Chiawana, Kamiakin boys basketball teams on a roll

As high school athletes are on a break for the holidays, here’s how they stand when they get back.

Boys basketball

Chiawana and Kamiakin both went 3-0 last week before teams broke for the winter break.

Of the Riverhawks’ wins, one included a 69-57 verdict over Richland at Dawald Gymnasium on Saturday night.

Jayden Martinez and Seth Schmidt each scored 18 points for Chiawana, which beat Richland for the first time since 2012.

Meanwhile, Kamiakin also continues to roll. The Braves beat Hanford 79-45, led by Kyson Rose’s 24 points and 12 rebounds.

But Kamiakin used a total team effort to beat Richland 90-62 on Friday. That win snapped the Bombers’ 39-game Mid-Columbia Conference win streak.

• Kennewick and Walla Walla both went 2-0 last week.

Ayoni Benavidez continues to shine, scoring 25 points in a 71-64 victory over Southridge.

Michael Cornia scored what school officials believe is a Wa-Hi school record 45 points, when the Blue Devils beat Southridge 73-65 on Saturday.

• Walla Walla is involved in a three-day tournament in Lewiston that began Thursday and runs through Saturday.

And the Richland boys play host to Issaquah at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in a non-league game at Dawald.

Then teams are off for the weekend.

Wa-Hi visits Richland at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 2, as the MCC resumes play then.

• Grant McClure is a player to keep an eye on. The 6-foot-2 junior guard for Liberty Christian outscored Irrigon on Saturday all by himself in a 70-42 win. McClure scored 44 points.

• MCC boys basketball standings through 12/25: 1. Chiawana 4-0 MCC/7-0 overall; 2. Walla Walla 3-0/4-0; 2. Kennewick 3-0/5-1; 4. Kamiakin 2-0/6-0; 5. Richland 2-2/5-2; 6. Hermiston 1-2/2-5; 7. Hanford 0-3/1-5; 8. Pasco 0-4/1-6; 8. Southridge 0-4/1-7.

Girls basketball

Chiawana went 3-0 last week, while Kennewick and Walla Walla were 2-0 as teams now take a winter break.

In wins over Pasco and Richland, Talia von Oelhoffen continues her tear through the MCC, scoring 25 points against the Bulldogs, then 26 points and 9 rebounds in the win over the Bombers.

Kennewick continues with its balanced scoring, as either MeiLani McBee or Aislin Fiander seem to trade team-high scoring on game nights.

In a 65-40 win over Southridge, it was McBee’s turn with 19 points.

Rian Clear had the top night of the season so far for MCC girls when she scored 42 points as the Bluye Devils beat Southridge 78-25 on Saturday..

• Special shout out to Coach Evan Woodward and his Hanford girls, who shut out visiting Kamiakin in the first quarter on Saturday, then went on to win 59-41.

I’m not sure how long it’s been that a Hanford girls team has beaten Kamiakin. But it’s been a while.

• Walla Walla’s girls are involved in that same Lewiston tournament that the Blue Devils boys are Thursday through Saturday.

Southridge’s girls play host to Rogers of Spokane at 3:45 p.m. Friday.

Walla Walla visits Richland on Thursday, Jan. 2, as MCC play resumes then.

• MCC girls basketball standings through 12/25: 1. Chiawana 4-0 MCC/6-1 overall; 2. Kennewick 3-0/6-0; 3. Richland 3-1/4-4; 4. Pasco 2-2/4-2; 5. Walla Walla 1-1/2-1; 6. Kamiakin 1-2/2-5; 7. Hanford 1-3/2-5; 8. Hermiston 0-3/3-4; 8. Southridge 0-3/2-4.

Prep wrestling

• Washingtonwrestlingreport.com released its most recent boys 2A rankings and girls rankings this week.

Prosser and Othello each have two wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their weight classes.

For Prosser, Reyden Huizar sits atop the 113-pound division, while Logan Candanoza is the top 182-pounder.

Othello’s Elijah Roylance is the top 220-pound wrestler, while Isaiah Perez (who made it official last week by signing a football letter of intent with BYU) is the top 285-pounder.

In the girls rankings, Hanford’s Taylor Wilson is No. 1 at 105 pounds, while Warden’s Aaliyah Escamilla is ranked third.

Othello’s Emily Mendez is ranked No. 1 at 110 pounds, while Sunnyside’s Alexxus Ramos is third.

And at 130 pounds, Pasco’s Jazmin Mercado is ranked No. 2.

Notes

Former Tri-City Americans goalie Eric Comrie has made the rounds this season in the NHL.

Comrie spent training camp with the Winnipeg Jets, but was traded to Arizona on Oct. 1.

In November, Arizona traded Comrie to the Detroit Red Wings, where he played in three NHL games.

Last week, he was placed on waivers. But Winnipeg picked him up.

• A couple of holes-in-one to report, all at Meadow Springs Country Club: Richland’s Sue McConnell earned her second career ace on the 105-yard No. 14 hole on Oct. 17; Richland’s Pat Ulrich shot a career first hole-in-one on Oct. 8, using a 5/6 iron on the 115-yard No. 8 hole; West Richland’s Paul Wood hit his third career ace on Dec. 6 at the 165-yard No. 8 hole.

• Former major-leaguer Jeff Cirillo was named as the new manager for the Walla Walla Sweets for the upcoming West Coast League season, which resumes in June.

WHL standings

Through Thursday, Dec. 26

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Everett, 24 wins-6 losses-2 OTL-0 SOL-50 points

2. Portland, 22-6-1-3-48

3. Kamloops, 21-9-2-1-45

4. Spokane, 19-10-3-1-42

5. Kelowna, 18-11-1-2-39

6. Victoria, 17-11-2-0-36

7. Vancouver, 15-15-1-1-32

8. Tri-City, 12-15-3-1-28

9. Seattle, 12-17-2-1-27

10. Prince George, 8-20-1-3-20

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Edmonton, 22-6-5-2-51

2. Medicine Hat, 22-10-1-0-45

3. Lethbridge, 20-10-0-5-45

4. Prince Albert, 20-9-3-1-44

5. Winnipeg, 19-13-1-0-39

6. Saskatoon, 15-15-1-2-33

7. Calgary, 16-10-3-1-36

8. Brandon, 15-15-1-2-33

9. Red Deer, 12-17-0-3-27

10. Moose Jaw, 10-17-2-0-22

11. Regina, 8-18-3-1-20

12. Swift Current, 6-22-1-2-15

Last three Tri-City games

Saturday, Dec. 14 – Portland 8, Americans 1

Tuesday, Dec. 17 – Seattle 4, Americans 3

Wednesday, Dec. 18 – Everett 4, Americans 3

Next three Tri-City games

Friday, Dec. 27 – Portland at Americans, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 28 – Americans at Spokane, 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 31 – Spokane at Americans, 7:05 p.m.