10 key weekend matchups in Tri-Cities basketball, wrestling, bowling and more

It’s going to be a busy sports weekend, both locally in the Tri-Cities and on television and radio.

Here are 10 things in sports to watch for:

▪ We’re just about ready for post-season play in winter high school sports.

First up are the girls bowlers, with all of the Mid-Columbia Conference teams gathering at Atomic Bowl in Richland at noon on Friday.

Up for grabs is one team state berth in the Class 4A portion of the tournament, and another team berth in the 3A portion. A handful of individuals will also advance to state, which is next weekend at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place.

▪ Chiawana boys wrestling coach Jack Anderson, who is stepping down at the end of this season, was honored on Wednesday night at the Riverhawks’ final home dual meet. More on that next week.

His Chiawana team, an annual contender not just for the Mid-Columbia Conference title but also for a Class 4A team state title, defeated Kennewick 82-0.

Now the Riverhawks visit Hermiston at 7 p.m. Friday night in the final regular-season match before we head into the postseason.

What’s on the line? Oh, only this season’s MCC championship.

▪ The Tri-City Americans are just one standings point out of a playoff spot in the Western Hockey League. So this coming weekend will be important for the Ams, who have three scheduled games.

They have one home game — against the Everett Silvertips at 7:05 p.m., Friday. Remember to wear a mask and show proof of vaccination to get in to the Toyota Center.

On Saturday, Tri-City visits Spokane (7:05 p.m. first puck drop); then they travel to Portland on Sunday (5:05 p.m.).

Craig West does the radio play-by-play for all three games on KFLD 870 AM.

Fun fact: Just looking ahead, but say the Ams make the playoffs. They would be in the playoffs while the Tri-City Dust Devils begin their High-A West season. The Dust Devils’ season opener is April 8 at Hillsboro.

I believe this would mark the first time the Americans and Dust Devils would be playing at the same time this early in the year.

▪ As we wind down the high school basketball regular season, teams are still battling for postseason playoff position.

So Friday’s Chiawana at Kennewick boys game (7:30 p.m. tip-off) piques my interest.

The visiting Riverhawks are 7-4 in Mid-Columbia Conference play (10-5 overall), while the host Lions are 6-4 (8-6).

Chiawana is close to being locked in to the MCC’s No. 3 seed for the 4A playoffs.

But Kennewick, a 3A school, has just a one-game lead over Walla Walla (5-6 MCC, 6-8 overall), trying to seal up that top 3A playoff seed.

▪ On TV: No college men’s basketball team may be hotter than Leon Rice’s Boise State University squad.

The Broncos have won 13 straight games and are in first place in the Mountain West Conference.

The added attraction is Rice is a Richland High graduate. His son Max is on the team, and Chiawana grad Kobe Young is a freshman who is redshirting for the Broncos.

They take on Fresno State at 8 p.m. Friday on FS1.

▪ No one has yet to defeat the Pasco girls basketball team (10-0 MCC, 13-0 overall), but Richland would sure like a chance.

The Bombers are tied with Chiawana for second place in the MCC girls standings. Both teams have identical 8-3 MCC, 11-4 overall records.

So Saturday afternoon contest (3:15 p.m.) at Pasco High is kind of appealing.

Throw in a matchup between the two best players in the MCC — Richland junior Kylee Fox and Pasco senior Mya Groce — as an added bonus.

▪ On TV: Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team is always fun to watch, and you can see them take on visiting Portland at 6 p.m., Saturday on ROOT.

▪ The Tri-Cities Prep boys visit Columbia-Burbank at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a basketball game pitting the top two teams in the 2B Eastern Washington Athletic Conference standings.

Prep is 6-1 in EWAC East play (10-7 overall), while the host Coyotes are 7-0 and 15-1.

This will determine who gets the top seed for the district tournament.

▪ On TV: AFC (noon, Sunday) and NFC (3:30 p.m., Sunday) Championship games: Cincinnati visits Kansas City on CBS in the AFC title game, while San Francisco takes on the host Los Angeles Rams in the NFC game (televised on Fox) to determine who will play in the Super Bowl, set for Sunday Feb. 13.

▪ On TV: Kyle Smith’s WSU men’s basketball team has had a rollercoaster ride this season, sitting 4-3 in Pac-12 Conference play and 11-7 overall.

The Cougs play host to Colorado at 7 p.m. Sunday, with the game being televised on FS1.

Prep football

SCAC East all-league recap: Connell’s Carson Riner, Royal’s Avery Ellis, and Royal head coach Wiley Allred were the big honorees back in November when the South Central Athletic Conference East all-conference awards were announced, as voted by the league’s coaches.

Riner, a senior was named Offensive Player of the Year, as well as a first-team running back and defensive back.

Ellis, also a senior, was named Defensive Player of the Year, and was a first-team running back and linebacker.

And Allred, who led his team to another Class 1A state title in December, was named the Coach of the Year.

Riner and Avery weren’t the only two-way first-team players. In fact, Royal senior Luke Bergeson was a first-teamer at three different positions: wide receiver, defensive back and return specialist.

Other two-way all-stars were Royal senior Derek Bergeson at quarterback and linebacker; Royal senior Gunnar Anderson at wide receiver and defensive back; Royal junior Detton Jenks as an offensive and defensive lineman; College Place junior Nick Josifek at punter and defensive back; and Kiona-Benton senior Mikey Vance as both an offensive and defensive lineman.

Other players named first team were: Royal junior linebacker Dylan Allred; Connell junior defensive lineman Cade Clyde; College Place senior wide receiver Davis Fry; Royal junior linebacker Kaleb Hernandez; Royal senior offensive lineman Eddie Jimenez; College Place junior kicker Jose Martinez; Wahluke senior wide receiver Oscar Perez; Connell senior offensive lineman Roberto Ramirez; Wahluke senior offensive lineman Angel Sanchez; and Royal senior defensive lineman Manny Sandoval.