NWC boys have title in sights

Last March the Northwest Christian boys basketball team made history when it won its second straight state title – becoming the last true State B champions in 2006 and winning the inaugural State 2B tournament in 2007.

The Crusaders don’t feel their work is done.

Their quest for a third consecutive state title – which would be the first time in school history the feat would be accomplished – begins today at the Arena when they take on Napavine at 12:30 p.m. in the opening round of the State 2B tournament.

A championship trophy would also match Brewster’s record of three straight titles, which the Bears claimed from 1975-1977.

But NWC coach Ray Ricks has tried to keep his team from looking too far ahead.

“I think it’s in the back of everyone’s minds,” said Ricks after the Crusaders’ practice on Tuesday afternoon at the Whitworth University Fieldhouse. “I think it’s more for community and for a lot of our fans and alumni, but we’ve tried to downplay that a lot with our players.

“It sounds cliché, but we’re trying to focus on one game at a time.”

The Bi-County League-champion Crusaders (24-1) return three starters from last year’s championship team, including sharp-shooting point guard Chase Ramey and smooth inside man Matt Zandbergen. Senior John Graham is the team captain and provides leadership and a lot of the little – but incredibly important – things, Ricks said.

Both juniors and first-team picks in the league last year, Ramey and Zandbergen lead the team in scoring, averaging 16.5 and 13.7 points per game, respectively.

“I think we’re extremely lucky to have this opportunity again,” said Ramey. “Hopefully, we can make the best of it. I think a lot of things have to go our way, the last two years we’ve been very fortunate.”

It was with their bread-and-butter defense that the Crusaders shut down opponents in last year’s tournament, including their 46-38 victory over Wahkiakum in the state final. This year, their offense is the team’s strong point, Ricks said.

“Defense is still an emphasis,” he said. “I don’t know if we’re as hard-nosed, though, as we have been in the last couple of years, but I think offensively we’re better. So the tradeoff is we’re more balanced on offense.”

That includes an average of 10.5 points a game from Jared Descoteaux, who came off the bench and pulled down 10 rebounds in last year’s championship game.

As much as Ricks had tried to downplay the prospect of a third consecutive title, the players can’t deny that to hoist the trophy above their heads again would be a dream come true.

“That’s our ultimate goal,” Graham said. “I don’t know if I can even explain in words how much that would mean. It’s been our goal since day one of practice – we’ve been looking toward (the state championship game on) March 1.”

Joining them for the first time in school history are the young Northwest Christian girls, who also won the Bi-County League title – another first in the 34-year history of the program.

With five freshmen, five sophomores and two seniors, the Lady Crusaders open at 10:30 a.m. against La Salle.

Freshman Hayley Hendrickson leads the team with 17 points and nine rebounds a game and was named first-team All-Bi-County. Sophomore Taryn Russell averages 10 points a game.

“The boys have done a lot and had a lot of success and the girls have always wanted to go, so I think they are just really looking forward to the experience without having any real expectations,” said sixth-year girls coach Aaron Spuler. “It’s nice to have the young girls that can really compete at this level and we certainly hope to build on that.”