State Preps Report

We've got a new feature this year during the State Hoops tourney, where readers can submit their comments in our blog forum and discuss or comment on various topics.

Check it out!

All you need to know about the small-school tourneys in Yakima and Spokane.

From the Yakima Herald, TourneyTown.com brings you the best of the Class 2A state tourney daily.

The Spokesman Review provides complete Class B coverage at its State B Hoops Web page.

OK, it's time for me to put my tuchus on the line and make my picks for Round 1 of the 4A Eastern Regionals tonight.

Let's start with the boys...

Something more to chew on:

3A Bracket Breakdown

Elite Eleven Players
As we head into the state tournaments, we look at Washington's top 11 players, including Angie Bjorklund of University, without regard to classification.

Elite 11: A What-If 3A
We project River Ridge and tournament MVP Sophie Russell to be the champions of a State 3A tournament that never actually will happen.

State 3A Team Capsules & Rankings
Essential information on each of the 16 State 3A tournament participants, ranked by HoopGurlz.com (on team strength, not predicted finish).

Holy Terrors
Don't look now, but it's tournament time and Holy Names is hot again.

Meadowdale Magic
Amidst controversy and change, one thing stays the same - the Eryn Jones-led Meadowdale Mavericks continue to win and go to the State 4A tournament.

Redraw Pits Warriors Vs. No. 3 La Salle
Bracket revision gives King's West girls a tougher road at the State B tournament.
King's West girls basketball co-coaches Bryan Hanley and Dave Kerkhoff woke up to a much different State B bracket on Monday. The Warriors were originally in the top half, which featured just two top-10 teams in the state.

New Aberdeen H.S. set to go vertical

Vikes seek elusive title
Willapa Valley's boys will attempt to turn rare negatives into positives when they open state basketball competition this week.

Locals capture River Run

Sports Briefs
Valley grad picks up win for Saints

Ducks fans can expect a hectic few days in Spokane
When Toutle Lake brings two teams to the Class B state tournament in Spokane, as it will this week, it creates a series logistical headaches for the school's athletic director.

Jills' Godhino named coach for all-state volleyball gig
R.A. Long volleyball coach Jennifer Godinho has been selected to coach in the 21st annual Washington All-State Volleyball Series on July 12-13 at Fife High School.

Hundreds of gymnasts converge in Kelso for Wave Runners Classic
Taya Connors of Longview captured the all-around title in the 10-11 age division Saturday at the Wave Runners Classic, hosted by the Gymnastics 4 U Waves of Kelso, while Ashlee Bonahoom of the Waves won the all-around in Level 7 competition (high-school age).

Oregon's prep reclassification plan hits snag
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Plans for a sweeping reclassification of prep sports in Oregon have hit a legal obstacle with a preliminary finding by a state hearings officer that the proposal wasn't adequately presented to the state Board of Education.

A State Preps Report reader e-mailed me over the weekend with some insightful comments. Rather than take the time to say what he wrote to me, we'll make Mr. Wenatchee the star today:

Spike: Thank you for referring the general public to various sports articles from the various newspapers. I read with interest the "recuiting" article from 'The Columbian' by Greg Jayne hitch hiking on the recent Seattle Times article on Chief Sealth's problems. Well there seems to be a lot of pressure to win as experienced from out of state. I found two items on the interenet you might be interested in.

The first is a major article in yesterday's New York Times about private schools and basketball entitled Schools Where The Only Real Test IS Basketball. I know with quite a few private schools in the state qualifying for the state b-ball tourneys this article would not sit well.

Also, right as we speak, the Texas Private School's State 4a Girl's Basketball tourney is (pardon the pun) "stalled". I didn't realize they have a separate division in Texas for public and private school tournaments. Seems that 4 girls (3 recent senior transfers) were suspended from Carrolton Christian (H.S.) for "an infraction of tuition payment for student athletes" leveled at their head coach (and the school itself).

Lawyers (Christian, I'm sure) stepped in to have Carlton Christian re-instated in the tourney. THUS, causing 15 other deserving teams to stay on hold and not have a tournament! Anyway, if you have the time and are interested in lots of hot and steamy people venting their spleens (since it affects the whole State of Texas), you can
catch it at: www.TxPrivateSports.com - check out the Message Board (WHEW!!!!)

- A B-Ball Fan from Wenatchee

I'm not a fan of excuse making and complaining, but I'll let you judge for yourself. If I was a parent, the last thing I'd want to see in the local paper is someone writing about the negatives of local teams being in the high-school basketball playoff hunt.

4A GSHL road trip continues
Just when you think the format for the Class 4A regional basketball tournament couldn't get any more frustrating for 4A Greater St. Helens League teams, it does.

On Wednesday, the Evergreen and Mountain View boys basketball teams will play win-or-go-home games in Tacoma for berths into the 4A state tournament.

And as if it weren't bad enough that both of these teams will be making their third trips to the Puget Sound area in about a week -- logging more miles than any teams in the bracket -- or that they've had to play in front of largely unfriendly crowds or with unfamiliar game officials, now the West Central District added a new twist.

Puyallup, Auburn, Foss and Mount Tahoma high schools were chosen as host sites for the tournament games. In past years, if a team from one of these schools were scheduled to play on its home floor, that game would be moved to a neutral site.

A draw deal: B bracketing did locals no favors
There is only one girls state championship game at the Class B state tournament this week, but the La Salle girls basketball team could argue it will play four in this year's bracket.

Tension breakers: Ellensburg teams thriving under pressure
Nerves and pressure at state?
Eric Davis and Craig Faire aren't very worried about it. The way Ellensburg's basketball coaches feel, there isn't anything Tacoma can dish out that the Bulldogs can't take.

Rubright steps down at West Valley
Jason Rubright, who guided the West Valley girls basketball team to four state berth and a 106-27 record in five years, stepped down Monday as Rams coach.

Class 4A regionals tip tonight
Finally, after three months of facing familiar foes, Eisenhower and Davis will encounter some fresh faces today.

Away at school: Garrigues rewrites S. Dakota St. record book
MARK GARRIGUES (Naches Valley), a freshman at South Dakota State, broke four individual school records and was in on three school relay records during the Mid-Continent Conference Championships earlier this month. Garrigues...

BELLINGHAM HERALD
Meridian boys crush Granite Falls
Trojans advance at Mount Vernon

KITSAP SUN
The two-time defending state champs eliminate Steven Gray and Bainbridge
Bainbridge was one win away from advancing to its first state basketball tournament in eight years. And the Spartans, even though they were playing two-time defending Class 3A champion O'Dea, felt good about their chances.

Bainbridge ?Girls Bounced
Holy Names stops the third-ranked Class 3A team a step short of the state tournament
It's hard to imagine the state's third-ranked team not qualifying for the state tournament. But that's what the Bainbridge Spartans will be dealing with today.

DAILY WORLD
Rockets blast off, knock off Grizzlies
MONTESANO - With a 19-game winning streak a thing of the past, the magic number for Hoquiam's girls is now two.

Raymond to play for state berth; Hyaks done

Elma, Monte drop 2A openers

LONGVIEW DAILY
Roundup: Castle Rock girls tame Grizzlies
MONTESANO - Freshman Lacey Seidl scored 15 points and Castle Rock came up with numerous big defensive stops as the Rockets - the No. 4 team from the Trico Division ---- stunned Evergreen Division champion Hoquiam 49-45 here Thursday in the opening round of the Class 2A District 4 girls basketball tournament.

College Report: Kelso's Settlemier makes pro league
There may be life on the diamond after college softball for University of Kansas senior Serena Settlemier.

THE OLYMPIAN
Powerful Prairie clouts Cougars
For the Capital girls basketball team, the outcome wasn't what they hoped for, but it wasn't precisely unexpected, either.

Scoreboard

PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Forks loses playoff game
MONTESANO -- Julie Steveson scored 10 points and had seven rebounds and seven steals but it wasn't enough for the Forks High School girls basketball team in the district playoffs Thursday night.

BLOGS
Vince Grippi's blog
Scoring points
Tri-Cities Herald prep writer Rene Ferran took the Greater Spokane League to task a little on his blog today concerning the league's scoring champion.

Rene Ferran's blog
Count every game in determining scoring champions
When is a scoring champion NOT a scoring champion?

SPOKESMAN REVIEW
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Top seeds fall in OT
It stood to reason that Gonzaga Prep and Ferris the Greater Spokane League's first and second seeds, losers of a combined two games in GSL play would play their District 8 4A basketball semifinals Thursday at University High School and then square off tonight.

Sherwood's 3-pointer sends Wilbur-Creston to state
Northwest Christian defeats Reardan to qualify
It's a shot they'll talk about in Wilbur and Creston long after Joel Sherwood's gone. Parts of the two communities stood on the floor at Mt.

VANCOUVER COLUMBIAN
Commentary: Rumors worthless without the proof
You've heard the rumors
You know, the ones about how coach so-and-so recruited players to his or her high school program. About how athletes are being lured to a particular school in violation of the rules and the ethics and the decencies that are purported to govern interscholastic athletics.

Prep roundup: Smith's big night can't save Skyview girls
Ashlee Smith's big night and Skyview's big rally weren't enough as the Storm lost their Class 4A regional girls basketball opener Thursday night at Auburn-Riverside, 78-68. Sophomore post Smith...

2A girls playoffs: Woodland leads Trico girls' charge at district
BATTLE GROUND The Trico League girls basketball champions weren't on top of their game at the start of the Class 2A District 4 Tournament. But on a night when the Trico League was dominant...

Scoreboard

Prairie girls take their lumps, then thump Capital
BRUSH PRAIRIE - The game wasn't so tough Thursday night, but the previous day's practice sure was for the Prairie girls basketball team. Katie Madison and Ashley Corral each needed medical

YAKIMA HERALD
Crosstown clash: Ike-Pasco girls will precede rivalry game
Whenever Eisenhower and Davis hook up in boys basketball, playoff intensity is a given. That, after all, is what rivalries are all about.

Prep Basketball: Andrew's hot shooting leads Hounds to semis
GRANDVIEW - Anthony Andrews hit five 3-pointers and connected on all 10 of his free throws to lead third-ranked Grandview to a 92-74 win over Toppenish in the first round of the CWAC boys district basketball tournament on Thursday.

UNION-BULLETIN
Irish girls give Pirates boot
DeSales' fourth-quarter run propels the Irish to a 32-28 victory over Pomeroy as they advance at the SEB District basketball tournament.
PULLMAN - Seven unanswered points from DeSales to begin the fourth quarter and poor Pomeroy shooting carried the Irish to a 32-28 victory here Wednesday night at the girls Southeast B District basketball tournament.

Coyotes win state ticket
Columbia-Burbank beats HIghland for its sixth straight ticket to the Class 1A state girls basketball tournament.

Lyncs have power at the post
Inside presence leads Lynden Christian girls into district tournament
So far this season, the Lynden Christian girls' basketball team has been operating from the inside out. At the center of their offense have been seniors Jenna Reed and Kristin Berendsen.

Blaine picks up playoff road win

Seniors lead Ferndale

Nooksack Valley in the zone with win

Lummi boys clinch state tourney berth

Blaine freshman has common result at state

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Gray Does His Best Morrison Impression
With his future coach in the stands, the Bainbridge star scores 46 to keep the Spartans alive in the playoffs.
Gonzaga basketball coach Mark Few was in the gym to check out future Zag Steven Gray, the Bainbridge junior who verbally committed to the Spokane university this summer.

Warriors Down to Final Chance
King's West puts up a fight, but falls to No. 3 Shoreline Christian at district tournament.
The King's West Warriors have played all season in a manner that has belied their age. The Warriors (17-6) tore apart the Sea-Tac League, winning both regular-season and tournament titles. Impressive for a team without a senior and which starts three sophomores.

Bainbridge Girls Will Have to Wait
A rash of turnovers denies the Spartans a State berth, but they have another chance Thursday against league rival Holy Names.
They came in bunches, and were committed in a variety of ways. Turnovers sealed the fate of the Bainbridge girls basketball team Tuesday night at Bellevue Community College.

High School Report: Redskins Knock Out Cowboys in 2OT
Despite a career-high 32 points from Caitlin Eldridge, who also had 10 rebounds, the Port Townsend Redskins eliminated the Chimacum Cowboys 75-72 in double overtime Tuesday night in the Class 2A West Central District tournament.

Anderson and Almont claim titles as Tonasket wrestling nabs third in state

Kells claims 160 crown; helps lead Okanogan wrestling to sixth place

Omak knocks off state champs; takes three medals

Call Omak's wrestling team at state Feb. 17-18 the giant killers, as the Pioneers beat several past state champs while collecting three state medals.

Making the second day to place at the Tacoma Dome were Drew Walter, fourth at 135; Jason Caryl, sixth at 140, and Darrick Green, fifth at 215.

Wrestling tidbits: Mitchell named state 1A/B sportsman

Bobcats rout Trappers
CENTRALIA - Walking off the Tigers Gym court after Wednesday's District IV 3A girls basketball victory over Fort Vancouver, Aberdeen felt that it belonged in the tournament and showcased its defense to prove it.

District IV 2A play set for Thursday

Grizzlies, Eagles to play in all sports in new 2A league

MM senior's talent outweighs his role as good-luck-charm
Kevin Wright's hidden talent has nothing to do with burying jumpers. Or cleaning the backboard glass like a high-rise window washer. Or swatting opponents' shots.

R.A. Long star hopes to make amends for missed opportunity
The last time Karlis Liepa was this close to playing in the state basketball tournament, a steel cable got the way.

MM survives elimination game against Centralia
CHEHALIS ---- Mark Morris stayed calm even without its designated "soother" here Tuesday to pull out a 63-43 victory over Centralia in a must-win, Class 3A District 4 girls basketball playoff.

State berths on line for MM, RAL
When the calendar hits late February and March Madness is just around the bend, coaches use descriptive words such as "battle" and "dogfight" to describe each step they take up the postseason ladder.

Longview schools dominate all-league team
Mark Morris nabbed the top two honors and R.A. Long had a pair of players make the first unit as Longview schools dominated the Greater St. Helens 3A all-league team, announced this week by the league's coaches.

Hawks state-bound
River Ridge claims last-second win over Black Hills
CENTRALIA -- Gabby Wade was as cool as ice.

Prep scoreboard

Well-matched teams go down to the wire
Port Townsend wins
CHIMACUM -- How evenly matched was the Chimacum High School and Port Townsend High School girls basketball teams?

Mat Classic Magic: Gowdy 4th, Chinn 7th at state
This is how experience pays off.
The difference between Sequim's state wrestling placers and those who fell in day one, said Sequim head coach Mark Fischer, is simply something like this: I've been here before.

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From the newspaper that hit my sister's dog is a list of 10 sporting events to pay attention to:

No. 7
1A state tourney berths

At River View on Thursday, two girls basketball games are scheduled in which if the team wins, it goes to the 1A state tournament next week in Yakima. If the team loses, the season's over.

At 6 p.m., Columbia-Burbank plays Highland; at 7:30 p.m., Warden battles Cle Elum.

Tuesday's prep scoreboard

Willis & The Race Card
We dispute Ray Willis' citation of race and class as motivation behind allegations of recruiting violations against his Chief Sealth program. Our role in the story gives us an understanding of how and why the allegations were brought to the public ...

Issy Goes to the Well
Suffocating defense and a third-quarter explosion by Melissa Richardson powers Issaquah, which is joined by a dominant Chief Sealth in claiming State 3A berths.

Elite 11: 4A Projections
Updated rankings and our picks to make the wide-open State 4A tournament ...

Who Wants to Go to State?
Jessica Tinned and the Sehome Mariners are the second team into the State 3A tournament, preceded only by Anacortes, which also won in the Northwest District ...

Senior Night at Garfield
Thoughts on KingCo's now-overtuned sanction against Garfield, LaCale Pringle-Buchanon, Vivian Frieson and a bunch of girls who used to play on a team called the Dragons ...

The Times Bombshell
The Seattle Times revealed the findings of its investigation into allegations of recruiting by the Chief Sealth girls basketball coaching staff. HoopGurlz.com urges swift and decisive action by Sealth, the WIAA and Metro League ...

Ike will host doubleheader Firday
Eisenhower's Big Nine Conference champion boys and girls basketball teams will host a district semifinal doubleheader on Friday.

Prep Basketball: Victory sets up Davis-Ike, Part III
There were focus points and motivations aplenty for Davis' boys basketball team Tuesday night, and coach Eli Juarez spelled things out neatly for his Pirates.

Prep Basketball: Defensive gambit doesn't pay as Bulldogs win
ELLENSBURG ...quot; Ellensburg basketball coach Eric Davis prepared his boys all week for Prosser's pressing, man-to-man defense to have them feeling ready for Tuesday night's Eastern Regional loser-out contest.

Prep Basketball: Ellensburg girls jump out early to win
ELLENSBURG ...quot; Facing three loser-out games to get to state ...quot; including possible back-to-back games ...quot; Ellensburg girls basketball coach Craig Faire got exactly what he wanted to start the stretch.

Mike Warchol of WashingtonPreps.com chimes in his two cents on the Chief Sealth girls' basketball recruiting controversy.

The Seattle Times ran a story in Wednesday's editions about allegations of recruiting at Chief Sealth High School. What are the ramifications of this? What does this do to the Sea-King district tournament?

To those of you that think that this doesn't happen, you are naive. This happens a lot more frequently than even we are aware of.

Prep Roundup: Columbia River boys fall to R.A. Long, hit road at district
The Columbia River boys basketball team struggled to score inside on Monday, so the Chieftains will travel for their first game of the postseason. Karlis Piepa scored 21 points as R.A. Long beat...

Scoreboard

Teamwork carries Skyview girls into district final
If the Skyview Storm do indeed reach their goal of making it to the Class 4A state girls basketball tournament, they promise to do it together. Skyview advanced to the Class 4A Greater St. Helens...

Local Report: Fitterer to coach National Select team
Eisenhower boys basketball coach Pat Fitterer has been named assistant coach for the USA Basketball Junior National Select team that will compete against a 19-and-under World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit this spring.

Away at School: Mackenzie honored by golf magazine
PAIGE MACKENZIE (Eisenhower), a senior member of the women's golf team at Washington, entered the spring as the nation's top-ranked women's golfer, according to Golfweek magazine. The two-time All-American led the Huskies with a 70.83 stroke average...

Blue Mountain champs retain No. 1 status
Playing without Stephanie Turner, Dayton downs Liberty Christian for the girls sub-district title.

Bellingham puts 10 in Mat Classic
The Bellingham wrestling team took 12 wrestlers to the Class 3A Regional I Meet at Issaquah Liberty High School Saturday, and 10 of them advanced to the Mat Classic.

Emerick claims spot at state
Squalicum gymnast Lindsay Emerick qualified for the Class 3A/2A State Gymnastics Meet on the balance beam Saturday at the regional meet at Sammamish High School.

Swimmers earn wild-card bids
Three additional Whatcom County swimmers and two relay teams were chosen to participate in the Class 3A State Swimming Meet when wild-card selections were announced on Sunday. The wild-card selections were made to fill out the field in each event.

Chriswell Looks Ready to Defend Title
South Kitsap sends seven to next weekend's Mat Classic.
South Kitsap’s Brent Chriswell spent 146 seconds total on the mat on his way to a 189-pound title at the Class 4A Region III wrestling tournament at Mountain View High.

Regional wrestling results

Legends program honors Castle Rock basketball greats of past
When Castle Rock coach Kevin Johnson prepared his team to face league-leading Hockinson in mid-January, he didn't talk about X's and O's. He talked about Mal Rose, a guy who hasn't worn a Rocket uniform in 43 years.

Bearcats earn three regional wrestling championships
Derek Driscoll is on a roll.
Chehalis' 152-pound junior wrestler is 35-0 this season and became one of three Bearcats to win Class 3A Region IV wrestling championships on Saturday at Wapato High School south of Yakima.

Trico races up in air
We've spent the last couple of weeks figuring out the playoff races in the Greater St. Helens leagues. Now, it's time to turn our attention to the Class 2A Trico League basketball races, as the league...

Weekly prep sports schedule

Scoreboard

Local Report: Barbosa sets new national record in 800
SEATTLE - Prosser junior Nectaly Barbosa ran a national prep indoor season best for 800 meters Sunday at the University of Washington's Dempsey Indoor.

Ahead of Their Time
Led by its freshman sensation, Madison Yakaboski, Mount Si routed Newport to advance to the KingCo 3A championship against Issaquah and serve notice that the Wildcats are viable contenders for a run at state...

Elite 11: A Kneed to Know
Losses of star players such as Chelsey White of River Ridge and Sarah Morton of Monroe are a clarion call for education and action with regard to the increased risk of ACL tears for female athlete...

Our Senior Night
The author gets to share Senior Night with a Bremerton High School star, prompting thoughts of her, a couple careers unfulfilled and the meaning of it all...

Atlona back on course
Ferndale senior is re-focused to win another state title after missing last year's Mat Classic
FERNDALE - Derek Altona bought a ticket to Mat Classic last year.

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Gig Spoils CK's Perfect Season
The two teams will play again in a seeding game on Tuesday at Bremerton.

Boys Basketball Roundup: Cougars Complete Sweep of Tides
The win guarantees a district berth for Central Kitsap.
The first time Central Kitsap played Gig Harbor, they fell behind 8-0 before rallying for a road victory.

Girls Basketball Roundup: Warriors to Play for Sea-Tac League Title
King's West rolled to a lopsided 72-31 victory over Seattle Lutheran in the Sea-Tac League B Tournament semifinals on Friday at Chief Leschi.

No. 8 Hoquiam squeaks by
MONTESANO - Hosting eighth-ranked Hoquiam, Montesano controlled the pace and the style of the game, but not the scoreboard.

Elma boys celebrate after first win of season

Loss ends Bobcats' campaign

Valley stirs up Knight at B district

Briefs: Bobcat girls to face Columbia River

Kelso edges Camas to set up rematch
Kelso thrust itself into familiar territory with a 66-61 win over Camas on Friday on the final day of the Greater St. Helens 3A League season.

Area Roundup: Monarchs storm Fort, capture GSHL crown
VANCOUVER -- Matt Argyropoulos exploded for 30 points and Kevin Wright had a strong double-double as the Mark Morris Monarchs won their sixth consecutive Greater St. Helens 3A League title with a 72-64 victory over Fort Vancouver on Friday.

Bellarmine KO's Capital
Lions hold off Cougars to steal Narrows playoff berth
OLYMPIA -- The playoffs, like a timeout called when none are remaining, went right through the hands of the Capital Cougars on Friday night.

Bears boys earn playoff spot
Olympia ends regular season with win over Mount Tahoma
Olympia saved its best for last on Friday.

Prep playoff game set for Saturday night
The Yelm Tornados and the Centralia Tigers will play a high school boys basketball playoff game tonight at 6 to determine the fifth and final playoff spot from the Pacific-9 League.

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Shadle Park keeps playoff hopes alive
With 8 minutes to go Friday night, Shadle Park's girls seemed stuck in a perpetual game of catch-up, watching their postseason hopes fade away. It's funny how 15 straight points can change perceptions.

U-Hi leads regional, but Big Nine dominates
University has a narrow lead after one day of the Region 4 4A wrestling tournament, but Big Nine schools exacted their pound of flesh. The Big Nine earned 34 of 56 semifinal berths on the first night of competition in Walla Walla.

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10 things to watch: basketball, Olympics and a final goodbye
Here are 10 things sports fans should be aware of this week:

1. Eisenhower at Richland boys basketball.
At 7:30 p.m. today at Dawald Gym in Richland, the Bombers are battling for a first-round bye into the district tournament. Ike happens to be the best team in the Big Nine Conference.

4. Saying goodbye to Rish.
Longtime Richland coach and athletic director Fran Rish died last week at the age of 86. Bombers from near and far are planning to be at Rish's memorial service at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Central United Protestant Church in Richland. Get there early because I'll bet it fills up fast.

5. Ellensburg-Hanford hoops.
The top two teams in the Mid-Valley League basketball standings are Ellensburg and Hanford -- for both boys and girls.

So this turns out to be a great twinbill at Dawald Gym at Richland High on Friday, with the girls playing at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.

6. 4A regional wrestling.
The second week of postseason high school wrestling gets going at 7 p.m. Friday at Walla Walla High School, and it runs through Saturday afternoon.

The Big Nine's best takes on the Greater Spokane League's finest as they vie for state tournament berths. Herald staffer Jack Millikin is set to cover the event both days.

Battle Ground survives to meet Skyview in district tournament
It is often said that the playoffs are all about survival. The Battle Ground girls basketball did just that Thursday night at Heritage High School in beating Hudson's Bay 36-34 in the first round...

Scoreboard

Prep Roundup: Fort girls top Mark Morris at buzzer
Jessalyn Jackson's put-back basket beat the buzzer and Mark Morris on Thursday as the Fort Vancouver girls basketball team knocked off the visiting Monarchs 51-49. The dramatic win gave the...

Skyview freshman storms podium at district meet
BRUSH PRAIRIE - A new face in Class 4A Greater St. Helens League gymnastics is the new champion. Skyview freshman Alyssa Click won three of the four events Thursday, claiming the 2006 all-around...

Prep Basketball: Zillah nabs SCAC West's No. 2 seed
Guthrie leads Zillah past visiting Scots

Prep Basketball: Brink rallies Viks past West Valley
Selah senior pours in 13 points in fourth

Prep Basketball: La Salle's game plan leads to lopsided win
By his own design, Todd Kent had a simple job Friday night.
Not wanting to show much of his offense with the postseason starting next week, La Salle's girls basketball coach made the game plan for Sunnyside Christian as basic as can be.

Prep Basketball: Leopards win ugly in season finale
ZILLAH - "Definitely our best performance of the season." That was Zillah assistant coach Dick Waldman's entirely facetious assessment.

Prep Basketball: White Swan cements perfect record
WHITE SWAN - With a balanced scoring attack led by Andrea Blodgett's 13 points, White Swan's girls concluded a 20-0 regular season Friday night with a 61-43 victory over Cle Elum in an SCAC West game on the Cougars' court.

Prep Basketball: Johnson keys Ellensburg win over Hanford
RICHLAND - In a game to decide the Mid-Valley League title, Hanford's defense did nearly everything right against Ellensburg.

Local Report: WV's Godoy headed to SPU
Janae Godoy, a four-year starter in West Valley's girls soccer program and a former member of the U.S. National U-16 team, signed a letter of intent recently to attend Seattle Pacific University.

From Friday:

Blue Devils' rally falls short
Wa-Hi's boys rally time and again, but in the end lose to Richland, 57-53, Thursday night.RICHLAND - Wa-Hi trailed by 10 or more points in every quarter but staged comeback effort after comeback effort in a 57-53 Big Nine Conference boys basketball loss to Richland at Art Dawald gym Thursday night.

Bulldogs end Warriors' season
Dayton uses free throws down the stretch to garner a 50-46 BML loser-out playoff victory over Jubilee Thursday night.

Wa-Hi boys rim out in overtime again
The Blue Devils execute their offense but the shots won't fall, leading to their second straight overtime loss.
Excellent ball control, near perfect execution and shots from the shadow of the hoop.

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Your Guide to Hoops Paradise
Regular readers of this column - and I'm told there are now six of you - know my favorite time of the year is coming up. The high school basketball postseason tips off next week, and there are plenty of interesting story lines to keep track of.

North Wants to Win, Gain Respect
Jasmine Hill isn't driven by a need to prove she's healthy. The North Kitsap senior, who missed nearly all of last year's girls basketball season because of a shoulder injury, is driven by what she feels is a lack of respect.

High School Notebook: Wrestling Heads to Postseason
Prep wrestling heats up this weekend, with several Kitsap Peninsula schools seeking to advance to regionals in sub-regional events.

HHS continues win streak
Tracey Rushton jump-started them, and once they got started there was no stopping the Lady Grizzlies.

Bobcats inch closer to district berth

Bulldogs topple Warriors

Spartans run away from Eagles

Moore's 'hustle' leads Red Devils past Centralia
CENTRALIA - A "heck of a hustle play" by freshman Nick Moore here Wednesday "still has people talking," Lower Columbia men's basketball coach Jim Roffler said.

Roundup: Irwin nets 27 in Jills' victory
Rachel Irwin buried 17-of-19 free throws en route to a season-high 27 points as R.A. Long got back on the winning track with a 66-57 victory over Fort Vancouver in Greater St. Helens 3A League girls basketball action Thursday at the Lumberdome.

A Point Well Made
Woodinville toppled Roosevelt by two in a showdown of KingCo 4A powers and this season is enjoying success fueled by the enormous progress of its point guard LeeAnn Palo...

River Ridge girls win 30th straight Pac-9 game
Tumwater’s third-quarter rally falls short as Hawks flex muscles against league rival
TUMWATER - The River Ridge Hawks keep finding ways to win.

Postseason is here
Postseason play for winter high school athletes starts this weekend for bowlers, swimmers, divers and wrestlers -- and district gymnastics meets and basketball tournaments aren't too far away.

The following are key dates, times, locations and ticket prices...

Scoreboard

Prep Roundup: Bassett's record night lifts Washougal girls over Kelso
Because Krissy Bassett already has most, if not all, of the school scoring records for the Washougal Panthers, she can only break her own records. Bassett, a senior, did it again Thursday night...

Thursday's scoreboard

Prep Report: La Salle girls in better position than last year
For those who follow La Salle girls basketball, the early days of Febraury must seem very familiar.

Heading into the weekend, the Lightning are 8-0 in the Greater Columbia B League, 14-2 for the season and ranked fourth in the state.

Sandusky signs with UNLV
Bellingham's Pittman to play at E. Washington
Ferndale's Rocki Sandusky had lunch with his family on Wednesday at an appropriate setting: Silver Reef Casino.
After all, where else would you spend national signing day after committing to spending the next five years of your life in Las Vegas?

Sandusky, a senior receiver, accepted a full athletic scholarship to play football at UNLV.

Busch leads Sehome to easy win
Megan Busch scored 25 of her 30 points in the first half, and Laurne Gustafson and Marie Smith each had double-doubles as the Sehome girls' basketball team cruised to a 84-51 win over Sedro-Woolley in a Northwest League game at Sedro-Woolley.

Subregional mat tournaments set for this weekend
The road to Mat Classic XVI will begin this weekend, with subregional wrestling tournaments scheduled for this weekend at Centralia, Elma and Westport.

Loggerettes pluck Acorns, 55-48
WISHKAH - Carly Stone scored 19 points and pulled down 18 rebounds to lead Wishkah to a hard-fought 55-48 victory over Oakville in a Pacific League girls basketball game Wednesday night at Wishkah.

Ducks capture title
CATHLAMET ---- For the past six years, the road to the Central B League boys' basketball championship led straight to the rowdy gym at Wahkiakum High School.

Woodland standouts stay in state
Woodland seniors Justin Leonard and Tyrell Nielsen are opting to pursue their college football careers at Central Washington University, because the Ellensburg school just "feels right."

Ex-Tenino coach to be honored
Dick Brock, Tenino High School's longtime boys basketball and football coach, will have the high school gym dedicated in his honor Friday night.

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They are indeed a magnificent seven
Central Valley football coach Rick Giampietri has an eye for talent. What he saw in the Greater Spokane League this year caught his eye. "It's very seldom that you ever play a team that has three Division I kids on it," said the longtime CV coach, noting league champion Mead's trio. "The last time I can remember is the (Gonzaga) Prep teams in the 1980s, when they had about five.

O Brother, where art thou? On his way to the postseason
Anthony Varnell learned wrestling at the knee of his older brother, Ismael. It has been a major reason for his success. "We wrestled all the time," said Varnell, a Lewis and Clark junior 140-pounder and state third-place finisher last year.

A closup look at local-area football recruits

White leads seven college signings at River
A big guy is going to the Big Sky. Demetrick White, a 6-foot-8, 275-pound lineman from Columbia River High School, signed his national football letter of intent Wednesday with the University of...

Yakima loses state volleyball tournaments to Tacoma Domehttp://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/285320662708455
After eight years of hosting the Class 2A tournament and five years of staging the Class 1A meeting, Yakima bid a grudging farewell to its state volleyball events on Thursday.

Prep Bowling : Cadets hope to strike at state
Forgive Buddy Smith if he has a slight case of deja vu.
That's because the Eisenhower bowling coach was in a similar situation three years ago, the last time his team qualified for the state tournament.

Prep Football: Rance makes it official
Davis High School's Marcus Rance vanquished five frustration-filled months Wednesday afternoon in mere moments.

Local Report: Selah's Zeutenhorst signs with W. Oregon
Jake Zeutenhorst, Selah's all-state placekicker, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play football at Western Oregon University.

CWU Football: Central signs 12 players to fill voids
Two former Huskies among new players
ELLENSBURG - The needs were few for the Central Washington University football team headed into national letter of intent day Wednesday - just five players graduated from last...

Area grapplers focus on districts
Wa-Hi, Dayton, Pomeroy and Burbank send wrestlers into district meets this weekend
Eighteen Wa-Hi wrestlers will compete at the Class 4A Big Nine District Wrestling Tournament this weekend.

Wa-Hi's swim team rested
The Blue Devils are just fine tuning their swims headed into the district meet in Ellensburg
With one exception, Wa-Hi swimmers will be catching a few slow days in the pool this week as coach Brad Daly fine tunes his team for this weekend's Big Nine Conference district meet in Ellensburg.