All they can B

It’s not exactly the odd couple, but it’s an interesting coupling, one designed to awaken basketball ghosts at Reardan.

The Indians of yore won six State B basketball championships in eight finals appearances and made playing in the annual Spokane pageant a habit. Their 32 appearances are second all-time.

The program – now in Class 2B – had struggled lately, however, after last playing for a title and reaching state in 1997. Bob Swannack, in his fourth year as coach, is working for a return to the good old ways.

“We have parents of those historic teams with kids now,” he said. “They’ve bought into venturing places we hope to venture. Slowly, but surely, we’re coming back.”

In turning to Swannack, Reardan is stealing from another storied B program – old rival St. John-Endicott.

“We were desperate,” said Keith Schulz, a former Reardan player and father of Ryan, this year’s leading scorer. “We pulled out all the stops.”

When Swannack played from 1987-90, SJE reached the state semifinals four times and finished second twice.

Reardan made steady progress since 2005 and this year has a good chance to return. Although the players can’t figure out Northwest Christian – losing for the second time to the two-time defending state champions Tuesday night 50-43 after leading by as many as nine points in their Bi-County League showdown – the Indians sport a 13-2 record.

Current players, including seniors Schulz, Jacob Teaford and Tyler Moos, are well aware of Reardan’s legacy.

Keith Schulz, leading scorer on Reardan’s last state champion in 1982, put together the nucleus of this team in elementary school. Many are from multigenerational Reardan families.

“The awesome thing about this team is we’ve been playing together since third grade,” said Ryan. “The juniors have meshed well with us. We care about and work well with each other.”

Schulz plays anything from point guard to high post and is averaging 16 points per game.

“He definitely is our emotional leader and been around the game more than any other,” said Swannack. “He has a 32-inch vertical and we can trust him with the ball in his hands.

Schulz remembers going to the State B tournament and being told by his dad, “Son, you’ll be here one day.” That has been the players’ long-term goal.

“Ryan’s dad kept us involved in summer with tournaments,” said Teaford, a guard who averages 12 ppg. “Once in high school with Swannack we’ve played 50 games a summer. This past summer we went to a team camp in Oregon and focused more on skills.”

Swannack called Teaford a “silent assassin” – an excellent shooter from beyond the 3-point arc.

Moos’ dad, Rich, played on the 1974 Reardan state champions and ‘75 semifinalists who lost to champion Brewster beginning a record-breaking three-year run.

At 6-foot-5, Moos, a football standout, gives the Indians an inside dominating presence.

“He hasn’t played as much basketball as the others but could be a Division I athlete,” Swannack said.

Moos said his role is rebounding and interior defense, but he also averages more than 10 ppg.

“I’ve been told I’m too unselfish,” he said. “I guess don’t have the scoring mentality I should.”

The three veterans have been joined by a supporting cast that has included double-figure efforts from three of them.

All three seniors are in accord: Qualifying for a state tournament is an imperative.

Creating that expectation, as in Reardan seasons past, is what the youngsters have played for during many years.