EV girls, NC boys keep hopes alive

East Valley defeated Kennewick 75-55 in a girls 3A Eastern Regional basketball matchup at Richland on Friday, setting up a meeting with Kamiakin today for the No. 2 seed to state.

Eleaya Schuerch had 24 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals to lead the Knights (9-14). EV shot 46 percent from the field and held Kennewick to 37 percent.

Ashley Grater and Kylee Williamson each scored 12 and Kelsi Jacobson chipped in 10 points for the Knights, who will play a loser-out game at 1 p.m. today at Richland.

Brittany Perez scored 20 points, including a 6-for-9 effort from the 3-point line, to lead three players in double figures for Kennewick.

EV outscored Kennewick 42-22 in the second half.

West Valley (Yakima) earned a No. 1 seed to state after defeating Kamiakin 55-43.

The state tournament starts Wednesday at the Bank of America Arena on the campus of the University of Washington.

Boys

Nick Rijon scored 22 points and North Central defeated Kennewick 55-50 in a 3A Eastern Regional matchup at Richland to advance to a play-in game for the No. 2 seed to state.

The Indians (6-18) jumped to a 23-8 lead in the first quarter then cruised the rest of the game. Javier Grigsby scored 11 points and Cody Hauenstein added 10 for the Indians, who will face West Valley (Yakima) today at 3:30 at Richland in a loser-out game. Cory Swennumson did not score, but led NC with 13 rebounds.

Joe Faurholt paced Kennewick with 15 points while Ross Thoelke chipped in a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Southridge earned a No. 1 seed to state by defeating West Valley (Yakima) 32-30.