Curlew boys, girls wrap up state berths

Saturday night belonged to the boys and girls basketball teams of Curlew High School.

Both Cougar squads earned a No. 1 seed to this week’s State 1B tournament in Yakima and took home the title at the District 7 1B tournament in Deer Park.

For Curlew boys coach Doug Grumbach, whose daughter Amanda plays on the girls team, it was a night to remember.

“This is definitely one I will cherish,” Grumbach said. “I grew up in Curlew and this is one of the more special moments for me.”

The Cougar boys rallied in the second half, handing Almira/Coulee-Hartline the second seed. In an earlier boys’ game, Odessa rallied to beat Cusick and capture the third and final state berth.

In the girls’ title game, Curlew’s Nichole Miller finished with 21 points as the Cougars downed Inchelium. Cusick defeated ACH earlier in the day to earn the third seed.

Local girls teams earned all four berths to state and the LaCrosse-Washtucna and St. John-Endicott boys captured two of the four spots at the District 9 1B tournament in Colfax.

While all state qualifiers were excited, many have mixed emotions on the first year without the State B tournament at the Spokane Arena.

“These girls took third two years ago and second last year,” Curlew girls coach Dan Miller said of his top-ranked Cougars. “Their biggest goal this year was to win a state title at the Spokane Arena. They had something to prove and they won’t get the chance to do that.”

Grumbach had a slightly different perspective.

“I have pretty mixed feelings about it,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll see the competition we have in the past, but at the same time it might be a little easier to win a state title.”

“It’s hard with the change,” Odessa boys’ coach Ken Schutz said. “I loved State B, but not as many kids get to go and now we have the opportunity to play in a state tournament, which is something these guys will never forget. We will miss Spokane, but it’s just a great opportunity for the kids.”

The State 1B tournament begins Wednesday in Yakima. The draw will be available online today at www.wiaa.com sometime after 1 p.m.

District 7 1B boys

Curlew 52, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 44: It was the Warriors (9-13) who went into the locker room at halftime with a 22-14 lead. But Curlew’s Dillon Strandberg scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to lead the Cougars (15-8) to a victory in the championship game.

Austin Mannick added 16 points for the Cougars, while Greg Giese led ACH with 16 points.

Odessa 55, Cusick 47: Drake Costlow scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers (8-15) outscored the Panthers (11-13) 27-10 to rally for the final state berth.

District 7 1B girls

Curlew 50, Inchelium 43: Miller was 9 of 16 from the field and Ky Somday scored with 1:30 remaining to secure the district title for the Cougars (22-1).

Chelsi Pakootas led the Hornets (17-5) with 14 points.

Cusick 53, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 41: Amanda Smith had 19 points, 12 rebounds and three steals to lead the Panthers (11-13) past the Warriors (5-17) for the final spot at state.

District 9 1B girls

Tekoa-Oakesdale 61, Colton 37: Kristine Faunce led all players with 15 points as the Nighthawks (17-7) crushed Colton (20-5) to capture the district title and earn the top seed to state.

Kelsi Graffis added 12 points for No. 2 seed Tekoa-Oakesdale.

Garfield-Palouse 61, Sprague-Harrington 56: Courtney Shoemaker led three Vikings (14-9) in double-digits with 20 points in a win over the Falcons (21-4) for the third seed to state.

Roni Jo Mielke scored 27 for S-H, which heads to state as the fourth seed.

District 9 1B boys

Liberty Christian 55, LaCrosse-Washtucna 23: Liberty Christian built a 27-9 halftime lead and finished off the rout of the Tigercats (11-15) in the championship game.

Jared Ayers-Stamper led the Tigercats, who earned a second seed, with nine points.

St. John-Endicott 53, Tri-Cities Prep 50: Justin Taylor had nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Eagles (14-12) held to win the third-fourth seed game.

St. John-Endicott shot 54 percent from the field.