded her game and come leaps and bounds.”

In just over two weeks time, U-Hi defeated six teams, the Tigers and three others to tie for the league title and win to playoff tourneys.

Stinson said he anticipated having a quality team that worked together. The way it came about was different than he envisioned.

“It’s fun to look back and see how the girls counted on each other and sacrificed for each other,” he said.

DePell MVP again

For the second straight year, Freeman’s Jessie DePell was named MVP of the State 1A girls basketball tournament.

The Scotties finished fourth this year, their only loss by two points in the quarterfinals coming against state second-place finisher Bellevue Christian.

DePell averaged 18.5 points in the four games and her Freeman career ends with a 6-2 state record and second- and fourth-place plaques.

The loss to Bellevue Christian prevented a third straight all-Northeast A League final. Freeman struggled from the field and was outscored 16-4 in the third quarter to trail 38-27.

The Scotties rallied in the final quarter, but couldn’t get the tying score in the game’s final four seconds.

They had opened with a 47-19 win over Bush and finished with wins over Lake Roosevelt, 52-40 and White Swan 51-45, with DePell and Claire Moberg each scoring 21 points.

“Freeman’s boys (15-12) went 1-2 in the tournament, winning 43-40 over Cascade Christian, before losing their next two games to second-place Brewster 72-30 and fourth-place Overlake 57-55. In the latter, the Scotties led 28-19 at half, but were outscored 23-16 in the final quarter.

Bears keep it going

Central Valley boys basketball team joins the Titan girls in state while continuing its remarkable postseason.

The Bears (20-6), won five of six playoff games, winning district and finishing second in regional after sharing fifth place in the Greater Spokane League’s regular season.

Last week at regional, CV outscored Davis 70-64 as part of a GSL sweep of the first night games and held off Gonzaga Prep 66-65 to earn a state berth.

The Bears were beaten by Ferris in the regional final 47-26.

Five players scored in double figures during the first two regional wins. Luke Clift (11.2 ppg), Nick Ambrose (10.8) and Brad Johnson (10.0) all averaged double figures for six playoff games. Kevin Cameron, twice, and Matt Morgan provided other double-figures performances.

Cameron, Clift and Ambrose all return next year.

“CV girls (15-11) ended their season two wins away from state. The Bears went 1-2 during regionals, losing to Eisenhower, beating Walla Walla, then losing to Gonzaga Prep.

Heidi Heintz finished the season with 493 points (19.0 points per game). Salena Leavitt had a pair of double-figures efforts in regional and sophomore Justine Bowman averaged 10.7 points during six playoff games.